I'm using xfce4 desktop on MX23. I can't choose new wallpaper. There is no Desktop Settings menu or icons on the desktop - Perplexity.

I'm using xfce4 desktop on MX23. I can't choose new wallpaper. There is no Desktop Settings menu or icons on the desktop

Your issue—no Desktop Settings menu and no icons or right-click menu on the XFCE desktop in MX23—suggests that the xfdesktop process, which manages the desktop background and icons, is either not running or has been replaced by another file manager or desktop manager12468.

Troubleshooting Steps:

  1. Check if xfdesktop is running

    • Open a terminal and run: bash ps aux | grep xfdesktop
    • If you don’t see xfdesktop in the output, it’s not running.

  2. Start xfdesktop manually

    • In the terminal, type: bash xfdesktop &
    • If your background and right-click menu return, this confirms xfdesktop was not running16.

  3. Check for other desktop managers

    • Sometimes, other file managers (like nemo, caja, pcmanfm, or nautilus) can take over desktop management, which disables XFCE's desktop features14.
    • Run: bash ps aux | grep -E 'nemo|caja|pcmanfm|nautilus'
    • If any are running, configure them not to manage the desktop, or uninstall them if you don’t need their desktop features.

  4. Restore desktop settings

    • If the above doesn't help, your user configuration might be corrupted2.
    • Try renaming the XFCE desktop config file: bash mv ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-desktop.xml ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-desktop.xml.bak
    • Log out and log back in. This will reset your desktop settings and may restore normal wallpaper and icon functionality2.

  5. Reset all XFCE settings (if needed)

    • As a last resort, rename the entire XFCE config folder: bash mv ~/.config/xfce4 ~/.config/xfce4.bak
    • Log out and log in. This will reset all XFCE settings to default2.

Once xfdesktop is working:

  • Change wallpaper by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "Desktop Settings" or by running: bash xfdesktop-settings
  • In the Desktop Settings window, use the "Background" tab to choose your wallpaper379.

If you use multiple monitors or workspaces:

  • Make sure to check or uncheck the "Apply to all workspaces" option as needed, since sometimes wallpapers only change on one workspace unless this is set correctly35.

If you see error messages (e.g., missing resources in xfdesktop):

  • This may indicate a package or theme issue. Try reinstalling xfdesktop or updating your system6.

Summary Table: Common Causes and Solutions

Problem Solution
No desktop icons or right-click menu Start xfdesktop process; check for conflicting desktop managers
Can't change wallpaper, settings menu missing Reset or delete xfce4-desktop.xml; restart session
Desktop background missing after update/monitor use Restart xfdesktop; check for external monitor issues
Persistent issues after reset Rename/remove ~/.config/xfce4 to reset all XFCE settings

These steps should restore your wallpaper and desktop settings functionality in XFCE on MX231236.

  1. https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=11704
  2. https://forum.manjaro.org/t/desktop-not-showing-any-icon-cant-change-wallpaper-in-setting-right-click-desktop-no-menu-pop-out/96660
  3. https://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfdesktop/preferences
  4. https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=245876
  5. https://www.reddit.com/r/xfce/comments/1hikio9/i_cant_change_my_wallpaper_on_the_new_xfce_version/
  6. https://itsfoss.community/t/mx-linux-xfce-missing-desktop-background-image/13660
  7. https://forum.mxlinux.org/viewtopic.php?f=108&t=83479&p=806166
  8. https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/my-desktop-not-displaying-wallpaper/65194
  9. https://www.addictivetips.com/ubuntu-linux-tips/automatically-change-wallpapers-xfce/

xfdesktop &
[1] 10294

(xfdesktop:10294): Gtk-ERROR **: 07:15:33.011: failed to add UI: The resource at “/org/xfce/xfdesktop/monitor-candidates-chooser.glade” does not exist

Your error—“failed to add UI: The resource at ‘/org/xfce/xfdesktop/monitor-candidates-chooser.glade’ does not exist”—is a known bug in recent XFCE (4.20.x) versions, especially after updates or when using multiple/external monitors. This bug causes xfdesktop to crash, which in turn removes desktop icons, right-click menus, and wallpaper control13567.

Workaround:
The most effective workaround, as confirmed by multiple users and the XFCE developers, is to delete the corrupted monitor icon configuration file. Here’s how:

  1. Open a terminal.

  2. Run:

    bash

    rm ~/.config/xfce4/desktop/icons.screen0.yaml

    If you use multiple monitors, you may also have files like icons.screen1.yaml, etc. You can remove those too:

    bash

    rm ~/.config/xfce4/desktop/icons.screen*.yaml

  3. Log out and log back in, or restart your session.

This will force XFCE to regenerate the icon configuration files, which should restore desktop icons, right-click menu, and wallpaper settings56.

Why this works:

  • The bug is triggered by a mismatch or corruption in the monitor icon configuration file, often after display changes or upgrades.
  • Removing the file resets the desktop configuration for icons and allows xfdesktop to start normally56.

If you still have issues:

  • Make sure you have the latest updates for MX23 and XFCE4 packages.
  • If the problem persists, consider reporting it to the XFCE or MX Linux developers, referencing the upstream bug6.

Summary Table:

Symptom Solution
No desktop icons, no right-click, no wallpaper Remove icons.screen*.yaml files
xfdesktop crashes with Gtk-ERROR Remove icons.screen*.yaml files
Issue after monitor changes or XFCE update Remove icons.screen*.yaml files

This workaround is safe and widely recommended as a temporary fix until an upstream patch is released156.

  1. https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=18094
  2. https://itsfoss.community/t/mx-linux-xfce-missing-desktop-background-image/13660
  3. https://www.reddit.com/r/xfce/comments/1ikkjx2/desktop_error_with_version_control/
  4. https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/my-desktop-not-displaying-wallpaper/65194
  5. https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfdesktop/-/issues/382
  6. https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfdesktop/-/issues/374
  7. https://irclogs.ubuntu.com/2024/12/17/%23xubuntu-devel.html
  8. https://forum.manjaro.org/t/xfce-desktop-not-showing-up-in-selector-in-lightdm-login-screen/121110