The development build of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS finally shifts to GNOME 42 (in Beta now) in recent update with many visible changes!

Firstly, the default wallpaper ‘warty-final-ubuntu.png‘ revealed. It’s no longer the old Ubuntu 21.10 wallpaper, but the brand new one:

Ubuntu 22.04 Wallpaper

The default Yaru theme has been updated. System menu, notification, and context menus look even better with more rounded corners and no border.

And, finally switching light and dark mode in ‘Appearance’ setting applies the full system colors! Though it seems to have a bug, which won’t work after selected a non-default accent color.

As you see in the picture above, Ubuntu 22.04 now supports for changing the accent color. Not only the highlight and check-box colors, but also the icons of ‘Ubuntu Software’ and folders follow the changes!

As well, the new Circle of Friends Ubuntu logo has been applied in the development release.

Thanks to GNOME 42, pressing PrintScreen on keyboard now open the new screenshot UI. It can take screenshots of selection area, app window, full screen, and record desktop or selection area.

New ScreenShot UI

Other changes in the Ubuntu 22.04 Dev update:

• Stick to Gedit and Gnome Terminal, while Gnome 42 switched to Gnome editor and Gnome console.
• Keep Gnome Screenshot app, though there’s built-in screenshot UI.
• Avoiding GTK4, though Files (aka nautilus) and Image Viewer (aka Eye of Gnome) are now GTK4.
• And more.

Known issues:

• 1. Change wallpaper in ‘Background’ settings only apply for current system color (Light or Dark).
• 2. As mentioned, use non-default accent color will make system menu, context menu of app icons on dock always light.

Can not navigate in Activities overview and app grid screen using Tab or arrow keys? Here’s how to re-enable the feature via extension in GNOME 40 & 41.

In GNOME 3.x, user may press Tab or down arrow and then left/right keys to navigate between app windows in the overview screen. Also, the keys can be used to navigate in ‘Show Applications’ app grid.

Navigation via Tab/Arrow keys in overview screen

However, in Ubuntu 21.10, Fedora 35 or other Linux with recent GNOME 40/41 desktop, you’ll find the keys no longer navigate unless you first hover over an app window in overview.

This is a GNOME bug will be fixed in the next GNOME 42. In current releases, an extension is available to re-enable the function so you can:

• use Arrow keys to navigate app windows in overview. However, Tab key does not work in my case.
• use Tab and/or Arrow keys to navigate app icons in ‘Show Applications’ app grid.

Install the Extension to Fix Overview Keyboard navigation:

1. Firstly, install chrome-gnome-shell package if you’re running Ubuntu. To do so, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard and run the command below:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

2. Next go to the extension web page and switch on the toggle button to install it:

If you’re first time installing a GNOME Shell extension via browser, you may not see the on/off switch until clicking the link to install browser extension.

NOTE for Ubuntu 21.10: the pre-installed Firefox is Snap package so far does not support installing Gnome Shell extension, use another browser or install Firefox as classic deb package.

The extension should work immediately after installation, just press Super (Windows) key or click on upper-left ‘Activities’ to bring up overview and try out the shortcut keys.

Want to display your avatar icon in the top-right corner system menu? Here’s an extension to do the job for Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.10, and Debian 11 with GNOME desktop.

You know, many Linux desktops (e.g., KDE Plasma and Cinnamon) display the icon/figure of user account in the system start menu.

GNOME however does not have the classic style ‘start menu’ by default. Instead, user may add the avatar icon into upper-right corner system tray drop-down menu (aka system menu).

Install Avatar Extension:

The function is implemented by a small extension called ‘Big Avatar‘. It so far supports GNOME version from v3.36 to 40.

1. Install ‘chrome-gnome-shell’

Firstly, make sure you have installed the chrome-gnome-shell package, which is required for installing Gnome Extensions in Ubuntu from web browser.

To install it as well as extension management tool, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. Then, run command:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell gnome-shell-extension-prefs

2. Install Big Avatar Extension:

NOTE: Firefox as Snap (pre-installed in Ubuntu 21.10) so far (Feb, 2022) does not support for installing Gnome Extensions! Use another browser or install Firefox as classic DEB.

Now, go to the link button below in web browser and turn on the toggle icon to install the extension:

If you don’t see the toggle icon, try installing browser extension via ‘Click here to install browser extension’ link and refresh the web page.

3. Configure Avatar icon size:

The icon should appear immediately after installation. However, the icon size is NOT looking good.

To adjust it, search for and open ‘Gnome Extensions‘ app from Activities overview screen. When it opens, click on the gear button and change the value accordingly.

That’s all. Enjoy!

As you may know, Ubuntu supports for displaying custom text message in the default GDM login screen. There’s now an extension to do the job for the lock screen!

Similar to Android lock screen owner info functionality, it allows you to add your message to the GNOME lock screen.

Custom text in lock screen

The extension is called ‘Lock Screen Message’. At the moment, it supports GNOME 40 and 41. Which means, you may install it on Ubuntu 21.10, Fedora 34/35, Arch Linux and Manjaro etc.

Install Lock Screen Message extension:

1. Install ‘chrome-gnome-shell’:

Firstly, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to install the ‘chrome-gnome-shell’ package and Gnome Extensions app if you don’t have it:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell gnome-shell-extension-prefs

This package enables the ability to install Gnome Extensions via a web browser.

2. Install the Extension:

Next, click the link button below to go to the extension web page and turn on the slider icon to install it:

If you don’t see the toggle icon, install the browser extension via the link in that page and refresh it.

NOTE: The pre-installed Firefox in Ubuntu 21.10 is a Snap package that does NOT support for installing Gnome Extensions so far. Use another browser or install Firefox as deb.

Finally, search for and open ‘Gnome Extensions‘ from overview screen.

Manage Gnome Extensions

And, click on the gear button after that extension to input the text message to display in lock screen.

That’s all. Enjoy!

For Ubuntu PC or laptop with a low resolution monitor, some app windows may be bigger than screen height, thus it’s NOT fully accessible especially for the bottom part.

This usually happens in some Qt apps and Gnome Extension settings dialog in my Ubuntu laptop with 1366×768 screen resolution. A workaround is moving the app window above the top of the screen. Here’s how to do the trick in Ubuntu!

Move app window above screen top

Option 1: Super + Drag

Normally, dragging an app window will maximize it when hitting top bar in Ubuntu Linux.

However, by press and holding Super (aka Windows) key on keyboard, it supports for clicking down anywhere of an app window and moving the pointer to drag it above the screen top.

Option 2: Alt + F7

Without holding any keyboard and/or mouse key, there’s also Alt+F7 keyboard shortcut can do the trick.

Once you press the key combination on keyboard, the current window will be caught via a little hand icon (🤚) in center. Then, just move the mouse pointer will move the app window to anywhere, even above the top of the screen. To release it, just do a single click afterwards.

That’s all. If you know any other method to deal with the issue that app height is bigger than screen size, tell me by leaving a comment here!

Want some cool desktop animations? the ‘Burn My Windows’ extension added some more animation effects for Ubuntu 20.04+, Fedora workstation, and other Linux with GNOME 3.36+.

Previously when user clicks to close an app window, the extension applies a burning window down effect.

Now, more effects have been added to disintegrate your apps in Ubuntu Linux with style. They are: ‘Energize’, ‘TV Effect’, ‘Wisps’, ‘Matrix’, and ‘T-Rex-Attack’.

See the short videos for new effects when closing app windows:

There’s also new “Broken Glass” effect in upcoming release to shatter your windows into a shower sharp shards!

For each animation, there’s a setting page to change the animation speed, scale, color, etc.

Burn My Windows settings (via Gnome Extensions App)

Install Burn Windows Effect:

1. Ubuntu user needs to first press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal, and run command to install the ‘chrome-gnome-shell’ package:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell gnome-shell-extension-prefs

Also install ‘gnome-shell-extension-prefs’ package for the settings dialog:

2. In your web browser, go to the extension web page and turn on the toggle icon to install it:

NOTE: Ubuntu 21.10 has Firefox as Snap package by default, which does not support installing Gnome Extensions so far. Use another browser or install Firefox as native DEB.

Don’t see the toggle icon? Use the ‘Click here to install browser extension‘ link to install browser extension and refresh the page.

After installation, search for and open ‘Gnome Extensions‘ app from activities overview screen:

Manage Gnome Extensions

When the app opens, click the gear button for ‘Burn My Windows’ and select your favorite animation!

Want to display time and date on your Ubuntu Desktop as widget? Without Conky or any other app, there’s now Gnome extension can do the trick by adding a live clock on your wallpaper.

It’s ‘Showtime’, an extension based on the Budgie Desktop widget. It displays transparent live digital lock, weekday, as well as date on the background wallpaper. And, it shows date and time in both vertical and horizontal styles.

Wallpaper clock

Wallpaper clock vertical style

User may change the display position by press and holding Super (Windows) key, and dragging to move it.

As well, it offers preference settings via “Gnome Extensions” app that allows to configure:

• 12-hour or 24-hour format.
• The display color.
• Date and clock display format.
• Date and clock font family and size.
• Shadow transparency.

How to Install the Extension in Ubuntu:

The ‘Showtime’ extension so far supports Gnome 3.36, 3.38 and 40. So it will work in Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 21.10.

1. Install ‘chrome-gnome-shell’:

Firstly, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to install the ‘chrome-gnome-shell’ and Gnome Extensions packages if you don’t have it:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell gnome-shell-extension-prefs

This package enables ability to install Gnome Extensions via a web browser.

2. Install the Extension:

Next, click the link button below to go to the extension web page and turn on the slider icon to install it:

For the vertical style, install this one instead.

If you don’t see the toggle icon, install the browser extension via the link in that page and refresh it.

NOTE: The pre-installed Firefox in Ubuntu 21.10 is a Snap package that does NOT support for installing Gnome Extensions so far. Use another browser or install Firefox as deb.

The widget should appear immediately after installation. After that, press Super (Windows) key and drag to move its position, and open ‘Gnome Extensions‘ from overview screen to configure it’s appearance.

Manage Gnome Extensions

That’s all. Enjoy!

For Ubuntu 20.04+ and other Linux with GNOME desktop (e.g., Fedora workstation, Debian and Arch Linux), there’s an extension lets you quickly locate mouse pointer.

The extension is called “Jiggle“. It highlights the mouse pointer position when it moved rapidly by applying 3 cool animation effects: Cursor Scaling, Spotlight, and Fireworks.

Cursor Scaling animation. Original pointer can be turned off

Fireworks effect

spotlight animation

User may choose one of the three effects to function. And each has options to configure the shake threshold, speed, and other settings.

Choose effect & change the “Shake Threshold”, etc.

Install Jiggle extension in Ubuntu 20.04

The extension at the moments supports for Gnome 3.36, 3.38 and 40. Though it works on GNOME 41 as reported.

The Extension so far does not support Ubuntu 22.04, scroll down and see another method to highlight pointer position.

1. Install Gnome Extensions App:

Before installing the extension, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to install the ‘chrome-gnome-shell’ and ‘gnome-shell-extensions-prefs’ packages:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell gnome-shell-extension-prefs

The first package is required for installing Gnome Extensions from web browser in Ubuntu based system. The latter installs the app for managing extensions.

2. Install Jiggle:

Next, go to the extension web page via your web browser. And then turn on the toggle icon to install it:

If you don’t see the slider icon, install the browser add-on and refresh the page.

After installed the extension, search for and open ‘Gnome Extensions‘ from Activities overview screen.

Manage Gnome Extensions

Finally, open settings for ‘Jiggle’ and apply your favorite animation and enjoy!

Highlight pointer in Ubuntu 22.04:

Without installing an extension, there’s hidden option to quickly locate the pointer position by hitting Ctrl key on keyboard.

Firstly, open system settings either by searching from activities overview or use system tray menu option:

When it opens, navigate to Accessibility in the left, then turn on the option for “Locate Pointer” in the bottom right.

When done, press Ctrl on keyboard to quickly find your mouse pointer and enjoy!

There are a few extensions (e.g., Dash-to-dock and Dash-to-panel) to change the Gnome Shell ‘Dash’ appearance and behavior. Here I’m going to introduce the new extension called “Dash from Panel“.

GNOME Shell Dash:

The ‘Dash’ is the bottom bar in GNOME Activities overview screen, that shows favorite apps and running applications. Ubuntu by default uses ‘Dash-to-dock’ extension to bring the Dash out of overview screen as a left panel. And, there’s a ‘Dash-to-panel’ extension for choice to combine it with top-bar into single Microsoft Windows style bottom panel.

Dash from Panel

This is a new gnome shell extension. It does not change the default ‘Dash’, but only let it appear as dock at top when moving the cursor over top bar. So, user may access favorite and running app icons quickly without triggering ‘Activities’ overview.

The extension uses native GNOME Shell Dash to display as “dock”. And, it’s very light. As a new project, Dash from Panel so far lack options to configure the position, dock size and padding etc.

Install Dash from Panel:

The extensions so far support GNOME 40+. Users of Ubuntu 21.10+, Fedora 34+, and Arch Linux may install it via following steps.

1.) For Ubuntu user, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. And run command to install the ‘chrome-gnome-shell‘ package first:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

2.) Go the extension page in your web browser via the link below and turn on the toggle icon to install it.

NOTE for Ubuntu 21.10+, the preinstalled Firefox is a Snap package that so far does not support installing Gnome Extensions. Use another browser or Firefox as Deb.

If you don’t see the toggle icon, install the browser extension and refresh the web page.

The extension works immediately after installation. User may manage the extensions later via ‘Gnome Extensions‘ app, which can be installed via:

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-prefs

And other systems may install it from Gnome Software.

Christmas is coming. It’s snowing lightly outside in my city! Let me show you the ways to enable falling snow animation effect on your Ubuntu or other Linux desktop!

1. XSnow

XSnow is till in active development. It enables falling snow effects in GNOME, XFCE, KDE, LXDE, OPENBOX, etc. Which means, user may run it in Ubuntu, XUbuntu, KUbuntu, Debian, and other based Linux distributions. It also works on RPM based Linux (e.g., Fedora) though the package from system’s own repositories.

Snow by default is falling on top of opened app windows and screen bottom. So, you won’t see snowflakes if there’s a window maximized.

XSnow provides an user interface to configure how many snowflakes, size, color, etc. And, it also may display Santa, Scenery, birds and more.

The app provides modern 64-bit (amd64), old 32-bit (i386), and arm64/armhf (e.g., for Raspberry Pi) deb packages for Debian and Ubuntu based systems. Just select download the latest package from the link below:

Then double-click the ‘.deb’ package to install via your system package manager. You can finally launch it from start menu (Activities overview) and enjoy.

2. Snow Extension:

For Ubuntu, Fedora Workstation, and other Linux with GNOME desktop, user may enable falling snow effect via extension.

And ‘Snow’ is one of the Gnome extensions that just do the job! It adds an indicator applet in system tray, with option to turn on / off the animation. It just works, nothing else!

To install the extension, click the button above to open the extension web page and turn on the slider icon. If you don’t see the switch, install web browser extension (via link in that page) and refresh the page.

NOTE: Firefox as Snap (defaults in Ubuntu 21.10) does not support installing Gnome extensions so far. use another browser instead. And, Ubuntu user needs to first install “chrome-gnome-shell” package by running command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

Let it Snow extension:

Similar to the previous extension, but with a few more features. This extension adds an indicate applet allows to control how much snow you want. It works with multiple monitors and will NOT fall over currently active window.

Sadly, the extension so far supports GNOME up to v3.38 though it works good in Ubuntu 20.04.

DownFall:

The extension adds falling text animation in GNOME desktop. Though the author says it can simulate leaves, snow, fireworks, and ufos, but I don’t know how!

Via Gnome Extensions app, user may configure the TEXT to fall, color, font, direction, and a few other behaviors.

Configure DoenFall

To configure this extension, user needs to install Gnome Extensions app via command:

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-prefs

For Fedora, use sudo dnf install gnome-extensions-app command to install it. Then search for open it from ‘Activities’ overview screen.