Linux is known for being customizable, and the Ubuntu desktop is no exception.
But that doesn’t mean it’s possible for you to adjust everything you want out of the box.
That requires the installation of additional software.
Here’s a look at the ways you could use it to configure much of your Ubuntu experience.
Much of what you see comes courtesy of the GNOME desktop environment (hence the name GNOME Tweaks).
Part of what Ubuntu does to differentiate itself is use its own custom theme, known as Yaru.
Look underAppearance > Themes > Legacy Applications.
As the name of the setting suggests, this won’t impact all applications.
Change the GNOME Shell Theme
What we describe as the “theme” is broken up into multiple parts.
To change this part of your desktop, you better select a new GNOME Shell theme.
you’ve got the option to do this underAppearance > Themes > Shell.
But first, you must installthe User Themes GNOME extension.
Change Icon Theme
What about the icons that show up when you kick off the Files app?
Those icons that appear in toolbars within applications?
you could change those too, and yes, they also require their own separate theme.
Many desktop themes come with a companion icon theme, but you are welcome to mix and match.
It’s the first impression many of us get when we sit down at our machines.
On computers that aren’t set to fall asleep, the lock screen may serve as a defacto screensaver.
you’re able to find that setting underAppearance > Lock Screen.
Tweak Clock Appearance
The clock is an ever-present part of most computer interfaces.
In Ubuntu, it sits at the top of the screen, directly in the center.
But if you want to tweak the clock further, that’s where GNOME Tweaks comes in.
Is the text too small?
Does it look blurry?
Do you wish to use a different font?
These are things you’ve got the option to address in GNOME Tweaks.
GNOME has a different workflow, so there’s only a close button in the top-right of each window.
Ubuntu, on the other hand, has minimize and maximize buttons as well.
Just look underWindow Titlebars > Titlebar Buttons.
Keep Laptop Awake When Closed
Sometimes you may want to use a laptop as a desktop.
You have an external keyboard and mouse.
You have an external monitor.
You’re all set.
Or maybe you want toturn your laptop into a home media server.
Open GNOME Tweaks, then go toGeneral.
There you’re free to decide whether to suspend the laptop when closed.
You move the cursor around, and you click.
What more is there?
You choose a window to switch to it, for example.
But you could say that click is actually superfluous.
Linux has long supported allowing you to focus on a window simply by hovering your cursor over it.
In Ubuntu, you just need to install GNOME Tweaks and head toWindows > Window Focusto do it.
Alternatively, what if you don’t want a window to maximize when you double-punch a title bar?
Say you prefer having the window roll up like on Mac computers in the pre-Mac OS X days.
That functionally is calledshade, and it’s possible for you to find that option and more underWindow Titlebars.
