How to configure Unity in Ubuntu?
Tags: ubuntu, unity3d
Published: 2021-11-25 17:03:04

---
title: How to configure Unity in Ubuntu?
published: true
date: 2021-11-23 09:34:55 UTC
tags: Ubuntu,unity
canonical_url: https://stackallflow.com/ubuntu/how-to-configure-unity-in-ubuntu/
---

<header>
<p><span style="font-size: 1.2em; color: initial;">unity</span></p>
</header>

Are there any configuration options for the Unity desktop?

* * *

There are multiple valid answers for this question spanning over several versions of Ubuntu. For your convenience an index of each below [_(How can I tell which Ubuntu release I’m using?_)](https://askubuntu.com/questions/12493/how-can-i-find-the-version-of-ubuntu-that-is-installed):

- [13.04](https://askubuntu.com/a/294604/14356)
- [12.10](https://askubuntu.com/a/224775/14356)
- [12.04](https://askubuntu.com/a/101415/14356)
- [11.10](https://askubuntu.com/questions/29553/how-can-i-configure-unity/62903#62903)
- [11.04](https://askubuntu.com/questions/29553/how-can-i-configure-unity/29561#29561)

If you’re looking to configure Unity 2D, [look here](https://askubuntu.com/questions/32667/how-do-i-configure-unity-2d).

#### Accepted Answer

# Ubuntu 11.04

There are two options to edit the settings. Either using the `CompizConfig Settings Manager` (ccsm) or the `Configuration Editor` (gconf-editor). I’ll describe both ways.

**CompizConfig Settings Manager**

1. **Warning** : CCSM is in universe and not shipped by default for a reason, it can be flaky, so be careful in there, [it can break things](https://askubuntu.com/questions/80589/what-are-some-of-the-issues-with-ccsm-and-why-should-i-not-use-it), if you find yourself with a broken window manager, see [this question](https://askubuntu.com/questions/17610/how-do-i-reset-my-unity-configuration) to reset your configuration.
2. Install the [CompizConfig Settings Manager](http://apt.ubuntu.com/p/compizconfig-settings-manager) (CCSM).
3. Hit <kbd>Alt</kbd>–<kbd>F2</kbd> and input `about:config` and hit enter.

You can now configure quite a few different settings. Like key shortcuts, the launcher behavior and appearance of the Launcher.

On the `Behaviour` tab you can configure:

![Behaviour tab](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4UwZL.png)

1. The `Hide Launcher` sets the launchers hide behavior.
  - _Never_ – The launcher will never hide.
  - _Autohide_ – The launcher will hide automatically based on time.
  - _Dodge Windows_ – The launcher will hide when a window would overlay it.
  - _Dodge Active Window_ – The launcher will hide only when an active window would overlay it.
2. The key to show the launcher which by default is the <kbd>Super</kbd> key. This will also affect the key used to show the dash (if tapped) and the shortcuts shown when keeping <kbd>Super</kbd> pressed.
3. The key to put keyboard-focus o the launcher so you can navigate using your keyboard (default <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>F1</kbd>).
4. The key to open a _Search Command_ dash where you can enter a command name you want to execute. (dafault <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>F2</kbd>).
5. The key to open the first panel menu (default <kbd>F10</kbd>).

On the `Experimental` tab (might change hence the name):

![Experimental tab](https://i.stack.imgur.com/IFG6I.png)

1. The `Backlight Mode` sets how the icons are back-lit.
  1. _Backlight Always On_ – the icon back light will always be on.

![Backlight Always On](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1RcD3.png)

  1. _Backlight Toggles_ – the icon back light will be on as long as the application is running.

![Backlight Toggles](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Yj66g.png)

  1. _Backlight Always Off_ – pretty much the opposite of the first option.

![Backlight Always Off](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4gu6J.png)

  1. The `Launch Animation` sets how the icons are animation.
    - _None_ – no animation will be shown.
    - _Pulse Until Running_ – the icon’s back light will pulse till it loads up.
    - _Blink_ – the icon’s back light will blink.
  2. The `Urgent Animation` sets how an icon will inform you of something important.
    - _None_ – no animation.
    - _Pulse_ – it will pulse.
    - _Wiggle_ – it will wiggle.
  3. The `Panel Opacity` sets the opacity of the panel.
  4. The `Launcher icon size` sets the size of the launcher in pixels.
  5. The `Hide Animation` sets how the launcher hide and unhide.
    - _Fade on bfb and Slide_ – fades based on the position of your cursor in the bfb (big _funny_ button – the one in the top left of your panel with the Ubuntu circle of friends on it) and slides.
    - _Slide only_ – it will only slide.
    - _Fade only_ – it will only fade.
  6. The `Dash Blur` sets the level of blur in the dash
    - No Blur
    - Static – snapshot of the desktop that doesn’t get updated (in cases where the drivers can’t handle it)
    - Realtime – Updating of things behind the dash in real time (Not implemented yet)

**Configuration Editor (gconf-editor)**

1. Open up the `Configuration Editor` by Pressing <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>F2</kbd> and typing `gconf-editor`
2. Navigate to `apps -> compiz-1 -> plugins -> unityshell -> screen0 -> options`.

Now you can set settings described above. Clicking on an item will show a short description in the `Key Documentation` panel.

**Configuration Editor (dconf-editor)**

There are also some options you can edit using `dconf-editor` (needs to be installed first by installing [**dconf-tools**](http://apt.ubuntu.com/p/dconf-tools) at **Ubuntu Software Center** or by clicking [here](http://apt.ubuntu.com/p/dconf-tools)):

1. Open up the `Configuration Editor` by pressing <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>F2</kbd> and typing `dconf-editor`
2. Navigate to `Desktop -> Unity` to find the first two options:
  - `form-factor`: The form factor chosen will affect the size of the Dash. _Desktop_ uses a fixed sized Dash, _Netbook_ will always maximize the Dash to screen size, _Automatic_ decides whether to use _Desktop_ or _Netbook_ based on the screen resolution.
  - `home-expanded`: Whether the home screen of the Dash should be expanded (_Expanded_) or not (_Not Expanded_).
3. Navigate to `Desktop -> Unity -> Devices`
  - `devices-option`: Key for setting the devices that will be shown on the launcher. _Never_ -> never show devices on the launcher, _OnlyMounted_ -> only show devices that are mounted, _Always_ -> also show unmounted devices.
4. Navigate to `Desktop -> Unity -> Launcher`
  - `favorites-migration`: This is a detection key for the favorite migration script to know whether the needed migration is done or not. You don’t want to change that.
  - `favorites`: This is a list of desktop files that show up in the launcher.
5. Navigate to `Desktop -> Unity -> Panel`
  - `systray-whitelist`: List of programs that are allowed to put icons in the panel’s tray area: _[”]_ -> none , _[‘all’]_ -> all programs, or a list of program names.

**Launcher & Menus (unity-preferences)**

There is another option to configure how to show the launcher then it is hidden.

1. Open the `Launcher & Menus` configuration utility by pressing <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>F2</kbd> and typing `unity-preferences`.

![unity-preferences](https://i.stack.imgur.com/f4q6k.png)

  - _Pushes the left edge of the screen_ will make the launcher appear about one second after pushing the cursor to the left edge of the screen.
  - _Touches the top left corner of the screen_ will make the launcher appear immediately when the cursor touches the top left corner of the screen.
2. Select the desired option.

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