Archives For Gnome

UPDATE May 2024: The Extension support stuck at GNOME 42, meaning Ubuntu 22.04 only!

Want to set different wallpaper for each desktop workspace? You can now do this in Ubuntu and Fedora via a GNOME extension.

This is one of my favorite features when Ubuntu was using Unity as default desktop. After switched back to GNOME, I didn’t find an alternative method to re-implement this feature until I met this extension.

However, this method does not display different wallpapers in overview. Wallpaper applies only when you switched to that desktop (workspace). So, it may be called change wallpaper automatically when switching desktop.

Install the Extension & Set wallpapers in Ubuntu 22.04:

For Ubuntu 22.04, first search for and install “Extension Manager” from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04

Next, press Super (Windows logo) key to open overview, search for and open the tool you just installed.

When it opens, navigate to “Browse” tab, search for and install “Walkpaper2” extension.

Finally, switch back to “Installed” tab, click the gear icon for the extension. In pop-up window, just click on the previous image to open dialog to set new wallpaper.

NOTE: GNOME by default has 2 desktops, and adds more dynamically. To set fixed number of desktop workspaces, go to “Settings -> Multitasking -> Workspaces”.

Set different wallpaper in other GNOME based Linux

For Fedora Workstation 36, Arch and Manjaro with GNOME, simply go the to link below and turn on the ON/OFF switch to install the extension:

In case you don’t see the ON/OFF switch, follow the link in that page to install web browser extension and refresh it.

To get the settings dialog, install and use “Gnome Extensions” app, either from Gnome Software or via pamac package manager.

There’s another extension with old GNOME support, however lack of versions support for Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 20.04.

Running Ubuntu 22.04 or Fedora 36 on a Lenovo IdeaPad laptop? It’s super easy to turn on/off the conservation mode.

Conservation Mode is a feature of Lenovo IdeaPad to prolong life of the battery. It’s targeted for those who plug-in ac power. With the mode enabled, the battery will only charge to 55-60%.

For the GNOME 3.36+ (defaults in Ubuntu 20.04+, Fedora 35/36 and optional in Arch and Manjaro), there’s an extension to add the toggle options into system tray menu.

As well, it also provides options to turn on/off camera, Fn Lock, Touchpad, and USB Charging.

How to Install the tool:

The tool is available as a Gnome extension called “IdeaPad Mode”.

For Ubuntu 22.04, first search for and install “Extension Manager” from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04

Next, search for and launch “Extension Manager” either from ‘Activities’ overview or ‘Show Applications’ screen.

When the app opens, navigate to ‘Browse’ tab and finally search for and install the extension:

As you can see, there are few other similar extensions to do the job, click install either one that you prefer.

For Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 11, Fedora and other Linux with Gnome, simply use the on/off switch in the page below to install it:

NOTE: Ubuntu 20.04 needs to first install the agent package by running the command below in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

Also, install the browser extension if prompted and refresh the web page for the on/off switch.

When you try to open an application in Ubuntu, Fedora or other Linux with GNOME, it’s possible to specify in which desktop workspace the app window should start!

Most operating systems today have multiple desktops to organize unrelated ongoing projects. In Ubuntu Linux, we usually called them “workspaces”. For most common used applications, user may even let them start automatically in specified workspace to improve workflow efficiency.

For Ubuntu 22.04:

1. Firstly, search for and install “Extension Manager” from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04

2. Once installed, press on Super (Windows logo key) on keyboard to open ‘Activities’ overview. Then search for and launch the tool:

3. When it opens, navigate to “Browse” tab, type ‘Auto Move Windows‘ in search box and hit Enter. Finally, click the install the extension.

4. Once installed, navigate back to ‘Installed’ tab in Extension Manager and click on the gear button for that extension you just installed.

In pop-up dialog, use ‘+’ icon to add apps and set the workspace numbers for each app.

NOTE 1: The search function in app selection dialog seems broken, you have to browse through all apps manually.

NOTE 2: GNOME desktop by default has only 2 workspaces, and adds more automatically when the last is in use.

To set workspace number to ‘3’, ‘4’, or bigger, open “Settings (GNOME Control Center) -> Multitasking”, enable “Fix number of workspaces” and set a number for it.

For old Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, etc

Other GNOME based Linux can also install the “Auto Move Windows” extension directly by using the on/off switch in web browser.

(Ubuntu Only) First, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to install the agent:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

Next, open the link button below and turn on the slider icon to install the extension:

Install browser extension if you don’t see the on/off switch in that page, and click refresh.

Finally, install “Gnome Extensions” app in either Ubuntu Software / Gnome Software, and use it to open the configuration dialog.

Install & Use “Gnome Extensions” app to configure it

Tip: Ubuntu 20.04 user may use “Gnome Tweaks” (available in Ubuntu Software) to configure the number for workspaces.

Messed up the app list in ‘Show Applications’ menu in Ubuntu 22.04? It’s easy to restore the original alphabetical ordering.

In Gnome, user can either click the 3×3 9-dots icon on dock or press Super (Windows logo key) + A on keyboard to open the ‘Start Menu’.

The GNOME Desktop ‘Start Menu’

App icons in that menu (definitely screen) support drag and drop re-arranging position. However, there’s no option to restore the app order.

To deal with the issue, user can either use the hidden configuration key or install an extension to do the trick in Ubuntu 22.04.

Option 1: Single command to restore app grid order

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command:

gsettings set org.gnome.shell app-picker-layout "[]"

The command set the layout to empty and let it re-generate automatically. However, you need to log-out and back in to apply change.

If you happen to use the classic Xorg session, simply press Alt+F2, type r in pop-up dialog and hit Enter to restart Gnome shell to apply change.

Option 2: Use Alphabetical App Grid Extension:

It’s ‘Alphabetical App Grid‘ which so far supports for GNOME version from 38 to 42. Which means you can install and use the tool to restore app grid in Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 11, Fedora 35/36, Arch Linux and Manjaro etc.

1. For Ubuntu 22.04, firstly search for and install “Extension Manager” from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04

2. Then, search for and open the tool from start menu or ‘Activities’ overview.

3. When the app opens, navigate to ‘Browse’ tab. Finally, search for and install “Alphabetical App Grid” extension.

After installation, it restore the alphabetical ordering automatically. In case you want to drag & drop re-arranging the app icons again, turn the extension off under “Installed” tab. And, re-enable it at any time you want to restore.

In addition, both methods do not restore (remove) the folders that combine multiple app icons in sub-menus. You need to manually drag them out, then use either method above to re-order them.

The popular Gnome Extension ‘Just Perfection‘ got an update recently, with love for small displays, e.g., 13 inch laptop with 1366 x 768 screen resolution.

For those never heard of the tool, it’s an extension, with lots of configuration options for customizing your Ubuntu, Fedora, or other Linux’s GNOME desktop appearance.

With it, you can hide the top-bar, the dock, ‘Activities’ button; change the position of clock menu; configure panel height, position (top or bottom), panel icon size, padding; change notification bubble size, location, and much more.

And it supports profiles to quickly switch between your pre-defined layouts and behaviors.

However, the app configuration dialog was always bigger than screen height in my case on 1366×768 laptop screen. I have to press Alt + F7 on keyboard, and move the cursor to move the dialog beyond screen top every time when trying to change something. And, use the shortcut again to move the header bar back in screen.

In the most recent 21.0.0 release, the extension now fixed the issue for GNOME 42 (defaut in Ubuntu 22.04, Fedora 36, and Arch / Manjaro Linux) with small as well as scaled displays.

In addition, this release add options to configure the size of “Alt-Tab” window preview and icon. Toggle display the separator in dock that separate favorite and other opened app icons.

‘Alt-Tab’ Window Preview and Icon size is configurable

And, it allows to change the position of OSD display, such as volume and brightness up/down pop-up, and configure the size of looking glass (GNOME Shell’s integrated debugger and inspector tool).

How to Install ‘Just Perfection’:

To install the extension in Ubuntu 22.04 +, firstly search for and install “Extension Manager” via Ubuntu Software.

Next, open the tool, then search for and install ‘Just Perfection’ under ‘Browse’ tab.

For old Ubuntu and other Linux systems, just turn on the slider icon in the link below:

NOTE: Ubuntu has to first run sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) to install the agent. And, install browser extension if prompted to make the on/off switch visible.

Finally, open the configuration dialog for “Just Perfection”, either via “Extension Manager” or “Gnome Extensions” app, which are available to install in Ubuntu Software/Gnome Software.

Gnome finally has an extension to enable rounded corners for all app windows, and customize the window borders!

Start in Gnome 40, more and more applications use GTK4 toolkit for rendering their user interface. So, you have modern apps with rounded (bottom) corners and classic GTK3 and Qt apps with sharp (bottom) corners.

To make your system apps look consistent, this project is created and works on Ubuntu 22.04, Fedora 35/36, Arch Linux, Manjaro Linux with GNOME.

GTK3 app with rounded corners

The extension provides options for configuring window border width, color, and radius. There can be some applications that are not working well with the extension, so it provides blacklist option. Also, it supports for setting different clip padding on per app basis.

Set border width, color. radius, and blocklist

How to Install the Extension in Ubuntu 22.04

Ubuntu 22.04 user can simply search for and install ‘Extension Manager‘ first in Ubuntu Software.

Then, search for and open ‘Extension Manager’ from Activities overview. Finally, use the tool to search and install “Rounded Window Corners” extension under ‘Browse’ tab:

After installation, you may switch back to “Install” tab in the tool, and click on gear icon to open the settings dialog for the extension.

Configure Extension

Install the Extension in Fedora 35/36 & other Linux

For Fedora and other Linux with GNOME 40+ desktop, simply go to the link button below in your web browser:

If you don’t see the ON/OFF switch, click the link in that page to install browser extension and refresh.

For Ubuntu 22.04, there’s now an extension to enable animation when you move mouse pointer over app icons on the left/bottom panel.

It’s a magnifying animation for the dock app icons under mouse cursor. Which, remind me of the old popular Avant Window Navigator.

The extension is called ‘Dash Animator‘ designed for Ubuntu with the default GNOME Desktop. As it requires GNOME 40+, only Ubuntu 22.04 meet the request so far. Though, it should also work on other GNOME based Linux that uses Dash-to-Dock, such as Manjaro Linux.

How to Install the “Dash Animator” Extension in Ubuntu 22.04

1. Firstly, search for and install “Extension Manager” application from Ubuntu Software.

If Ubuntu Software does not work, you may press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal, and run the command below to install the tool:

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-manager

2. After installed the tool, press Super (the ‘Windows’ logo key) to open Activities overview. Then search for and open it.

3. When it opens, navigate to ‘Browse’ tab, search for “dash to dock animator“, and finally click on “Install” button to install the extension.

Other Linux may simply go to the extension page via the link button below. And, use the ON/OFF switch to install it.

Without any configuration, the animation should work immediately after properly installed the extension.

(Optional) To disable or remove the animation, either use Gnome Extensions App or Extension Manager (both available in Ubuntu Software), or turn off the slider in the extension web page (see the button above).

Disable or Remove via Extension Manager

NOTE: removing the extension need restart GNOME (log out and back in) to apply change.

GNOME announced the first alpha for the next 43 stable series. See what’s new in this popular Linux desktop environments.

GNOME is the default desktop environment for Ubuntu and Fedora Workstation, and optional for Debian, Arch Linux and so forth.

The next v43 is planned for September 21, 2022. So far, it features new “Device Security” sub-settings page of “Privacy” in GNOME Control Center. With it, you can easily find out if “Secure Boot” is enabled in your machine.

Not sure if it’s unfinished or because of running in Virtual Machine. The shield icon has no description text. By clicking on it will show you current HSI security level, as well as options for “Minimal Protection”, “Basic Protection”, and “Extended Protection”. But, all of them shows only blank page for me.

Gnome Software now support for Web Apps. It as well allows swiping back in the shell using touchpad gestures. Gnome Weather now has a new ‘About’ dialog:

Other changes in GNOME 43 include:

  • Gnome Calendar now has a sidebar in main window, and has ability to zoom the Week view.
  • Dconf Editor now has a new app icon.
  • Gnome Text editor now support for opening local STDIN streams

Get GNOME 43 Alpha:

A GNOME OS installer image as well as the news file and source packages are available to download in the announce page below:

Use Alt+Tab or Super+Tab frequently in Ubuntu or Fedora Linux? This extension replace the default window switcher with advanced options.

It’s AATWS, Advanced Alt-Tab Window Switcher, a Gnome Shell extension which may be useful for those working with many application windows at the same time.

The extension adds type to search function to the Alt/Super + Tab window/app switchers. Which allows to quickly find your opened app or window. It will also try to search and launch system applications if no match app/window exist.

As you see, each item in the switcher has corresponding hotkey (F1, F2, F3 …) for quick access with one key, rather than hitting Tab multiple times.

Also, many configure options are available in the extension settings dialog, including:

  • Move Alt/Super + Tab switcher in screen top, center or bottom.
  • Show switcher in different monitor.
  • Use Up/Down arrows to switch workspace while using the switcher.
  • Configure window/app icon size, mouse actions, and more.

Many configure options for app/window switcher

How to Install AATWS App/Window Switcher

For Ubuntu 22.04, search for and install “Extension Manager” in Ubuntu Software. You may then use the tool to install the extension:

Install AATWS via Extension Manager

For Ubuntu 20.04 and other Linux with GNOME, use the ON/OFF switch in the link below to install it:

NOTE: Debian and Ubuntu need to first install the agent package by running the command below in terminal first:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

And install the browser extension via the link in that page if you don’t see the ON/OFF switch, and finally refresh the web page.

Want to configure the top-bar, dock, overview and other Gnome shell components with more settings? Shell Configurator is now updated with GNOME 41 & 42 support.

It’s an extension for add, remove, configure, and customize GNOME Shell with advanced settings. With it, you can:

  • Select login into blank desktop, overview or app grid.
  • Hide or auto-hide top bar.
  • Show/hide panel elements, e.g., Activities, clock, app menu, system menu (aggregate menu).
  • Change height size of top-bar.
  • Move top-bar to bottom.
  • Enable/disable Dash (the dock).
  • Remove the separator in dock between favorite and running apps.
  • Show or hide search in overview.
  • Set how many rows and columns in app grid.
  • Change looking glass size and postion.
  • Change notification bubble, OSD position and time out.
  • Show the new screenshot UI in top.

How to Install Shell Configurator:

For Ubuntu 22.04, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal and run the command below to install Extension Manager:

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-manager

Then, click “Activities” on top bar, search for and open the app:

Finally, navigate to ‘Browse’ tab, search and click install the “Shell Configurator” extension:

To open the settings dialog, switch back to “Installed” tab in Extension Manager and click on the gear button for the extension.

For other Ubuntu edition as well as Fedora, Debian with GNOME, use the on/off switch to install extension in the link page below, after installed the chrome-gnome-shell agent:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell