UbuntuHandbook

Refine – New Graphical Configuration Tool for GNOME Desktop

Last updated: March 10, 2025 — 2 Comments

For Linux with GNOME, there’s now new configuration tool to tweak advanced settings in this desktop environment.

It’s Refine, a free open-source tool that uses GTK4 + LibAdwaita for a modern UI to tweak desktop settings in Fedora Workstation, Arch, Manjaro Linux, etc with vanilla GNOME Desktop.

NOTE: Ubuntu is marked as “Unsupported Environment”. Some settings MAY not work as intended. User needs to confirm “Accept the Risk and Continue” for using the app in Ubuntu. See this bug report for details.

In App Review Gnome

GDM Settings 5.0 Adds more options to Configure GNOME Login Screen

Last updated: April 17, 2025 — 3 Comments

GDM Settings, the graphical configuration tool for GNOME Login Screen, released version 5.0 hours ago with new features!

GDM Settings (Gnome Display Manager Settings) is a free open-source tool that provides graphical options to configure background, themes, fonts, etc for login screen in Ubuntu, Fedora Workstation and other Linux with GNOME Desktop.

The application just released 5.0 version today. Here are the new features and how to install guide in Ubuntu 24.04 and Ubuntu 24.10!

In News GDM, Gnome

Customize Lock Screen in Ubuntu 24.04 from Lock screen Itself

Last updated: November 18, 2024 — 2 Comments

Boring with the default lock screen? Here’s a new extension to customize it from GNOME lock screen itself!

I’ve written about how to change lock screen background in Ubuntu with default GNOME desktop. Here’s now a new choice to do the job when you’re at the lock screen.

Meaning you don’t need to configure then lock (to see the change) and un-lock again and again. Just make changes on the fly, until it fits the best the you like.

In Howtos Gnome

GNOME 47 Released! Will be Default in Ubuntu 24.10 / Fedora 41

Last updated: September 19, 2024 — 1 Comment

GNOME, the popular free open-source Linux desktop environment, finally released new major 47 version a day ago on Wednesday!

If everything goes well, the new GNOME 47 desktop will be default in upcoming Ubuntu 24.10 and Fedora Workstation 41, and optional in Arch, Manjaro Linux, etc.

The new release features accent colors in the “Appearance” settings page. With it, user can change the Default Blue color of toggle buttons, slide bars, check-boxes, selection borders, etc., as easy as a single mouse click.

Ubuntu has the feature since 22.04. It has 10 colors while GNOME 47 has 9. They include Blue (default), Teal, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink, Purple, Slat. And, so far the accent color does NOT apply to the folder icons.

In News Gnome

Enable KDE Plasma 6 Style Floating Bar in Ubuntu 24.04

Last updated: September 16, 2024 — Leave a comment

This tutorial shows how to enable floating top panel in Ubuntu 24.04, Fedora 40, Arch, Manjaro and other Linux with GNOME 46/47 Desktop.

Unlike traditional system panel which is usually stick to screen edge, floating bar (or panel) looks kinda like a desktop widget. It floats on the desktop, and usually has a small distance from the top or bottom edge.

Some systems, such as Windows 11, Zorin OS, Deepin Linux, include options to enable floating taskbar. The KDE Plasma 6 desktop even use it as default, which also automatically switches to solid panel style, when a window approaches or is maximized.

https://ubuntuhandbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/floating-bar.webm?_=1

In Howtos Gnome

GNOME 47 Finally Adding Accent Color Support

Last updated: July 29, 2024 — Leave a comment

GNOME 47, the next release of the popular Linux Desktop environment, is in alpha stage now!

GNOME 47, which is scheduled to be released on Sep 14, 2024, will be the default desktop for next Ubuntu 24.10 and Fedora Workstation 41 if everything goes well.

The first alpha development release was out a few days ago. Which, introduced accent color support!

Ubuntu since 22.04 already has the feature out-of-the-box. Under “Appearance” settings page, there are some big dots with different colors under “Style” section. They are called accent colors. Choose one from there will apply the color to all toggle switches, check-boxes, slider-bars, selection borders, etc in the desktop.

In News Gnome, Ubuntu 24.10

Enable Top Panel for Multiple Monitors in Ubuntu 24.04 | 22.04

Last updated: July 28, 2024 — 5 Comments

Have Ubuntu computer connected with multiple monitors? Here’s how to make the top panel show in all displays!

GNOME, the default desktop in Ubuntu, so far only shows the top-panel in the primary display. There is a multi-monitors-add-on extension, allowing to make it work in all displays. However, it’s no longer in development and supports end at GNOME 3.38.

Thankfully, there’s open-source fork of that extension with GNOME from version 42 to 46 support, meaning for Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12, Fedora Workstation, RHEL 9 , and other Linux with recent GNOME.

In Howtos Gnome

How to Hide GNOME Top Bar in Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04 or 20.04

Last updated: June 25, 2024 — Leave a comment

This tutorial shows how to hide (or auto-hide) the top bar in Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and/or Ubuntu 20.04 with default GNOME Desktop.

Like the left (or bottom, if you moved it to) dock panel, the top bar can be hidden in Ubuntu and other Linux with GNOME Desktop to save screen space. And, this can be done by using one of the following extensions:

Just Perfection – GNOME UI & behavior config tool with many toggle options, including hide top-bar.
Hide Top-bar – support intellihide, that hides only when app window hit screen top or maximized.
Hide Panel Lite – very light version that only hide top-bar, except in overview. However, so far supports ends at GNOME 42.
Dock Unroll – light version that support GNOME 46.

In Howtos Gnome

Enable Some Cool Window Animations in Ubuntu 24.04 GNOME

Last updated: June 3, 2024 — Leave a comment

This tutorial shows how to enable some cool animations, when moving, opening, closing, minimizing and restoring app windows in Ubuntu with default GNOME Desktop.

All the animations here are handled by GNOME shell extensions, meaning they will also work in Fedora Workstation, RHEL 9, and other Linux with GNOME desktop.

NOTE: These animations will consume more energy and system resources. It’s NOT recommended for laptop running without power supply, and lower end PC with very old CPU and low memory.
Continue Reading…

In Howtos Gnome

How to Make Apps Start at Center in Ubuntu 24.04

Last updated: May 1, 2024 — Leave a comment

In Ubuntu desktop, most app windows by default start at top-left of screen. It’s quite annoying, since you have to move app window before it’s ready for use.

So, in this tutorial I’m going to show you how to tweak you desktop, to make it start app window at screen center automatically.
Continue Reading…

In Howtos Gnome