Author(s)

aier

Co-author(s)

Lunear

Why Gnome?

Gnome is clean and highly functional (though it follows quite a strict and somehow stubborn philosophy). The Gnome workflow may be quite different compared what you are used to, but once you have gotten the hang of it, you may just fall in love.

Read over this guide to customize Gnome to your liking!

Haven't decided on a distro yet?

Check out Linux Guides to learn more about distros.

First steps

Go through the Settings app and make some quick tweaks to your needs.

Here are some settings I'd recommend checking out:

• Display — Adjust refresh rate and resolution as needed.
• Power — Change performance mode, show battery %, change suspend behavior, and more.
• Multitasking — Adjust according to your workflow.
• Appearance — You can add your own wallpaper and change to dark mode.
• Online Accounts — You can connect to your online accounts to access calendar, cloud drives, and more within Gnome apps.
• Mouse & Trackpad — You can change pointer sensitivity and turn acceleration on/off.
• Keyboard — Add and modify keyboard shortcuts and change keyboard input settings.

Install some apps for more advanced options

You can always use your distro's GUI software store (such as Gnome's Software instead of the terminal).

Install these apps if you wish to unlock settings changes that are not easily accessible with the stock Settings app.

You'll need:

Gnome Tweaks

Fedora

sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks

Arch

sudo pacman -S gnome-tweaks

Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

More details...

Dconf Editor

Fedora

sudo dnf install dconf-editor

Arch

sudo pacman -S dconf-editor

Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt install dconf-editor

More details...

Extension Manager

Flatpak (System)

flatpak install flathub com.mattjakeman.ExtensionManager

Flatpak (User)

flatpak install --user flathub com.mattjakeman.ExtensionManager

More details...

Highly recommended tweaks

All settings in Gnome Tweaks can be made through Dconf Editor (which you have downloaded), dconf, and gsettings.

Quick append

Append changes

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/preferences/button-layout "':minimize,maximize,close'"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-antialiasing "'grayscale'"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-hinting "'slight'"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/sound/allow-volume-above-100-percent "true"

Reset changes

dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/preferences/button-layout
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-antialiasing
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-hinting
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/sound/allow-volume-above-100-percent

Enable maximize and minimize title bar buttons

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/preferences/button-layout "':minimize,maximize,close'"

Append changes (Gnome Tweaks)

Windows > Maximize --> on

Windows > Minimize --> on

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/preferences/button-layout

Better text rendering

Sets font hinting to "slight" and antialiasing to "standard".

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-antialiasing "'grayscale'"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-hinting "'slight'"

Append changes (Gnome Tweaks)

Fonts > Rendering > Hinting --> slight

Fonts > Rendering > Antialiasing --> Standard Grayscale

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-antialiasing
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-hinting

Volume overamplification

Allows volume from your desktop to be amplified beyond 100% at the cost of distorsion.

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/sound/allow-volume-above-100-percent "true"

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/desktop/sound/allow-volume-above-100-percent

--> true

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/sound/allow-volume-above-100-percent

Install useful extensions

You can install these extensions by following the link to the Gnome Extension website, or you can search these extensions in the Extension Manager app that you've downloaded.

Launch New Instance

From Launch New Instance's Gnome Extension page:

"Always launch a new instance when clicking in the dash or the application view."

Dash To Dock

From Dash to Dock's Gnome Extension page:

"A dock for the Gnome Shell. This extension moves the dash out of the overview transforming it in a dock for an easier launching of applications and a faster switching between windows and desktops. Side and bottom placement options are available."

Clipboard Indicator

From Clipobard Indicator's Gnome Extension page:

"The most popular clipboard manager for GNOME, with over 1M downloads."

AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support

From AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support's Gnome Extension page:

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

Caffeine

An extension that allows you to stop your screen from turning off and suspending, on demand!

GNOME Fuzzy App Search

From GNOME Fuzzy App Search's Gnome Extension page:

"Fuzzy application search results for Gnome Search."

Append useful keyboard shortcuts

All following settings can be appended through Dconf Editor, dconf, and gsettings.

Quick append & shortcut cheatsheet

Use the following to append all keyboard shortcuts covered in this section. Keep in mind that some shortcuts would not be valid as you may need to install dependencies.

Append changes

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-left "['<Control><Super>Left']"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-right "['<Control><Super>Right']"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-left "['<Super>bracketleft']"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-right "['<Super>bracketright']"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-windows "['<Alt>Tab']"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-applications "['<Super>Tab']"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/control-center "['<Super>I', '<Super>semicolon']"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/home "['<Super>E']"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/panel-run-dialog "['<Super>R']"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings "['/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/','/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/']"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/binding "'<Super>Return'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/command "'ptyxis'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/name "'Launch Ptyxis'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings "['/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/','/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/']"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/binding "'<Control><Shift>Escape'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/command "'flatpak run io.missioncenter.MissionCenter'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/name "'Launch Mission Center'"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/keybindings/toggle-message-tray "['<Super>M']"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/clipboard-indicator/toggle-menu "['<Super>V']"

Reset changes

dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-left
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-right
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-left
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-right
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-windows
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-applications
dconf reset /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/control-center
dconf reset /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/home
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/panel-run-dialog
dconf reset /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis
dconf reset /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center
dconf reset /org/gnome/shell/keybindings/toggle-message-tray
dconf reset /org/gnome/shell/extensions/clipboard-indicator/toggle-menu

Keybinding	Shortcut
Ctrl + Super + Arrow	Switch workspaces
Super + Bracket	Move a window to the workspace left or right
Alt + Tab	Switch windows
Super + Tab	Switch apps
Super + I or Super + ;	Launch Settings app
Super + E	Launch home folder
Super + R	Run command dialog
Super + Return	Launch Ptyxis terminal
Ctrl + Shft + Esc	Launch Mission Center
Super + V	Open Clipboard Indicator

Switch workspaces (Windows-like)

Ctrl + Super + Arrow

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-left "['<Control><Super>Left']"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-right "['<Control><Super>Right']"

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-left

--> ['<Control><Super>Left']

/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-right

--> ['<Control><Super>Right']

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-left
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-to-workspace-right

Move a window to the workspace left or right

Super + [

Super + ]

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-left "['<Super>bracketleft']"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-right "['<Super>bracketright']"

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-left

--> ['<Super>bracketleft']

/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-right

--> ['<Super>bracketright']

Reset changes

dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-left
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/move-to-workspace-right

More powerful Alt–Tab and Super–Tab

Alt + Tab switches windows

Super + Tab switches apps

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-windows "['<Alt>Tab']"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-applications "['<Super>Tab']"

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-windows

--> ['<Alt>Tab']

/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-applications

--> ['<Super>Tab']

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-windows
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/switch-applications

LaunchSettings app (Windows-like)

Because Super + I may not work due to interference with other shortcuts, Super + ; is also provided here.

Super + I

Super + ;

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/control-center "['<Super>I', '<Super>semicolon']"

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/control-center

--> ['<Super>I', '<Super>semicolon']

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/control-center

Launch home folder (Windows-like)

Super + E

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/home "['<Super>E']"

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/home

--> ['<Super>E']

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/home

Run command dialog (Windows-like)

Super + R

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/panel-run-dialog "['<Super>R']"

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/panel-run-dialog

--> ['<Super>R']

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/wm/keybindings/panel-run-dialog

Below are some shortcuts that requires dependencies that you may not have depending on the distro. There will be instructions to download dependencies when you expand.

Appending the following changes will override all shortcuts you've added in the Settings's custom section.

LaunchPtyxis Terminal

Super + Return

Fedora

sudo dnf install ptyxis

Arch

pacman -S ptyxis

Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt install ptyxis

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings "['/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/','/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/']"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/binding "'<Super>Return'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/command "'ptyxis'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/name "'Launch Ptyxis'"

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings

--> ['/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/','/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/']

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/binding

--> '<Super>Return'

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/command

--> 'ptyxis'

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/name

--> 'Launch Ptyxis'

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis

LaunchMission Center (Windows-like)

Ctrl + Shft + Esc

Flatpak (System)

flatpak install flathub io.missioncenter.MissionCenter

Flatpak (User)

flatpak install --user flathub io.missioncenter.MissionCenter

Append changes (cli)

dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings "['/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/','/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/']"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/binding "'<Control><Shift>Escape'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/command "'flatpak run io.missioncenter.MissionCenter'"
dconf write /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/name "'Launch Mission Center'"

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings

--> ['/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-ptyxis/','/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/']

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/binding

--> '<Control><Shift>Escape'

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/command

--> 'flatpak run io.missioncenter.MissionCenter'

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center/name

--> 'Launch Mission Center'

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/launch-mission-center

OpenClipboard Indicator (Windows-like)

Super + V

Install in the Gnome Extension page.

Append changes (cli)

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

Append changes (Dconf Editor)

/org/gnome/shell/keybindings/toggle-message-tray

--> ['<Super>M']

/org/gnome/shell/extensions/clipboard-indicator/toggle-menu

--> ['<Super>V']

Reset changes (cli)

dconf reset /org/gnome/shell/keybindings/toggle-message-tray
dconf reset /org/gnome/shell/extensions/clipboard-indicator/toggle-menu

Ricing

TODO

Adw-gtk3

Ocean theme

Blur My Shell

Changelog

6/25/25, 2:27 AM

View All Changelog

• 9537b-Update terminal customization and guides to include devicons for Linux distributionson 6/25/25
• eee03-Adding tips for clarificationon 6/14/25
• 18e7d-Refactor Gnome guide: update author and contributor sections, remove TODO, and enhance keybinding instructionson 6/13/25
• cf777-Add TODO item for home folder shortcut in Gnome guideon 6/12/25
• 602e4-Refactor Gnome guide: remove TODO section, enhance tweaks details, and clarify warningson 6/12/25
• 2d6d9-Add keyboard shortcuts section with detailed commands and a cheatsheeton 6/12/25
• 412dd-Added keyboard shortcuts.on 6/12/25
• c31f9-Refactor terminal customization guide for improved clarity; update Bash example formatting and enhance details for Timeshift setup in Fedora guide.on 6/12/25
• 9d94b-maintainers tag added and guideline page addedon 6/10/25
• bd1c9-Updating and structuring Gnome Guide.on 6/9/25
• 2fa67-Structuring the guide.on 6/9/25
• 44d4a-bash script gnome.mdon 6/9/25
• 41c78-bash script for keyboard bindings, ai generatedon 6/9/25
• c6d93-gnome pageon 6/8/25
• d4ec7-gnome page modifiedon 6/8/25
• a4754-Under construction.on 6/8/25
• e5a30-Editing Fedora and Gnome guide.on 6/8/25
• 7e493-Noteon 6/7/25