Apr 07, 2026

Customizing the GNOME desktop on Fedora

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Fedora is awesome! It's a rock-solid Linux distro known for its focus on free and open-source software and for always having the latest and greatest packages. One of the great things about Fedora is that it defaults to the GNOME desktop environment. GNOME is sleek and modern, but sometimes you want to tweak things to make it *your* own. This post will guide you through customizing your GNOME desktop on Fedora!

Installing GNOME Tweaks

The first thing you'll want to do is install GNOME Tweaks. This handy tool gives you access to a bunch of settings that aren't available directly in the main settings app. Think of it as your secret weapon for customization!

Open your terminal and type:

sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks

Then, hit enter and enter your password when prompted. Once the installation is complete, you can find it by searching for "Tweaks" in your application menu.

Key Customizations with GNOME Tweaks

Now that you have GNOME Tweaks installed, let's explore some popular customization options:

  • Appearance:

    This is where you can change your theme! You can install new GTK themes (which control the look of your windows and applications) and icon themes. Download themes from websites like GNOME-Look.org. Then, in GNOME Tweaks, you can select your new theme under "Appearance". You can also change the cursor theme here.

  • Extensions:

    GNOME Extensions are like plugins for your desktop. They add functionality and can significantly change the way you interact with GNOME. For example, you can install extensions to add a weather display to your top bar, control window tiling, or even change the appearance of the dash. You'll need to install the "GNOME Shell Integration" extension in your web browser (Chrome or Firefox) and the chrome-gnome-shell package on Fedora (sudo dnf install chrome-gnome-shell). Then, you can browse and install extensions directly from extensions.gnome.org.

  • Fonts:

    Don't like the default font? Change it here! Experiment with different font styles and sizes until you find something that's comfortable for you.

  • Top Bar:

    You can customize what's displayed in the top bar. Show the date, week number, battery percentage, and more!

  • Windows:

    This section allows you to change window behavior, like enabling window focus on hover or placing window control buttons (minimize, maximize, close) on the left or right side of the window.

More Ways to Customize

GNOME Tweaks is a fantastic starting point, but there's even more you can do:

  • Install a different Dock: While GNOME has its own dash, you might prefer a different dock like Plank or Latte Dock. These docks offer different features and customization options.

  • Customize the Terminal: The terminal is a power user's best friend. Customize its colors, fonts, and behavior to make it your own.

  • Change the Login Screen: Fedora uses GDM (GNOME Display Manager) for the login screen. You can customize it by changing the background image, theme, and even adding custom greeters.

Customizing your GNOME desktop on Fedora is all about making it work for you. Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things. Have fun creating a desktop environment that's truly yours!