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# Xubuntu 23.04 Releases With Xfce 4.18 and Pipewire
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/xubuntu-23-04/
- Published: 2023-04-20T12:15:39.000Z
- Updated: 2023-04-20T12:15:39.000Z
- Description: Xubuntu 23.04 release brings in Xfce 4.18 and essential fixes for a better experience.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Distribution Releases, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

Xubuntu is one of the most popular Ubuntu flavors with minimal Xfce desktop environment.

Since the arrival of [Xubuntu 22.04 LTS](https://itsfoss.com/xubuntu-22-04-release/), around this time last year, there have been a lot of refinements to the XFCE experience on Ubuntu.

Let's take a look at what it has to offer.

💡

Xubuntu 23.04 will be supported for **nine** months until **January 2024**. You can upgrade to Xubuntu 23.10 (upcoming version) if you want an up-to-date and secure system after its end of life.

## 🆕 Xubuntu 23.04: What’s New?

![a screenshot of the neofetch output of xubuntu 23.04](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/04/Xubuntu_23.04_1.png)

Based on **Ubuntu 23.04 'Lunar Lobster'**, this is a packed release with many important updates. The notable highlights include the following:

- **Desktop Environment Upgrade**
- **Removal Of Default Flatpak Support**
- **Xubuntu Minimal**
- **Inclusion of PipeWire**

📋

This is **not** a [Long-Term Support](https://itsfoss.com/long-term-support-lts/) version. So, for most, you do not need to upgrade. Go ahead only if you want the latest and greatest while willing to upgrade again soon under a year.

### Desktop Environment Upgrades

![a screenshot of the about xfce app on xubuntu 23.04](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/04/Xubuntu_23.04_2.png)

The most significant change you will notice with this release is the **inclusion of Xfce 4.18** which features many new improvements that have made it much more refined over its predecessor.

Some of those improvements include **major feature additions to the Thunar file manager**, **updates to the XFCE panel**, **new wallpapers**, **initial Wayland support**, and more.

You can go through our coverage on the same to learn more.

[XFCE 4.18 Release Looks Impressive!Xfce 4.18 is here with interesting feature additions and subtle changes.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/08/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSS NewsJacob Crume![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2022/12/xfce-4-18-release.png)](https://itsfoss.com/xfce-4-18-release/)

### Removal Of Default Flatpak Support

Yes, you read that right. 

As Xubuntu is an Ubuntu flavor, Flatpak support out-of-the-box is no longer an option by default.So, snap it is.

You can still [set up Flatpak in a matter of minutes](https://itsfoss.com/flatpak-guide/) by running a few lines of code in the terminal.

**Suggested Read** 📖

[Snapped! Ubuntu Cracks Down on Default Flatpak Support for its FlavorsUbuntu flavors will no longer include Flatpak support out-of-the-box. Why is that? Let’s find out.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/08/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSS NewsAnkush Das![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/ubuntu-removes-default-flatpak-support.png)](https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-flavor-drops-flatpak/)

### Introduction of Minimal ISO

In a [similar fashion](https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-mini-iso/) to Ubuntu, you can now make use of a **minimal ISO for Xubuntu**. Though it's not as small as the one planned for Ubuntu, it still measures up well against the standard ISO.

The minimal ISO comes in at a smaller **1.7 GB** size with a minimal **set of applications**: The terminal, file manager, system settings apps, Snap package manager, and screenshot app.

Thanks to that, it also **takes up less storage space** than a standard installation.

### Inclusion of PipeWire

Xubuntu now finally ships with [PipeWire](https://pipewire.org/?ref=itsfoss.com); this should allow for **enhanced handling of audio and video** across the system.

It will also facilitate the capture and playback of audio/video with very little latency and real-time processing.

### 🛠️ Other Improvements

Other than the above mentioned, here are a few application updates that are worth knowing about:

- **[Linux Kernel 6.2](https://itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-6-2-release/)**
- **Firefox 111.0 (snap)**
- **GIMP 2.10.34**
- **LibreOffice 7.5.2**
- **Pipewire 0.3.65**
- **Snapd 2.58.3**
- **[Thunderbird 102.9.0](https://itsfoss.com/thunderbird-102-release/)**
- Tray icons and indicators now have a more consistent look thanks to an 'automatic' icon size tweak to the systray plugin.
- The default font size of the Terminal has been increased from 9 to 10 for better readability.

You may also review the [release notes](https://wiki.xubuntu.org/releases/23.04/release-notes?ref=itsfoss.com) to dig deeper into the technical changes.

## 📥 Download Xubuntu 23.04

📋

The download may take some time to be available after the release announcement. 

Head to the [official site](https://xubuntu.org/download/?ref=itsfoss.com) for the latest ISO, or use [Ubuntu's image repository](https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/23.04/?ref=itsfoss.com) to get it.

[Xubuntu 23.04](https://xubuntu.org/download/?ref=itsfoss.com)

If you are an **existing user**, you can follow the [official guide](https://docs.xubuntu.org/latest/user/C/migrating-upgrading.html?ref=itsfoss.com) to get the upgrade.