For a while, when using Linux laptops at work, I decided to migrate to LXDE due to the lack of proper machine specs to sustain the heavy load of my browser and desktop environment usage.
Stumbled upon LXDE and gave it a try, unbeknownst to me, how some itchies would appear along the way.
Below are some of the problems I’ve encountered and how to circumvent them, in case you end up in the same situation as I did.
1. Issues when changing between desktop environments (LXDR and others)
SSH server may not be running in the env, impacting your git operations etc. Run these inspections and repairments:
- Validate the connectivity capability
ssh -vvv git@bitbucket.org
- Validate if the keys are present in your keyring and the SSH agent is on
ssh-add -l
- Turn the agent on if not already running
eval `ssh-agent -s`
- Add a key if none is found
ssh-add -l
chmod 400 ~/.ssh/id_*
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_*
- Test the connection again and see if it is working as intended
ssh -vvv git@bitbucket.org
Apart from the issue above, the other problems summed up to monitor and video issues.
2. Adjust main monitor brightness
If you are running in a laptop, the keys for adjusting brightness may not work. Do this instead:
- Check for the connected display
xrandr | grep connected
- Now, adjust the brightness referencing the display you want to adjust
xrandr --output eDP-1 --brightness 0.95
3. Multiple monitors in LXDE
Using xrandr to control double-screens:
xrandr --output eDP-1-1 --auto --left-of HDMI-1-1
Using only embedded laptop screen:
xrandr --output HDMI-1-1 --off
Reactivating external monitor:
xrandr --output HDMI-1-1 --auto
4. Using night shift mode in LXDR
To use the night shift mode, you’ll need to install redshift. Be aware that the current status as of April 02 2026 is “unmaintained”.
I advise to use the gammastep spiritual successor.
I use Redshift in Vidmode as other modes won’t persist for long.
redshift -m vidmode &
5. Mousepad issue adjustment
For me, the mousepad stopped working. A way to fix this was to use:
lxqt-config-input
# then afterwards only use
lxqt-config-input --load-touchpad
6. Key aliases to simplify my life
I’ve implemented several aliases to make the process of switching between modes faster. Even faster than through a GUI. Here they are:
alias code='code --password-store="gnome" &' # Open VS Code using the previously Gnome key store
alias liangdu='xrandr --output eDP-1-1 --brightness' # set the brightness value after --brightness <value>
alias darkmode='redshift -m vidmode &'
alias twoscreens='xrandr --output HDMI-1-1 --auto && xrandr --output eDP-1-1 --auto --left-of HDMI-1-1'
alias secscreen='xrandr --output eDP-1-1 --off && xrandr --output HDMI-1-1 --auto'
alias onescreen='xrandr --output HDMI-1-1 --off && xrandr --output eDP-1-1 --auto'