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Enable Top Panel Dynamic Transparency in Ubuntu

Last updated: June 16, 2025

Miss Ubuntu 18.04 style dynamic top panel transparency? Here’s how to enable this feature in Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 24.04 and 25.04 with default GNOME desktop.

The top panel transparency feature was removed since Gnome 3.32. If you like, it easy to get back in all current GNOME editions (up to v48 so far) by installing an extension.

For GNOME 43 and earlier

For Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and other Linux with GNOME older than v43, there’s a “Dynamic Panel Transparency” extension can do the job to fade your top panel to nothingness when there are no maximized windows present.

1. Open Firefox or Chrome browser and go to https://extensions.gnome.org:

Click the link text “click here to install browser extension” and follow the pop-ups to install the browser extension:

shell browser extension

2. Then open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T and run command:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

3. Go to dynamic-panel-transparency/ page, and use the ON/OFF switch to install the extension.

Finally, launch “Extensions” utility, turn on ‘Dynamic Panel Transparency’ extension and configure it with following options:

  • transition speed.
  • custom panel opacity.
  • foreground text color.
  • per-app basis settings.

In addition, you may also adjust the left dock panel opacity (0.2 for example) by running command:

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock background-opacity 0.2

For GNOME up to 48

The “Dynamic Panel Transparency” extension is no longer updated for recent GNOME. For users of Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 24.10 and 25.04, use the this extension instead.

Firstly, search & install Extension Manager tool from App Center (filter by Debian package).

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu Software/App Center

Then launch the tool, navigate to Browse tab, finally search & install the “Transparent Top Bar (Adjustable transparency)” extension:

After installed the extension, navigate back to “Installed” tab, and click open its preferences dialog. Then, you can configure the top bar opacity, and disable dynamic transparency (opaque top bar when a window touches it) if you want.

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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. Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/ubuntuhandbook1 |

    13 responses to Enable Top Panel Dynamic Transparency in Ubuntu

    1. Limn Y. H. April 27, 2020 at 5:37 am

      Thanks! It works!

    2. Rosten D’S April 27, 2020 at 4:25 pm

      Awesome! Appreciate it!

    3. Peter April 28, 2020 at 7:34 am

      Thanks! It works! Ubuntu 20.04

    4. f_leonardo April 29, 2020 at 7:06 am

      Yeah! thanks a lot!

    5. alfo April 30, 2020 at 1:06 pm

      Thanks! it works

    6. TOM HENRY May 4, 2020 at 2:24 am

      Bingo.
      Finally works for me on 20.04 LTS

      I was scared shitless, through the whole thing, and every time I get started I wish that the author would have discussed the “recovery plan” for me if their plan disn’t actually work for me on my hardware – just saying.
      Virgins need handholding.

      Anyway, you nailed it, your “How To” not only worked but was confidence inspiring enough for me to risk it if I bricked it. ;)
      SIncerely.
      Tom

    7. Mohamed Bendaoud May 11, 2020 at 9:54 pm

      Thank you. It worked perfectly on ubuntu 20.04.

    8. lcai May 13, 2020 at 12:08 am

      Thanks,It works on manjaro 20.0

    9. Volnei Batista May 15, 2020 at 5:10 pm

      Mr. Ji, a big “THANK YOU” from Brazil! So much happy now with my Pop! OS desktop!

    10. Himanshu Sharma May 25, 2020 at 3:44 pm

      Thank you so much

    11. Tanjim Ashraf June 13, 2020 at 11:51 pm

      Thanks.

    12. Satya July 2, 2020 at 2:04 pm

      Great! Thanks a bunch

    13. OG-ramSleep January 11, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      Thanks works in 20.10 as well.