16 Nov

Lubuntu 23.10 Backports PPA Released with LXQt 1.4

When users first download Lubuntu, they are presented with two options:

  • Install the latest Long-Term Support release, providing them with a rock-solid and stable base (we assume most users choose this option).
  • Install the latest interim release, providing the latest base with the latest LXQt release.

As we have mentioned in previous announcements, Kubuntu and KDE Neon created the idea of a "Backports PPA." This PPA (or repository, in the case of KDE Neon), exists to layer stable feature updates on top of the rock-solid Ubuntu core you know and love. We were inspired by this idea, and decided to create the Lubuntu Backports repository.

Our intention has originally only been to release these updates for Long-Term Support users. However, we have received an overwhelming amount of feedback from users and corporate partners alike, asking us to release these updates for 23.10. Therefore, we are making an exception by creating this additional repository.


This provides a fourth option for users: install 23.10, enable Backports, and get the latest-and-greatest LXQt, without exposing yourself to the churn of a usual development release cycle (which you can also download, if you'd like to help us out) and its instability. That being said, 23.10's Backports are much less tested. Proceed with appropriate caution.

You can enable this repository via the command line, using the following command:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lubuntu-dev/backports-mantic

Then, you can run Apply Full Upgrade from the LXQt menu. (It will take us a few days to get everything fully migrated over, so be patient if you don't immediately receive these updates.)


PLEASE NOTE: After 24.04 LTS is released, this PPA will be DELETED. It WILL cause apt error messages, halting the process before completion, when you update your system after that point. Please, upgrade to 24.04 LTS when it's released in April 2024, so you do not experience these issues. Also, this PPA is NOT compatible with the 22.04 Backports PPA. Upgrades from 22.04 LTS Backports to 23.10 in general are NOT supported, that does not change with this PPA.

It's a bad idea to enable the Staging repositories if you come across them. Just don't do it, unless you're planning on helping.

14 Nov

LXQt 1.4, Arriving at a Lubuntu Backports PPA Near You

The Lubuntu Team is happy to announce that the Lubuntu Backports PPA with LXQt 1.4 is now available for general use. You can find details on enabling it below.

What is the Lubuntu Backports PPA?

Our Backports PPA is modeled after Kubuntu's. It exists to provide the latest LXQt desktop stack on top of a stable Ubuntu base. (The concept could also be considered similar to KDE Neon.) As time goes on, our development focus will continue to be on new releases, and we plan on landing and testing changes there prior to pushing them to Backports. That being said, this is a perfect middle ground between stability and new features that users of all experience levels will be able to enjoy.

What's new in this release of LXQt?

LXQt About in 1.4


lxqt-menu-data has been created to handle menu files across LXQt. You may experience some slight changes in menu functionality:

Updated menu in LXQt 1.4


Updated file manager settings in LXQt 1.4

You can now specify the terminal to use when selecting Open In Terminal from the context menu.


New Audible Bell option in QTerminal

At last, QTerminal supports an audible bell. We've left this disabled by default, for the time being.


Preliminary support has been added for color profiles in LXImage (Qt).


Many other bugfixes and small changes have been included. Let us know if you run into any issues. More information on this LXQt release can be found here, and on the LXQt website.

Is this a separate edition of Lubuntu?

Nope, this is still the same Lubuntu you know and love, you're just getting new features available on the regular releases earlier than everyone else on the LTS release. You're jumping on an in-between track.

Okay, so how do I enable it?

The Backports PPA is available here. You can add the PPA using the following command: $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lubuntu-dev/backports Please note that upgrades from 22.04 to an interim release are NOT supported once Backports is enabled. Please let us know if anything is off.

You, yes you, can help

If you have some time, please consider joining us. If you would like to help us continue the development of the project long-term, you can donate to the Lubuntu project here.

11 Aug

Lubuntu 22.04 Backports PPA Released With LXQt 1.3

The Lubuntu Team is happy to announce that the Lubuntu Backports PPA with LXQt 1.3 is now available for general use. You can find details on enabling it below.

What is the Lubuntu Backports PPA?

Our Backports PPA is modeled after Kubuntu’s. It exists to provide the latest LXQt desktop stack on top of a stable Ubuntu base. (The concept could also be considered similar to KDE Neon.)

As time goes on, our development focus will continue to be on new releases, and we plan on landing and testing changes there prior to pushing them to Backports. That being said, this is a perfect middle ground between stability and new features that users of all experience levels will be able to enjoy.

Is this a separate edition of Lubuntu?

Nope, this is still the same Lubuntu you know and love, you’re just getting new features available on the regular releases earlier than everyone else on the LTS release. You’re jumping on an in-between track.

Okay, so how do I enable it?

The Backports PPA is available here. You can add the PPA using the following command:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lubuntu-dev/backports

Please note that upgrades from 22.04 to 22.10 or 23.04 are NOT supported once Backports is enabled. This is an issue we are actively working on.

Please let us know (Matrix preferred) if anything is off. One thing to note, IF YOU ENABLED THE BACKPORTS STAGING PPA AS PART OF THE CALL FOR TESTING, PLEASE DISABLE IT.

You, yes you, can help

If you have some time, please consider joining us. If you would like to help us continue the development of the project long-term, you can donate to the Lubuntu project here.

28 Nov

Lubuntu 22.04 Backports PPA Released With LXQt 1.2

The Lubuntu Team is happy to announce that the Lubuntu Backports PPA with LXQt 1.2 is now available for general use. You can find details on enabling it below.

What is the Lubuntu Backports PPA?

Our Backports PPA is modeled after Kubuntu’s. It exists to provide the latest LXQt desktop stack on top of a stable Ubuntu base. (The concept could also be considered similar to KDE Neon.)

As time goes on, our development focus will continue to be on new releases, and we plan on landing and testing changes there prior to pushing them to Backports. That being said, this is a perfect middle ground between stability and new features that users of all experience levels will be able to enjoy.

Is this a separate edition of Lubuntu?

Nope, this is still the same Lubuntu you know and love, you’re just getting new features available on the regular releases earlier than everyone else on the LTS release. You’re jumping on an in-between track.

Okay, so how do I enable it?

The Backports PPA is available here. You can add the PPA using the following command:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lubuntu-dev/backports

Please note that upgrades from 22.04 to 22.10 are NOT supported once Backports is enabled. This is an issue we are actively working on.

Please let us know (Matrix preferred) if anything is off. One thing to note, IF YOU ENABLED THE BACKPORTS STAGING PPA AS PART OF THE CALL FOR TESTING, PLEASE DISABLE IT.

You, yes you, can help

If you have some time, please consider joining us. If you would like to help us continue the development of the project long-term, you can donate to the Lubuntu project here.

18 Nov

Lubuntu 22.04 Backports PPA – LXQt 1.2 Call For Testing

The Lubuntu Team is happy to announce that an update to LXQt 1.2 through the Lubuntu Backports PPA is now available as a beta.

What is the Lubuntu Backports PPA?

Our Backports PPA is modeled after Kubuntu's. It exists to provide the latest LXQt desktop stack on top of a stable Ubuntu base. (The concept could also be considered similar to KDE Neon.) As time goes on, our development focus will continue to be on new releases, and we plan on landing and testing changes there prior to pushing them to Backports. That being said, this is a perfect middle ground between stability and new features that users of all experience levels will be able to enjoy.

Is this a separate edition of Lubuntu, and why is it in beta if it was already released upstream?

Nope, this is still the same Lubuntu you know and love, you're just getting new features available on the regular releases earlier than everyone else on the LTS release. You're jumping on an in-between track. The development release has a different audience than LTS users, so they may notice changes that LTS release users may not, and vice versa.

Okay, so how do I install it?

Please don't enable Backports Staging unless you plan on giving us testing feedback in some capacity.

The Backports Staging PPA is available here. You can add the PPA using the following command: $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lubuntu-dev/backports-staging

Please test it and give us feedback (Matrix preferred). One thing to note, DO NOT KEEP THIS PPA ENABLED AFTER UPGRADING TO THE PACKAGES IT CONTAINS. We plan on migrating LXQt 1.2 to the main Backports PPA officially on Friday, November 25th, 2022 assuming no showstopper issues present themselves.

You, yes you, can help

If you have some time, please consider joining us. If you would like to help us continue the development of the project long-term, you can donate to the Lubuntu project here.

(Please support our friends at 9to5linux.com and at TuxDigital.)

19 Jul

Lubuntu 22.04 Backports PPA Released With LXQt 1.1

The Lubuntu Team is happy to announce that the Lubuntu Backports PPA is now available for general use. You can find details on enabling it below.

What is the Lubuntu Backports PPA?

Our Backports PPA is modeled after Kubuntu’s. It exists to provide the latest LXQt desktop stack on top of a stable Ubuntu base. (The concept could also be considered similar to KDE Neon.)

As time goes on, our development focus will continue to be on new releases, and we plan on landing and testing changes there prior to pushing them to Backports. That being said, this is a perfect middle ground between stability and new features that users of all experience levels will be able to enjoy.

Is this a separate edition of Lubuntu?

Nope, this is still the same Lubuntu you know and love, you’re just getting new features available on the regular releases earlier than everyone else on the LTS release. You’re jumping on an in-between track.

Okay, so how do I enable it?

The Backports PPA is available here. You can add the PPA using the following command:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lubuntu-dev/backports

Please let us know (Matrix preferred) if anything is off. One thing to note, IF YOU ENABLED THE BACKPORTS STAGING PPA AS PART OF THE CALL FOR TESTING, PLEASE DISABLE IT NOW.

(If demand is popular, we may also release an ISO alongside 22.04.1 with the Backports PPA enabled. Please let us know in the comments or on social media if you want that.)

You, yes you, can help

If you have some time, please consider joining us. If you would like to help us continue the development of the project long-term, you can donate to the Lubuntu project here.

12 Jul

Lubuntu 22.04 Backports PPA – LXQt 1.1 Call For Testing

The Lubuntu Team is happy to announce that the Lubuntu Backports PPA is now available as a beta. Please see details below to help us test it.

What is the Lubuntu Backports PPA?

Our Backports PPA is modeled after Kubuntu’s. It exists to provide the latest LXQt desktop stack on top of a stable Ubuntu base. (The concept could also be considered similar to KDE Neon.)

As time goes on, our development focus will continue to be on new releases, and we plan on landing and testing changes there prior to pushing them to Backports. That being said, this is a perfect middle ground between stability and new features that users of all experience levels will be able to enjoy.

Is this a separate edition of Lubuntu?

Nope, this is still the same Lubuntu you know and love, you’re just getting new features available on the regular releases earlier than everyone else on the LTS release. You’re jumping on an in-between track.

Why is it still in beta if you already tested it in the development release?

The development release has a different audience than LTS users. LTS users may notice changes that development release users may not, and vice versa. Also, this is our first run of backports. Future updates should be smoother.

Okay, so how do I help?

The Backports Staging PPA is available here. You can add the PPA using the following command:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lubuntu-dev/backports-staging

Please test it and give us feedback (Matrix preferred). One thing to note, YOU SHOULD NOT KEEP THIS PPA ENABLED, ENABLE THE OFFICIAL BACKPORTS PPA WHEN IT COMES OUT AND INSTALL PACKAGES FROM HERE SELECTIVELY.

We plan on releasing this repository officially on Tuesday, July 19th, 2022 assuming no showstopper issues present themselves.

(If demand is popular, we may also release an ISO alongside 22.04.1 with the Backports PPA enabled. Please let us know in the comments or on social media if you want that.)

You, yes you, can help

If you have some time, please consider joining us. If you would like to help us continue the development of the project long-term, you can donate to the Lubuntu project here.

(Please support our friends at 9to5linux.com and at TuxDigital.)