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14 July 2026
Discovering OmegaLinux, an Arch-based distro built for old hardware, spotted on DistroWatch.
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LXDE Distros

A running list of Linux distributions built around LXDE, or offering it as an option, past and present. Some are still very much alive, others are long gone but still worth knowing about if you're digging into LXDE's history.

Active

Debian (official LXDE flavor): the rock-solid base, with LXDE offered as one of its official desktop images. Official site

Arch Linux: no official LXDE spin, but installable from the official repos if you want to build your system from scratch. Official site

Artix Linux: Arch without systemd (choose from OpenRC, runit, dinit, or s6 instead), LXDE installable the same way. As close as you'll get to LXDE's original lightweight promise on a rolling release. Official site

EndeavourOS: Arch-based, beginner-friendly installer, LXDE available as a community edition or manually installable. Official site

Loc-OS: Uruguayan distro (based on Debian/Devuan), developed by Flavio Agnoletto, offering dedicated LXDE editions built for reviving old hardware. Official site

DebLight OS: French project built on LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition), designed around LXDE for speed and simplicity on both old and modern hardware. Official site

KNOPPIX: one of the oldest live-CD distros around, offers an LXDE edition, though it pairs the lightweight desktop with a fairly large bundle of pre-installed software. Official site

OmegaLinux: started as a Lubuntu respin, fully rebased onto Arch in February 2026. Maintained by a solo developer (ohjhas, aka TweakNow). Official site

Dormant

WattOS: Debian-based, Openbox/LXDE, built specifically for low-spec and recycled computers. Marked as dormant on DistroWatch as of 2026, last updated February 2026. Official site

Discontinued

LXLE: Ubuntu/Lubuntu-based, one of the most beloved LXDE distros, known for its polished aesthetics and extra conveniences like Aero Snap and Quick Launch. The project was effectively abandoned in 2022, with its site and forums offline since 2025. Gone, but not forgotten. More info on DistroWatch

Lubuntu (pre-18.10 versions): Lubuntu itself is still very much alive, but it switched its default desktop from LXDE to LXQt starting with 18.10. Older releases (up to 18.04 LTS) remain the last official Lubuntu versions actually running LXDE. Official site

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