How to Reset Gnome Desktop in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: June 5, 2018

gnome shell

This quick tutorial shows you how to reset Gnome Shell to its original status in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

Note following steps will reset most settings to its original status in the default Gnome 3 desktop, but no guarantee of ALL Gnome appearances.

1. As you may already know, there’s a graphical tool Gnome Tweaks that allows to tweak advanced Gnome 3 settings. And it can be installed in Ubuntu Software:

2. Gnome Tweaks offers an option “Reset to Defaults“. It resets desktop theme, icons, fonts, show desktop icons, and some application window settings.

3. Some changes (e.g., Gnome extensions, favorites applications on left launcher, and some dconf database changes) won’t revert back via the Gnome Tweaks option.

If need, you can run command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) to reset all the settings:

dconf reset -f /org/gnome/

That’s it. Enjoy!

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I'm a freelance blogger who started using Ubuntu in 2007 and wishes to share my experiences and some useful tips with Ubuntu beginners and lovers. Please comment to let me know if the tutorial is outdated! And, notify me if you find any typo/grammar/language mistakes. English is not my native language. Contact me via ubuntuhandbook1@gmail.com Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/ubuntuhandbook1 |

3 responses to How to Reset Gnome Desktop in Ubuntu 18.04

  1. Romero Medeiros June 8, 2018 at 6:58 pm

    Worked for me. Thank you.

  2. I have Ubuntu bionic last I upgrade disto using terminal and restart PC it is automatic gone in terminal mode how can I restore it.

  3. Neither of the options actually work properly, this is not resetting GNOME shell, etc. Instead these ways only remove all configuration for those, this is far from what reset to default means..