diff --git a/ubuntu-desktop-prune.sh b/ubuntu-desktop-prune.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ace7db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ubuntu-desktop-prune.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,510 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# ubuntu-desktop-prune.sh
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2026 LINUXexpert.org
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+# under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+# Free Software Foundation, version 3 of the License.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+# WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY
+# or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
+# for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+# with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# =========================
+# Version
+# =========================
+SCRIPT_VERSION="1.1"
+
+# =========================
+# Globals / Defaults
+# =========================
+LOG_DIR="/var/log/ubuntu-to-mint"
+mkdir -p "$LOG_DIR"
+LOG_FILE="${LOG_DIR}/ubuntu-desktop-prune-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S).log"
+exec > >(tee -a "$LOG_FILE") 2>&1
+
+CMD=""
+ASSUME_YES="no"
+WITH_RECOMMENDS="no"
+SKIP_DM_FIX="no"
+ROLLBACK_DIR=""
+
+# For safety gates
+MAX_REMOVALS_DEFAULT=75
+
+# =========================
+# Pretty output
+# =========================
+is_tty() { [[ -t 1 ]]; }
+
+if is_tty && command -v tput >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  RED="$(tput setaf 1)"
+  GREEN="$(tput setaf 2)"
+  YELLOW="$(tput setaf 3)"
+  BLUE="$(tput setaf 4)"
+  BOLD="$(tput bold)"
+  RESET="$(tput sgr0)"
+else
+  RED=""; GREEN=""; YELLOW=""; BLUE=""; BOLD=""; RESET=""
+fi
+
+info() { echo "${BLUE}INFO:${RESET}  $*"; }
+ok()   { echo "${GREEN}OK:${RESET}    $*"; }
+warn() { echo "${YELLOW}WARN:${RESET}  $*"; }
+die()  { echo "${RED}ERROR:${RESET} $*"; exit 1; }
+
+have_cmd() { command -v "$1" >/dev/null 2>&1; }
+
+need_root() {
+  if [[ "${EUID:-$(id -u)}" -ne 0 ]]; then
+    die "This must be run as root. Use: sudo bash $0 ..."
+  fi
+}
+
+on_err() {
+  local rc=$?
+  local line="${BASH_LINENO[0]:-unknown}"
+  echo "ERROR: FAILED at line ${line} (exit ${rc})."
+  echo "ERROR: Command: ${BASH_COMMAND}"
+  echo "ERROR: Log: ${LOG_FILE}"
+  exit "$rc"
+}
+trap on_err ERR
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<EOF
+ubuntu-desktop-prune.sh (v${SCRIPT_VERSION})
+
+Goal:
+  Best-effort, "gentle" removal of Ubuntu GNOME/Ubuntu-session desktop components
+  AFTER you have a working non-Ubuntu desktop (e.g., Mint Cinnamon/MATE/Xfce).
+
+Commands:
+  sudo bash $0 doctor
+  sudo bash $0 plan
+  sudo bash $0 prune --yes
+  sudo bash $0 rollback /root/ubuntu-desktop-prune-backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS
+
+Options:
+  --yes              Non-interactive / proceed (required for prune)
+  --with-recommends  Allow recommends (default: off)
+  --skip-dm-fix      Do not attempt to set LightDM as default before pruning
+EOF
+}
+
+# =========================
+# APT sanity
+# =========================
+ensure_no_apt_locks() {
+  local locks=(/var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend /var/lib/dpkg/lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock /var/cache/apt/archives/lock)
+  for l in "${locks[@]}"; do
+    if fuser "$l" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      die "APT/dpkg lock is held (lock file: $l). Close package managers and try again."
+    fi
+  done
+}
+
+apt_fix_broken() {
+  info "Attempting basic dpkg/apt remediation (best-effort)..."
+  DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive dpkg --configure -a || true
+  DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get -y -f install || true
+}
+
+apt_opts_common() {
+  local -a opts
+  opts=(-y -o Dpkg::Use-Pty=0 -o Acquire::Retries=3)
+  if [[ "$WITH_RECOMMENDS" != "yes" ]]; then
+    opts+=(--no-install-recommends)
+  fi
+  echo "${opts[@]}"
+}
+
+# =========================
+# OS / environment checks
+# =========================
+detect_os_minimal() {
+  [[ -r /etc/os-release ]] || die "Cannot read /etc/os-release"
+  # shellcheck disable=SC1091
+  . /etc/os-release
+
+  info "Script v${SCRIPT_VERSION}"
+  info "Log: ${LOG_FILE}"
+  info "Detected OS: ${NAME:-unknown} (ID=${ID:-?}, VERSION_ID=${VERSION_ID:-?}, CODENAME=${VERSION_CODENAME:-?})"
+
+  # We allow Ubuntu base systems (including “Ubuntu-with-Mint-repos” setups).
+  if [[ "${ID:-}" != "ubuntu" && "${ID:-}" != "linuxmint" ]]; then
+    warn "OS ID is not ubuntu/linuxmint. Proceeding anyway, but this script is designed for Ubuntu base systems."
+  fi
+
+  if ! have_cmd apt-get || ! have_cmd dpkg; then
+    die "apt-get/dpkg not found. This script requires Debian/Ubuntu-style package management."
+  fi
+}
+
+# =========================
+# Backup / rollback (limited)
+# =========================
+backup_state() {
+  local backup_dir="/root/ubuntu-desktop-prune-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
+  mkdir -p "$backup_dir"
+
+  info "Creating backup at: ${backup_dir}"
+  mkdir -p "${backup_dir}/etc"
+  cp -a /etc/apt "${backup_dir}/etc/" || true
+  cp -a /etc/lightdm 2>/dev/null "${backup_dir}/etc/" || true
+  cp -a /etc/X11/default-display-manager 2>/dev/null "${backup_dir}/etc/" || true
+  cp -a /etc/systemd/system/display-manager.service 2>/dev/null "${backup_dir}/etc/" || true
+
+  dpkg-query -W -f='${Package}\t${Version}\n' > "${backup_dir}/dpkg-packages.tsv" || true
+  apt-mark showmanual > "${backup_dir}/apt-manual.txt" || true
+  apt-mark showhold > "${backup_dir}/apt-holds.txt" || true
+  systemctl list-unit-files --state=enabled > "${backup_dir}/enabled-services.txt" 2>/dev/null || true
+
+  ok "Backup complete."
+  echo "$backup_dir"
+}
+
+rollback() {
+  need_root
+  local dir="${1:-}"
+  [[ -n "$dir" ]] || die "rollback requires a backup directory argument"
+  [[ -d "$dir" ]] || die "backup directory not found: $dir"
+  [[ -d "$dir/etc/apt" ]] || die "backup does not contain etc/apt: $dir/etc/apt"
+
+  info "Restoring /etc/apt from: $dir/etc/apt"
+  rm -rf /etc/apt
+  cp -a "$dir/etc/apt" /etc/apt
+
+  if [[ -d "$dir/etc/lightdm" ]]; then
+    info "Restoring /etc/lightdm from backup..."
+    rm -rf /etc/lightdm
+    cp -a "$dir/etc/lightdm" /etc/lightdm
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -f "$dir/etc/default-display-manager" ]]; then
+    info "Restoring /etc/X11/default-display-manager from backup..."
+    mkdir -p /etc/X11
+    cp -a "$dir/etc/default-display-manager" /etc/X11/default-display-manager
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -f "$dir/etc/display-manager.service" ]]; then
+    info "Restoring /etc/systemd/system/display-manager.service from backup..."
+    mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system
+    cp -a "$dir/etc/display-manager.service" /etc/systemd/system/display-manager.service
+    systemctl daemon-reload >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  fi
+
+  ok "Rollback completed (APT + DM configs)."
+  warn "Rollback does NOT automatically reinstall removed packages."
+  info "Now run:"
+  echo "  sudo apt-get update"
+  echo "  sudo apt-get -f install"
+}
+
+# =========================
+# Display manager hardening (noninteractive-safe)
+# =========================
+ensure_lightdm_default_noninteractive() {
+  if [[ "$SKIP_DM_FIX" == "yes" ]]; then
+    warn "--skip-dm-fix set; skipping LightDM default selection."
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if [[ ! -d /run/systemd/system ]]; then
+    warn "systemd not detected; skipping LightDM enablement."
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  info "Ensuring LightDM is default display manager (debconf preseed + dpkg-reconfigure)..."
+
+  DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get $(apt_opts_common) install lightdm slick-greeter debconf-utils >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+  # Preseed the DM selection so noninteractive installs switch away from gdm3.
+  # Key: shared/default-x-display-manager
+  echo "lightdm shared/default-x-display-manager select lightdm" | debconf-set-selections || true
+
+  # Apply selection
+  DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive dpkg-reconfigure -f noninteractive lightdm >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+  # Debian/Ubuntu mechanism
+  mkdir -p /etc/X11
+  echo "/usr/sbin/lightdm" > /etc/X11/default-display-manager || true
+
+  if have_cmd update-alternatives; then
+    update-alternatives --set x-display-manager /usr/sbin/lightdm >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  fi
+
+  # If gdm3 exists, disable it so it can't take control
+  if systemctl list-unit-files | awk '{print $1}' | grep -qx 'gdm3.service'; then
+    systemctl disable --now gdm3 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    systemctl mask gdm3 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  fi
+
+  # Ensure LightDM enabled
+  systemctl unmask lightdm >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  systemctl set-default graphical.target >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  systemctl enable lightdm >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  systemctl daemon-reload >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+  # Best-effort start
+  systemctl restart lightdm >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+  ok "LightDM default selection/enablement applied."
+}
+
+# =========================
+# Target selection
+# =========================
+pkg_installed() {
+  dpkg-query -W -f='${Status}\n' "$1" 2>/dev/null | grep -q "install ok installed"
+}
+
+build_prune_list() {
+  # Conservative list: remove Ubuntu GNOME session + Ubuntu desktop meta packages + GDM.
+  # We intentionally avoid removing libs/toolkit packages that Cinnamon/Xfce/MATE may still rely on.
+  local -a candidates=(
+    ubuntu-desktop
+    ubuntu-desktop-minimal
+    ubuntu-session
+    ubuntu-session-minimal
+    gdm3
+    gnome-shell
+    gnome-shell-common
+    gnome-shell-extension-ubuntu-dock
+    yaru-theme-gnome
+    yaru-theme-gtk
+    yaru-theme-icon
+    yaru-theme-sound
+    ubuntu-wallpapers
+    ubuntu-wallpapers-noble
+    ubuntu-wallpapers-jammy
+    gnome-software
+    snap-store
+  )
+
+  local -a selected=()
+  local p
+  for p in "${candidates[@]}"; do
+    if pkg_installed "$p"; then
+      selected+=("$p")
+    fi
+  done
+
+  printf '%s\n' "${selected[@]}"
+}
+
+show_target_summary() {
+  local -a pkgs=("$@")
+  if [[ ${#pkgs[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+    warn "No target packages from the conservative prune list are currently installed."
+    warn "Nothing to do."
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  info "Prune targets (installed):"
+  printf '  - %s\n' "${pkgs[@]}"
+  return 0
+}
+
+# =========================
+# Simulation + safety gates
+# (FIXED: exact-match critical package detection)
+# =========================
+apt_simulate_purge() {
+  local -a pkgs=("$@")
+  local sim="/tmp/ubuntu-desktop-prune-sim.$$.txt"
+
+  info "Simulating purge (no changes)..."
+  set +e
+  DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get -s purge --autoremove "${pkgs[@]}" 2>&1 | tee "$sim"
+  local rc=${PIPESTATUS[0]}
+  set -e
+
+  [[ $rc -eq 0 ]] || die "APT simulation failed (exit $rc). See: $sim"
+
+  # Build an exact package list from the simulation.
+  # APT prints: "Remv <pkg>:amd64 ..." or "Purg <pkg> ..."
+  mapfile -t sim_removed < <(
+    awk '/^(Remv|Purg)[[:space:]]+/{print $2}' "$sim" \
+      | sed -E 's/:[a-z0-9]+$//' \
+      | sort -u
+  )
+
+  # Hard stops: ONLY if these exact packages are removed.
+  # NOTE: do NOT treat "systemd-*" as a hard stop.
+  local -a critical_exact=(
+    sudo
+    systemd
+    systemd-sysv
+    network-manager
+    openssh-server
+    linux-image-generic
+    linux-image-amd64
+  )
+
+  local c r
+  for c in "${critical_exact[@]}"; do
+    for r in "${sim_removed[@]}"; do
+      if [[ "$r" == "$c" ]]; then
+        die "Simulation shows removal of critical package '${c}'. Aborting. See: $sim"
+      fi
+    done
+  done
+
+  local remv_count
+  remv_count="$(grep -cE '^(Remv|Purg)[[:space:]]' "$sim" || true)"
+  info "Simulation removal count: ${remv_count}"
+
+  if [[ "${ASSUME_YES}" != "yes" && "${remv_count}" -gt "${MAX_REMOVALS_DEFAULT}" ]]; then
+    die "Simulation wants to remove ${remv_count} packages (too many for 'gentle'). Re-run with --yes only if you reviewed $sim."
+  fi
+
+  ok "Simulation looks acceptable. Review: $sim"
+}
+
+# =========================
+# Commands
+# =========================
+doctor() {
+  need_root
+  ensure_no_apt_locks
+  detect_os_minimal
+
+  info "Doctor checks..."
+  apt_fix_broken
+
+  local holds
+  holds="$(apt-mark showhold || true)"
+  if [[ -n "$holds" ]]; then
+    warn "Held packages detected (may affect pruning):"
+    echo "$holds"
+  else
+    ok "No held packages detected."
+  fi
+
+  local -a pkgs=()
+  mapfile -t pkgs < <(build_prune_list || true)
+
+  if show_target_summary "${pkgs[@]}"; then
+    ok "Doctor complete."
+  else
+    ok "Doctor complete (nothing obvious to prune)."
+  fi
+}
+
+plan() {
+  need_root
+  ensure_no_apt_locks
+  detect_os_minimal
+  apt_fix_broken
+
+  local -a pkgs=()
+  mapfile -t pkgs < <(build_prune_list || true)
+  show_target_summary "${pkgs[@]}" || return 0
+
+  # LightDM check (plan-time warning)
+  if [[ "$SKIP_DM_FIX" != "yes" ]]; then
+    if ! pkg_installed lightdm; then
+      warn "lightdm is not installed. prune will attempt to install/activate it first."
+    fi
+    if [[ -f /etc/X11/default-display-manager ]]; then
+      info "Current default-display-manager: $(cat /etc/X11/default-display-manager || true)"
+    fi
+  fi
+
+  apt_simulate_purge "${pkgs[@]}"
+}
+
+prune() {
+  need_root
+  ensure_no_apt_locks
+  detect_os_minimal
+
+  if [[ "$ASSUME_YES" != "yes" ]]; then
+    die "prune is destructive and requires --yes"
+  fi
+
+  apt_fix_broken
+
+  local -a pkgs=()
+  mapfile -t pkgs < <(build_prune_list || true)
+  show_target_summary "${pkgs[@]}" || return 0
+
+  # Ensure DM is safe before removing gdm3/gnome session packages
+  ensure_lightdm_default_noninteractive
+
+  # Re-run simulation immediately before changes
+  apt_simulate_purge "${pkgs[@]}"
+
+  local backup_dir
+  backup_dir="$(backup_state)"
+  info "Backup dir: ${backup_dir}"
+
+  info "Proceeding with purge..."
+  DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get $(apt_opts_common) purge --autoremove "${pkgs[@]}"
+
+  info "Post-purge remediation..."
+  apt_fix_broken
+  DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get $(apt_opts_common) autoremove --purge || true
+  DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get $(apt_opts_common) clean || true
+
+  ok "Prune completed."
+  info "Log: ${LOG_FILE}"
+  info "Backup (limited): ${backup_dir}"
+  info "Next:"
+  echo "  1) Reboot"
+  echo "  2) Confirm you can login to your desired session"
+  echo "  3) If you hit issues, restore via Timeshift/snapshot (preferred) or rollback APT/DM configs:"
+  echo "     sudo bash $0 rollback ${backup_dir}"
+}
+
+# =========================
+# Arg parsing (command-first OR options-first)
+# =========================
+parse_args_any_order() {
+  while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
+      doctor|plan|prune|rollback)
+        [[ -z "$CMD" ]] || die "Multiple commands specified: '${CMD}' and '$1'"
+        CMD="$1"
+        shift 1
+        if [[ "$CMD" == "rollback" ]]; then
+          if [[ $# -gt 0 && "${1:-}" != --* ]]; then
+            ROLLBACK_DIR="$1"
+            shift 1
+          fi
+        fi
+        ;;
+      --yes) ASSUME_YES="yes"; shift 1;;
+      --with-recommends) WITH_RECOMMENDS="yes"; shift 1;;
+      --skip-dm-fix) SKIP_DM_FIX="yes"; shift 1;;
+      -h|--help|help) usage; exit 0;;
+      *) die "Unknown argument: $1" ;;
+    esac
+  done
+}
+
+main() {
+  parse_args_any_order "$@"
+  [[ -n "$CMD" ]] || { usage; exit 1; }
+
+  case "$CMD" in
+    doctor) doctor ;;
+    plan) plan ;;
+    prune) prune ;;
+    rollback)
+      [[ -n "$ROLLBACK_DIR" ]] || die "rollback requires a directory argument"
+      rollback "$ROLLBACK_DIR"
+      ;;
+    *) die "Unknown command: $CMD" ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+main "$@"