Xfce 4.18 is a stable desktop release announced on December 15, 2022, with its most visible changes concentrated in Thunar, the file manager. It added useful tools for previews, search, split panes, and undoing file operations, alongside documented thumbnail and search fixes. Those improvements make the release appealing on features, but official materials do not provide benchmark data to establish that Xfce 4.18 is faster overall than another desktop environment. It is also no longer the current Xfce release line: Xfce 4.20 followed in December 2024.
What Xfce 4.18 is—and its place in the release timeline
The Xfce project announced 4.18 as a stable release on December 15, 2022, superseding 4.16. The announcement described it as “a new stable version which supersedes Xfce 4.16.” You can read the Xfce 4.18 release announcement.
This is a review of that release, not a description of the current Xfce version. The project announced Xfce 4.20 on December 15, 2024. A later announcement, dated July 17, 2026, reported Thunar 4.20.9, a bug-fix release in the 4.20 branch. Those milestones are covered on the Xfce project blog and in the Thunar 4.20.9 announcement.
If you are choosing what to install today, check your Linux distribution’s package information: the version available to you may not match the newest upstream release.
#1 Best Overall
- [INTEL POWERED CONTENT] - Built with a 8th Generation Hexa-Core Intel i5 and 32GB of DDR4 RAM; Modern, Windows 11 ready, with 4K support, Executive multitasking, media streaming and smooth, multi-tab web browsing; Perfect as an all-purpose multimedia computer; built for content creators; Plenty of RAM and Mass storage for photo and video editing powered by Intel HD 630
- [LATEST WIRELESS TECH] - This Dell Desktop Computer easily connects to the internet through the Built In WiFi / Bluetooth
- [SOLID STATE STORAGE] - This Dell Computer setup comes with an ultra-fast 1TB Solid State Drive (SSD); Setup as the primary boot device; Boot and load programs with lightning speed ; Additional expansion available
- [BUY & OWN WITH CONFIDENCE] - From the world's largest Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher; Quality Guarantee and Free Tech Support; Award-winning Customer Service; | Support Sustainable Business
- [MODERN HI-SPEED PORTS] - USB 3.0 (x4) | USB 2.0 (x4) | DisplayPort (x1) | HDMI Port (x1) | Audio Combo Jack (x1) | Audio Out (x1) | RJ-45 Ethernet (x1) | Internal SATA (x3)
What changed in Thunar 4.18?
Thunar received many of the release’s most noticeable user-facing additions. Together, they address everyday file-management tasks rather than changing the basic role of the desktop.
Preview, panes, and file operations
- Image preview side pane: View an image preview in an embedded or standalone mode.
- Split panes: Work with two locations in the same file-manager window.
- Undo and redo: Reverse or repeat common actions, including moving, renaming, sending items to the trash, creating links, and creating files.
- Color highlighting: Apply per-file color highlights to make selected items easier to distinguish.
- Recently used files: Open a location that collects recently used files.
Search, columns, and customization
- Recursive search: Search within directory trees rather than only the current folder.
- More list-view information: Add columns for directory file counts and file creation dates.
- Configurable toolbar and custom actions: Adjust toolbar items and use custom actions to tailor common tasks.
- More tab controls: Choose to restore tabs and show the full path in tab titles.
- Application defaults: Manage default applications more easily.
The release also improved trash controls and added deleted-date information. The project’s Xfce 4.18 feature tour documents these Thunar changes.
Rank #2
- 12th Intel Alder Lake N95 Processor – The GMKtec G3 S Mini PC is powered by the 12th Gen Intel N95 processor with 4 cores, 4 threads, 6MB cache and a burst frequency up to 3.4GHz. Compared with N100/N5105/N5100/N5095, the N95 delivers up to 36% overall performance improvement. Perfect for routine tasks, office work, and home entertainment, this compact mini desktop is more convenient than traditional bulky PCs.
- 8GB RAM & 256GB SSD Storage – Pre-installed with 8GB DDR4 memory and a fast 256GB M.2 2242 SSD, the G3 S mini desktop offers quicker startup, smoother multitasking, and faster file transfers. Enjoy seamless performance whether you’re working on multiple applications, browsing, or streaming content.
- Rich Interfaces & Connectivity – The G3 S mini computer comes equipped with USB 3.2 (up to 10Gbps), dual HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz), and a 3.5mm audio jack. With support for WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45 1000MbE), it connects easily with monitors, projectors, printers, office equipment, and other peripherals, making it versatile for both home and business use.
- Dual 4K Display Support – Featuring upgraded Intel UHD Graphics (up to 1000MHz), the G3 S supports 4K video playback and AV1 decoding for a smooth viewing experience. With dual HDMI outputs, you can connect two 4K@60Hz displays simultaneously, enabling efficient multitasking for work and entertainment.
- GMKtec WARRANTY - GMKtec offers a 1-year limited GMKtec's warranty for each mini PC, starting from the date of the purchase. All defects due to design and workmanship are covered. With a professional after sales team always ready to attend to your needs, you can simply relax and enjoy your mini PC.
Is Xfce 4.18 fast?
The official release materials document specific performance-related work, but they do not publish controlled measurements of memory use, startup time, or responsiveness against other desktop environments. That means the evidence supports saying that particular file-manager problems were addressed—not that Xfce 4.18 is proven faster overall.
Documented performance improvements and controls
- Thunar gained an option to limit thumbnail creation by file size, intended to help avoid possible performance issues with large video files.
- The project changelog records a fix for slow thumbnail loading in icon and compact views.
- The changelog also records removal of lag in Thunar search, along with additional thumbnail-loading behavior.
- The feature tour describes work on the thumbnail service and scheduler.
These details are useful if your slowdown occurs during thumbnail generation or file searches. They do not establish how a particular system will perform across unrelated tasks, nor do the reviewed official materials provide a benchmark comparison. See the Xfce 4.18 changelog and the feature tour.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Live Boot: Simply plug the USB drive into your computer, select the USB drive as your boot device, and experience Linux Mint without installation. This allows you to test the OS and its features before making any changes to your system.
- Install Option: Once you've tested and decided to keep Linux Mint, you can easily install it on your computer directly from the USB drive.
- Pre-installed software like LibreOffice for office tasks, a capable web browser (Firefox), email client (Thunderbird), and multimedia tools. This minimizes the need for additional downloads, saving you time and effort.
- Resource Efficiency: Designed to run efficiently on a variety of hardware configurations. It demands fewer system resources compared to some other operating systems, making it an excellent choice for older computers or devices with limited hardware specifications.
- Compatible with PC/Laptop/Desktop brands - Dell, HP, Sony, Lenovo, Samsung, Acer, Toshiba & more. Minimum system requirements 4 GB RAM Dual-Core Processor (2 GHz) 20 GB of free disk space
What that means for an older computer
Xfce 4.18 may be worth considering for an older computer if you want its desktop features and your distribution still supports the release. The documented fixes and thumbnail-size control may help with the specific file-management bottlenecks they target. They are not evidence that the whole desktop will feel fast on every older machine; hardware, drivers, distribution configuration, and workload all matter. For a meaningful speed comparison, measure the same tasks on the same hardware rather than relying on a general desktop-environment ranking.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changed in Xfce’s appearance and display handling?
Xfce 4.18 includes refinements for both display scaling and interface customization. The project describes “improved support for UI scaling” and fixes for many blurry icons in core components when scaling is used. That is relevant on HiDPI displays, although the release notes do not establish identical results across all applications, themes, or hardware.
Rank #4
- Model: Dell OptiPlex 7050 Small Form Factor (SFF)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-7700 3.60 GHz
- Memory: 32GB DDR4 Ram
- Storage: 1TB Solid State Drive (SSD) Fast Boot + Storage
- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro (64-bit)
Appearance settings can optionally select a matching Xfwm4 theme when you choose a new theme. In Thunar, per-file color highlights and configurable toolbar items provide further ways to adapt the interface. The release also combines the date/time and clock panel plugins and adds clock display options. Whether those choices look cleaner or more useful depends on your preferences; the release provides options rather than a single prescribed style.
Other practical desktop refinements
Beyond Thunar and appearance, the release improves display settings’ response to newly connected monitors. Together with easier default-application management and the clock-panel changes, these updates address routine configuration and desktop use. The official Xfce 4.18 tour provides the project’s feature overview.
Quick Recap
Who should consider Xfce 4.18?
- Thunar users: The preview pane, split panes, recursive search, undo and redo, and toolbar customization are the release’s clearest practical draws.
- Users adjusting a scaled display: The project specifically reports improvements to UI scaling and blurry icons in core components.
- Users investigating file-manager slowdowns: The thumbnail and search fixes target identifiable Thunar issues, but are not a general speed guarantee.
- Anyone installing Xfce now: Check your distribution’s supported version and release cadence. Xfce 4.20 and later Thunar 4.20-branch releases exist, so 4.18 is best understood as a historical release rather than the current upstream line.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
