How to revert to GNOME Classic Desktop in Ubuntu?
Tags: ubuntu
Published: 2021-11-24 17:13:16

---
title: How to revert to GNOME Classic Desktop in Ubuntu?
published: true
date: 2021-11-23 16:00:18 UTC
tags: Ubuntu
canonical_url: https://stackallflow.com/ubuntu/how-to-revert-to-gnome-classic-desktop-in-ubuntu/
---

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

I’m used to GNOME Classic and personally don’t want to change to anything else, but it seems there is no more GNOME Classic in the Oneiric release. After apt-get installed gnome-session and all, though there comes back the GNOME Classic option in the session listbox, however, after logged in, it seems not the expected one.

There is no System menu in the top bar, and I couldn’t customize panels at all. I want to change the appearance(theme), but I can’t find Appearance menu at all. And much more differences to my previous experience of GNOME classic shell.

* * *

There are multiple valid answers for this question spanning over several versions of Ubuntu. For your convenience an index of each below:

- [13.04](https://askubuntu.com/a/284155/15811) and up
- [12.04 and 12.10](https://askubuntu.com/a/108916/14356)
- [11.10](https://askubuntu.com/a/63315/14356)
- [11.04 answer 1](https://askubuntu.com/a/28053/14356) & [11.04 answer 2](https://askubuntu.com/a/59221/14356)
- [Mate Desktop](https://askubuntu.com/a/416173/)
- [Fix Icon spacing](https://askubuntu.com/a/76990/14356)

#### Accepted Answer

## 11.10 Overview

The older GNOME 2.x experience has been retired in GNOME, however you can use the GNOME 3.x classic mode (as shown below) to make an approximation of the older experience.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rzyHy.png)

**install prerequisites**

In the software center you have the option to install [Gnome Shell ![Install gnome-shell](https://hostmar.co/software-small)](https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/gnome-shell):

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/F3fNB.png)

Similarly – search for [CompizConfig Settings Manager ![Install compizconfig-settings-manager](https://hostmar.co/software-small)](https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/compizconfig-settings-manager) and install this package – we’ll need that later.

Whilst you are there you can also install [gnome-tweak-tool ![Install gnome-tweak-tool](https://hostmar.co/software-small)](https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/gnome-tweak-tool) to further customise your desktop.

To quickly install all three of these at once, copy and paste the following into a terminal:

```
sudo apt-get install gnome-shell compizconfig-settings-manager gnome-tweak-tool

```

**enabling compiz**

Now perhaps the tricky part – [getting gnome classic to function with compiz](https://askubuntu.com/questions/68711/how-do-i-enable-compiz-in-gnome-classic):

In a terminal copy and paste the following:

```
gksudo gedit /usr/share/gnome-session/sessions/gnome-classic.session

```

Now edit the file shown to contain this line entry:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/qzvO5.png)

**How to login to Gnome-Classic**

Save, logout and in your session options choose _Gnome Classic_

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BfWfH.png)

**Changing the theme**

You’ll notice that the default Ubuntu Ambiance theme doesn’t look great in Gnome Classic. We can correct this by changing to a Gnome 3 friendly theme.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ueZ65.png)

… and choosing _Appearance_ ![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/h2Ak1.png)

Change the theme to Adwaita… ![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/5TGDg.png)

Note – see the linked questions below for other theming options.

**Changing Icons**

Launch gnome-tweak-tool via the menu option:

- Applications –> Other –> Advanced Settings

Change the icon theme as shown:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wAIJu.png)

**Restructure the desktop layout**

Now lets get back the panels to something that we are familiar with…

Press <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Win</kbd> and right-click the top menu bar – N.B. <kbd>Win</kbd> is the Windows Symbol key

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/JnJMa.png)

(If you are using Gnome Classic (No Effects) i.e. _gnome fallback mode_ then to add to the panel use <kbd>Alt</kbd> and right-click)

Choose _Add to Panel_

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AIZef.png)

Click the option shown and click the button _Forward_

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9Kb4o.png)

Repeat the <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Win</kbd> + Right Click the date and choose _Delete_ to delete the clock.

Repeat this delete procedure for the other applets on the top-panel.

Note – if an error appears indicating that the Panel has reloaded you can safely ignore this.

Repeat the <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Win</kbd> + Right Click the top panel – add the applet _Accessibility_.

Repeat the <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Win</kbd> + Right Click on bottom panel – add the applet _Show Desktop_ and move to the bottom left.

Repeat the <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Win</kbd> + Right Click on bottom panel – add the applet _Wastebasket_ and move to the bottom right.

Now we need to [change the number of workspaces](https://askubuntu.com/questions/34572/how-can-i-reduce-or-increase-the-number-of-workspaces-in-unity) back to two.

Navigate to _Applications – Other – CompizConfig Settings Manager – General Options – Desktop Size_ and change the Vertical Virtual Size value to 1

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zk9YM.png)

**Install the indicator-applet**

Now lets install the indicator-applet:

- see the [linked question below](https://askubuntu.com/questions/69377/i-cant-add-a-indicator-applet-to-panel-in-gnome-classic) to add a PPA containing the indicator-applet

To add to the panel:

<kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Win</kbd>+Right click the panel and choose _Add To Panel_ and add the following indicator

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AtLOI.png)

Finish off by <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Win</kbd>+Right click the indicator-applet and move it to the right side of the top panel.

Optional:

- You can install [fonts-cantarell ![Install fonts-cantarell](https://hostmar.co/software-small)](https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/fonts-cantarell) if you want to use the default upstream GNOME font

* * *

Linked Questions:

1. [Delete extra toolbar on top of the screen in GNOME fallback mode?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/67360/delete-toolbar-in-gnome-classic-after-fresh-install-to-11-04)
2. [How do I revert Alt-tab behavior to switch between windows on the current workspace?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/68151/revert-alt-tab-behavior-changed-in-11-10)
3. [How do I change to a theme not listed in the Appearance screen?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/61567/how-do-i-change-the-theme)
4. If you use autologin you need to do this: [How do I set the GNOME Classic login to be the default with autologin?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/71126/how-do-i-set-the-gnome-classic-login-to-be-the-default-with-autologin)
5. [How to re-add indicator-applet for 11.10](https://askubuntu.com/questions/69377/i-cant-add-a-indicator-applet-to-panel-in-gnome-classic)
6. [How to customize the gnome classic panel](https://askubuntu.com/questions/69576/how-to-customize-the-gnome-classic-panel)
7. Warning: [What are some of the issues with CCSM and why would I want to avoid it?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/80589/what-are-some-of-the-issues-with-ccsm-and-why-should-i-not-use-it)

The post [How to revert to GNOME Classic Desktop in Ubuntu?](https://stackallflow.com/ubuntu/how-to-revert-to-gnome-classic-desktop-in-ubuntu/) appeared first on [Stack All Flow](https://stackallflow.com).