The guide walks readers through installing the lightweight LXQt desktop on Fedora 36, offering clear, step‑by‑step instructions instead of fluff. It begins by updating the system, enabling RPM Fusion repositories, then installing the LXQt group and optionally SDDM for a slimmer login manager. Users can also purge unnecessary GNOME packages to free space, select LXQt from the session list after logging out, and customize with optional panel tools or extensions. Finally, the article reminds readers to keep their system updated regularly to avoid compatibility headaches while enjoying a snappy experience on older hardware.

How to Install LXQt on Fedora 36

If you’re tired of GNOME’s memory drain or want a snappier desktop that still looks pretty, installing LXQt on Fedora 36 is the quick fix. This guide walks you through every step—no fluff, just the hands‑on bits that actually matter.

1. Make Sure You Have an Up‑to‑Date System

Start by pulling the latest packages and making sure the system clock is correct:

sudo dnf upgrade -y
timedatectl set-ntp true

Fedora’s package manager relies on up‑to‑date metadata. If your system lags behind, you’ll run into “no matching packages” errors that feel like a dead end.

2. Enable RPM Fusion Repositories

LXQt lives in the RPM Fusion repos, not Fedora’s default mirrors. Add both the free and nonfree sections:

sudo dnf install \
  https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-36.noarch.rpm \
  https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-36.noarch.rpm

I’ve seen Fedora users hit a wall trying to install lxqt without these repos; the package manager simply doesn’t know where to look. Adding them once unlocks everything.

3. Install LXQt and the Display Manager

The minimal set of packages that gives you a working session is:

sudo dnf groupinstall "LXQt Desktop"

If you’re happy with your current display manager (GDM or SDDM), you can skip installing sddm. But if you want a clean, lightweight login screen, run:

sudo dnf install sddm
sudo systemctl enable --now sddm.service

This replaces GDM and drops the memory footprint by a noticeable amount.

4. Remove Unnecessary Desktop Packages (Optional)

If you’re migrating from GNOME and want to keep your disk tidy, purge GNOME packages you won’t use:

sudo dnf groupremove "GNOME"

I’ve had my share of “bloat” after a fresh install, so trimming the old desktop isn’t just a nicety—it frees up swap and makes boot snappier.

5. Log Out and Select LXQt

After reboot or logout, you’ll see a little gear icon at the login screen. Click it, pick LXQt from the list, then log in. The first launch may look a bit plain; you can install the LXQt Panel tools if you want dock‑style widgets:

sudo dnf install lxqt-pkg-config

6. Customize Your New Desktop

LXQt’s settings are intentionally minimal. Open “Settings” from the menu, then tweak the theme or panel layout to suit your taste. If you miss the GNOME extensions I used before, LXQt has a handful of extensions in its own repository:

sudo dnf install lxqt-openssh-keys lxqt-gtk-theme-switcher

7. Keep It Updated

Fedora’s rapid release cycle means your desktop can get new features or fixes quickly. Run these regularly to stay current:

sudo dnf update -y
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

That way you’ll avoid that “I installed LXQt, and now nothing works” scenario that creeps up when packages lag behind.