# LXQt 2.5 removes final LXDE dependency, completes Qt6 transition

> **Key takeaway:** LXQt 2.5 finalizes its separation from the legacy LXDE codebase by replacing the last remaining dependency, fully establishing itself as an independent Qt6-based lightweight desktop environment.

**Published:** 2026-11-05T00:37:26+00:00 
**Source:** 9to5Linux 
**Category:** distro-news 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/lxqt-25-removes-final-lxde-dependency-completes-qt6-transiti.html 

## Summary
The LXQt 2.5 desktop environment has been released, marking a significant milestone in the project's eight-year evolution from a merger of LXDE and Razor-qt components. This version eliminates the final remaining dependency on LXDE libraries, completing LXQt's transition to a fully independent Qt6-based codebase. The release introduces enhancements across multiple core components including PCManFM-Qt file manager, QTerminal, and the LXQt Panel.

For users and distributions shipping LXQt, this release represents both a technical cleanup and a functional improvement. The removal of legacy LXDE dependencies reduces maintenance burden and potential security surface, while component-specific updates refine the lightweight desktop experience that LXQt targets for older hardware and resource-constrained systems.

## Component changes in LXQt 2.5
- **LXDE dependency removal:** The final LXDE library dependency has been eliminated, completing the project's architectural separation from its predecessor and fully committing to Qt6.
- **QTerminal enhancements:** The terminal emulator receives functional improvements in this release, though specific feature details were not enumerated in source coverage.
- **PCManFM-Qt updates:** The file manager component gains changes as part of this release cycle, continuing its Qt6-based development.
- **LXQt Panel refinements:** The panel subsystem receives attention in 2.5, affecting the core desktop shell experience for users.

## Why it matters
For Linux distributions that maintain LXQt as a lightweight desktop option—particularly those targeting older x86_64 hardware, ARM SBCs, or minimal installations—this release reduces packaging complexity by removing legacy GTK2/GTK3 LXDE library requirements. The completed Qt6 transition aligns LXQt with modern distribution toolchain standards and simplifies long-term maintenance for Debian, Fedora, Arch, and other distros that ship the environment.