You might want to go through with setting up Gnome through Gnome Guide first.

This guide is not going to be as detailed as the ones released in the main series as its content updates much more often as newer versions of Gnome and new extensions come out.

Facial recognition with Howdy

This applies outside of Gnome as well. If your computer supports facial recognition, you can check the details to setting up Howdy from the official GitHub page.

Better-looking Fonts

The Adwaita series font is pretty good, but I find the IBM Plex series to be more modern and pleasing.

Fedora

sudo dnf install ibm-plex-fonts-all

Arch

sudo pacman -S ttf-ibm-plex

Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt install fonts-ibm-plex

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-name "'IBM Plex Sans 11'"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/document-font-name "'IBM Plex Sans 12'"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/monospace-font-name "'IBM Plex Mono 11'"

GNOME Extensions

Personal Essentials

AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support

Adds AppIndicator, KStatusNotifierItem and legacy Tray icons support to the Shell.

Battery Health Charging

Lets you set charging thresholds to preserve battery health.

Caffeine

Prevents screen dimming and suspension on demand.

Clipboard Indicator

Provides a clipboard history and quick paste menu in the top panel.

Windows-like <Super>v keyboard shortcut

dconf write /org/gnome/shell/keybindings/toggle-message-tray "['<Super>M']"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/clipboard-indicator/toggle-menu "['<Super>V']"

Dash to Dock

Moves the dash out of overview into a dock for quicker app launching and window switching.

My settings:

Go to the extension's settings --> Appearances, turn on Shrink the dash to make the dash smaller and slicker.

Just Perfection

Tweaks or hides nearly every GNOME Shell UI element for fine‑grained control.

My settings:

# Make top bar thinner
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/panel-size 28

# Hide ripple box in hot corner
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/ripple-box false

# Hide searchbar in overview (you can still search
# by just typing)
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/search false

# Hide window titles when hovering over windows in
# overview
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/window-preview-caption false

# Always show workspace switchers no matter how many
# workspaces are opened (especially useful for dynamic
# workspace users)
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/workspace-switcher-should-show true

# Make workspace switchers larger
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/workspace-switcher-size 13

Kiwi is not Apple

Offers many UI changes to make Gnome more Mac-like. I use it for the window title, lock key indicator, and transparent window move function.

# aier's Kiwi settings

# Disable (for consistency):
# This feature stylizes titlebuttons to look
# like traffic lights. They can be inconsistent.
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/kiwi/enable-app-window-buttons "false"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/kiwi/show-window-controls "false"

# Enable (for aesthetics):
# Stylize the keyboard layout indicator
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/kiwi/keyboard-indicator "true"

# Enable (for utility):
# Great utility; allows you to see lock keys
# status on the top bar. This replaces the lock
# keys extension that used to be in my setup.
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/kiwi/lock-icon "true"

# Disable (for personal preference):
# This feature moves the clock to the right and
# moves notifications to the quick settings.
# I prefer the original Gnome layout.
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/kiwi/move-calendar-right "false"

# Disable (due to buginess & personal preference)
# I personally dislike this behavior as I
# prefer manual window and workspace management.
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/kiwi/move-window-to-new-workspace "false"

# Enable (for aesthetic & utility)
# This fills up empty space on the left side and
# you can click on it for additional functionality.
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/kiwi/show-window-title "true"

# Disable (due to buginess & personal preference)
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/kiwi/transparent-move "false"

Quality of Life Additions

Alphabetical App Grid

Sorts the app grid alphabetically to make apps easier to find.

My settings:

Position of ordered folders --> Start, to make folders appear before apps.

Custom Reboot

Adds “Reboot to…” options for booting into another OS or firmware.

Emoji Copy

Adds an emoji picker to search and copy emojis quickly.

The default <Super>. keybinding for Emoji Copy sometimes interferes with the ibus emoji shortcut, I simply remapped it to <Super><Shift>v.

GNOME Fuzzy App Search

Enables fuzzy matching in Activities search to find apps without exact names.

Auto Power Profile

Changes power profile based on AC status and battery percentage.

Night Theme Switcher

Switcher between light and dark theme depending on sunrise/sunset.

Previously in My Setup

Blur my Shell

Info

Always opens a new app instance from the dash or app grid.

Adds customizable blur effects to GNOME Shell elements for a polished look.

Note

I have replaced Blur My Shell's functionalities with the Kiwi extension.

Launch New Instance

Info

Always opens a new app instance from the dash or app grid.

Note

I no longer use this extension because you can simply do control enter when searching an app to open a new instance. With this said, you'd gain back the default ability to switch to an app through the overview search.

Lock Keys

Shows Caps Lock and Num Lock status in the top panel.

Archived because kiwi has this feature built in.

Tinted Shell

Tints Gnome Shell elements to match with accent color.

User Themes

Allows loading and applying custom GNOME Shell themes from your home directory.

Contributors

aier9500Lunear01

Changelog

1/13/26, 6:07 PM

View All Changelog

• 8792e-Fixed container syntax error and consistency.on 1/13/26
• c3f67-Moved shortcuts to main Gnome guide.on 1/13/26
• ff00d-+ appindicator m category for tinted shell m alphabetical order for all items.on 1/13/26
• 650cd-Grammatical change and remove transparent move behavior from Kiwi extension.on 12/16/25
• 35118-Grammar and Spell Checks for the entire Webon 12/11/25
• 54c8f-Restructuring for better asset management.on 12/9/25
• a7215-Update to use permalinkon 12/1/25
• 120a4-Simplify notes.on 11/26/25
• b7fdb-Trying out new contributor format.on 11/26/25
• 85ff1-+- use Dconf instead of Gsettings for cli +- Dash to Dock now essential +- Lock Keys archived + Kiwi & settings + Auto Power Profileon 11/26/25
• 15837-Polishing aier's Gnome and pinning it.on 11/13/25
• 26c5a-Restructuring tags.on 11/10/25
• b3a9f-Updated extension usage and added "Previously in My Setup" section.on 10/28/25
• f9939-Refactor just-perfection extension settings and update user themes section for clarityon 10/21/25
• 82fe7-Prettier formatting.on 10/16/25
• 272c1-Clarify usage of the just-perfection extension to address visual inconsistencies and bugs with the top bar.on 10/9/25
• cd412-Update top bar settings for just perfection.on 10/9/25
• 4a816-Adding Author.on 9/28/25
• 02788-Adding Howdy and making the page prettier.on 9/28/25
• 091f4-Remove outdated aier's Fedora Gnome reference guide and update links in Gnome Guideon 9/26/25
• ca005-aier's Fedora Guide Finished First Editionon 9/26/25