- GNOME Shell is the core user interface of the GNOME Desktop since version 3. Upstream consider that «The GNOME Shell is currently in active development and while many planned features are not yet implemented it is stable enough for everyday use».
- First install the shell by opening a terminal window (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and install the gnome-shell package. This can be done with aptitude using the command: aptitude install gnome-shell. You should now save all your work in case the Shell fails.
This article is part of the Linux Desktop Themes series:
- 10 Great-Looking Gnome Shell Themes
Do you love Gnome Shell but hate the way it looks? Don’t worry, the Internet is chock full of better-looking themes to choose from. There are so many in fact that we’ve had to filter it down to ten of themes that are so good-looking you’ll just have to walk across the room and say ‘Hello’ to them.
Note: the installation instructions to all these themes can be found on the same page in which you download them from.
1. Arc Theme
For example, Debian, a Linux distribution that had historically used GNOME 2, switched to Xfce when GNOME 3 was released but readopted GNOME 3 in time for the release of Debian 8 'Jessie'. [67] [68] GNOME Shell is the default interface for Ubuntu since version 17.10, replacing Unity.
One of the most popular theme on Gnome is onboard with the design trend towards flatness. Arc is a little bit W10 aesthetically, but its window layouts, navigation panes and so on are more OS X. It’s got transparent elements in small parts of the windows such as the navigation panes too, giving it a bit of welcome depth and textures, but never so much that it gets messy. Give it a try and see what all the fuss is about.
2. Adapta
Inspired by the Material Design ethos most famously seen in the Android operating system, Adapta is a bold theme for those looking to make a bit of a statement. Everything in this theme looks punchy, contrasting and largely flat, giving it an almost “Post-It” kind of feel. The default version is dark with vivid cyan elements, making it pretty light on eye-strain too.
3. Zukitwo
Zukitwois a beautiful, transparent and minimal looking theme. It can make the Gnome Shell desktop look absolutely stunning without going crazy with style changes. Sometimes the simple things look the best.
4. Lexis
Lexis is an incredibly refreshing theme that we’ve all been waiting for. It doesn’t go for the typical flat design trend and instead goes its own way by removing excess parts from the Gnome Shell top bar. And in doing so, it makes Gnome look completely new and shiny.
5. Zukitre Shell
Zukitre Shell is a Gnome Shell theme inspired by a GTK theme sporting the same name. There certainly isn’t any sort of shortage of themes for Gnome that favor an off-black color palette, but it still looks awesome none the less.
6. NovaShell
So, if my past articles are any indication, I prefer minimalism when it comes to design and especially when it comes to aesthetics. NovaShell is a theme dedicated to making the Gnome Shell simplistic in the looks department, and it is one of my favorite examples. If you love minimal, you’ll probably love the NovaShell take on it.
7. EleganZe
EleganZe is elegant, or to put it more correctly, elegant looking. It changes Gnome up a little bit and makes it transparent and easier on the eyes. That’s basically what this theme does. It takes Gnome and makes everything a little easier to look at. It doesn’t over-complicate it with insane changes, just small little things. Overall, EleganZe is a modest theme for modest individuals.
8. Ambiance Gnome
Debian Start Gnome
Have you ever wanted to make your Gnome Shell desktop look more like Unity or Ubuntu? If you install Ambiance Gnome to your system, you’ll be able to! This theme takes heavy inspiration from the Ambiance theme that has shipped with Ubuntu for years. How awesome is that?
9. Oxygenium
I love KDE. I also love Gnome. When I discovered that someone created a theme that makes Gnome Shell look like KDE, I couldn’t contain my excitement. Check out Oxygenium. It’s the Gnome Shell version of the KDE Plasma theme known as Oxygen. If you love the way KDE looks but are currently on Gnome, I’d seriously consider this one.
10. Xenlism
Xenlism is a theme inspired by Elementary OS’s window manager theme. Very minimal. So minimal in fact, the Gnome bar is completely transparent. This theme is clearly intended to aide in turning Gnome Shell into something similar to Elementary’s Pantheon desktop environment. And you know what? It looks awesome! If you love minimalism, Xenlism should be right up your alley.
Conclusion
I love Gnome, I must confess. No other desktop environment on Linux, in my view, looks quite as good. And when it comes to themes, no other desktop could be made to look so good with such little effort. Enjoy the list!
Do you have a favorite Gnome Shell theme that wasn’t listed above? We’d love to hear your favorite in the comment section below!
Ebooks
I am trying to install the viva theme for my Debian install. I am having some issues. I am told to use the gnome tweak tool to select the theme. When I run the gnome tweak tool there is a yellow exclamation mark next to the theme selector portion. Through googling i've been told i'm missing extensions. When I try to add repo's detailed by various sources, then install the extensions mentioned, I am greeted with package not found messages.
How To Install Gnome 3 Themes
This is the theme i'm interested in-
One of the troubles i'm having is alot of the posts I find in google refer to Ubuntu and i'm not quite sure that applies to my ditro. Not sure if that is having an effect or not.
I've tried these solutions,
No dice, package not found and the .deb files don't install, it says there were errors but it doesn't give me anymore information, the .deb files are also for ubuntu it would appear so that can't help.
Any advice and pointers to the right info is greatly appreciated! I am new to tweaking gnome and whatnot so i'm not quite sure what to do, keep running into the same walls.
Thanks!
Playstation 3 Themes
2 Answers
I figured it out! It turns out I wasn't even running in Gnome 3, but Gnome Fall Back because my video driver had not been properly installed! I installed my video driver, rebooted and then I was properly running Gnome with all of the correct options/setting available for changing. Hope this helps anyone who stumbles across!
0xhughes0xhughesInstall gnome on debian