One of the best things about Linux is how customizable it is. Unlike other operating systems, you can tweak your desktop environment to look and work exactly the way you want — from changing the theme and icons to adding powerful extensions that boost your productivity.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to personalize your Linux desktop step-by-step, using popular desktop environments like GNOME, KDE Plasma, and XFCE.
🎨 Why Customize Your Linux Desktop?
- Make your desktop look unique and match your style
- Improve productivity with useful extensions and widgets
- Optimize performance by choosing lightweight themes
- Make the interface more accessible or easier on the eyes
🖥️ What Can You Customize?
| Component | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Themes | Controls window borders, buttons, backgrounds, and controls look |
| Icons | Change the look of folders, files, and app icons |
| Extensions | Add new features or change behavior of the desktop |
🌈 How to Change Themes
GNOME
- Install GNOME Tweaks tool:
sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
- Open GNOME Tweaks from your applications menu.
- Go to Appearance tab:
- Change Applications theme
- Change Shell theme (requires enabling user themes extension)
- Change Icons
- To install new themes, download from sites like GNOME-Look and place them in:
- Themes:
~/.themes/ - Icons:
~/.icons/
Create these folders if they don’t exist.
KDE Plasma
- Open System Settings > Appearance
- Explore:
- Global Theme
- Plasma Style
- Icons
- Cursors
- Fonts
- Download new themes directly from the Get New Themes button in each section.
XFCE
- Open Settings Manager > Appearance
- Choose your Style (theme), Icons, and Fonts
- For more themes, visit XFCE-Look and install manually.
🖼️ How to Change Icons
Icons come bundled with themes or separately. To change icons:
- Use GNOME Tweaks (GNOME)
- Use System Settings > Icons (KDE)
- Use Settings Manager > Appearance (XFCE)
Download icon packs from:
⚙️ Using Extensions to Enhance Your Desktop
What are Extensions?
Extensions add or modify desktop features — like:
- Adding a weather widget
- Changing the behavior of the top bar
- Adding window management shortcuts
GNOME Extensions
- Visit https://extensions.gnome.org/ using Firefox (with GNOME Shell integration plugin)
- Browse and toggle extensions ON/OFF
- Manage installed extensions via GNOME Tweaks > Extensions
KDE Plasma Widgets
- Add widgets to your desktop or panel by right-clicking the desktop and selecting Add Widgets
- Explore the Get New Widgets feature for more options
XFCE Panel Plugins
- Right-click on the panel > Panel > Add New Items
- Choose from various plugins like weather, system monitors, and launchers
🧩 How to Install Themes and Icons Manually
- Download your chosen theme/icon pack (usually
.tar.gzor.zip) - Extract it
- Move the extracted folder to:
~/.themes/ # for themes
~/.icons/ # for icon packs
If these folders don’t exist, create them:
mkdir -p ~/.themes ~/.icons
- Open your appearance settings and select the new theme or icon pack.
💡 Bonus Tips for Customization
- Backup your settings before major changes.
- Use wallpaper changers like Variety or built-in tools.
- Combine themes and icon packs from different sources for a unique look.
- Experiment with fonts to improve readability.
✅ Summary Table
| Task | GNOME Tool | KDE Tool | XFCE Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change theme | GNOME Tweaks | System Settings > Appearance | Settings Manager > Appearance |
| Change icons | GNOME Tweaks | System Settings > Icons | Settings Manager > Appearance |
| Install extensions | GNOME Extensions site | Add Widgets (Right-click) | Panel Plugins (Right-click) |
✅ Final Thoughts
Customizing your Linux desktop can be as simple or advanced as you want. Whether you prefer a minimalist style or a fully loaded desktop with widgets and animations, Linux lets you shape your computing environment exactly how you like it.
Start with small changes like themes and icons, then explore extensions to boost your workflow.
