---
title: "Coming to 26.04 LTS: Three Layouts"
id: "3049"
type: "post"
slug: "coming-to-26-04-lts-three-layouts"
published_at: "2025-12-11T18:41:20+00:00"
modified_at: "2025-12-11T18:41:20+00:00"
url: "https://ubuntustudio.org/2025/12/coming-to-26-04-lts-three-layouts/"
markdown_url: "https://ubuntustudio.org/2025/12/coming-to-26-04-lts-three-layouts.md"
excerpt: "Xfce Legacy A lot of people have asked us why Ubuntu Studio comes with a panel on top as the default. For that, it’s a simple answer: Legacy. When Ubuntu Studio 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin) released over 13 years ago,..."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Development"
  - "News"
  - "Planet Ubuntu"
  - "Testing"
---

## Xfce Legacy

A lot of people have asked us why Ubuntu Studio comes with a panel on top as the default. For that, it’s a simple answer: Legacy.

When Ubuntu Studio 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin) released over 13 years ago, it was released with a top panel by default as that was the default for our desktop envirionment: Xfce.

Fast-forward eight years to 20.10 and Xfce was no longer our default desktop environment: we had switched to KDE’s Plasma Desktop. Plasma has a bottom panel by default, similar to Windows. However, to ease the transition for our long-time users, we kept the panel on top by default, resizing it to be similar to the default top panel of Xfce.

## A macOS-Like Layout

With 25.10’s release, we included an additional layout: two panels. One panel is on top with a global menu, and the bottom contains some default applications, a trash can, and a full-screen application launcher. This is a way to feel familiar to those with a similar layout from where they may be coming from, being an operating system for creativity: macOS.

## Familiarity and Traditionalism: Windows-like Layout

Starting with 26.04 LTS, we’ll also include one more layout: a bottom, Windows 10-like layout. This is to ease the transition for those coming from Windows, and due to popular request and reports.

## Should We Change The Default?

It has been 13 years since we defaulted to a top panel, but is that the right idea anymore?

Right now, on the Ubuntu Discourse, [we have a poll](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/coming-to-ubuntu-studio-26-04-lts-three-layouts/)
 to decide if we should change the default layout starting with 26.04 LTS. This will not affect layouts for anyone upgrading from a prior release, but only new installations or new users going forward.

If you would like to participate in the poll, [head on over to the Ubuntu Discourse and cast a vote](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/coming-to-ubuntu-studio-26-04-lts-three-layouts/)
!