How do I remove desktop environment

[Robert Heller]

Do this:

dpkg-query -l lxqt\*|grep ^ii

Then, given the list generated with the above command, do:

sudo apt purge *names listed above*

(You maybe only list a few major packages, which will pull the rest. or use 
the apt purge command to remove some at a time.)

Check the listed names apt lists it will remove for anything you don't really 
want removed and type 'y'

Followup with:

sudo apt autoremove

Again check the package list and type 'y'



At Thu, 9 Oct 2025 18:30:30 +0800 "Ubuntu user technical support,? not for general discussions" <ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com> wrote:

> 
> Hello.
> 
> I am wondering how I can quickly, simply, and, safely, remove a desktop 
> environment.
> 
> One of my computers that I am using, with an i5 CPU and only 16GB of 
> RAM, had both the LXQT and the Mate desktop environments installed, due 
> to concerns about the capability to run Mate, with the lesser resources 
> of the computer.
> 
> Mate is the default desktop environment, and, I have been satisfactorily 
> using it, with the deprecated theme that I retain and use, for a number 
> of years.
> 
> At boot up, the login GUI screen offers the option of logging in to the 
> LXQT desktop environment or the Mate desktop environment, showing the 
> Mate desktop environment as the default one, and, I do not remember 
> having logged into the LXQT desktop environment, for some years, on the 
> computer.
> 
> So, I want to remove the LXQT desktop environment, if I can quickly, 
> simply, and, safely, remove it, as it is redundant, and, I am not aware 
> of using any of the components of that desktop environment.
> 
> So, can I quickly, simply, and, safely, remove it, and, if so, how?
> 
> Thank you in anticipation.
> 
> ..
> Bret Busby
> Armadale
> West Australia
> (UTC+0800)
> ..............
> 
> 

-- 
Robert Heller             -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
Deepwoods Software        -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/  -- Linux Administration Services
heller at deepsoft.com       -- Webhosting Services