How to Install Themes and Make your ubuntu desktop come alive
Tags: opensource, howto, linux
Published: 2018-08-26 23:45:59

---
title: How to Install Themes and Make your ubuntu desktop come alive
published: true
tags: FOSS,HowTo,Linux,open source
canonical_url: https://fossnaija.com/how-to-install-themes-ubuntu-desktop/
---

[![ubuntu_theme_banner_fossnaija](https://i0.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ubuntu_theme_banner2.png?resize=665%2C389&ssl=1)](https://i0.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ubuntu_theme_banner2.png?ssl=1)

Sometimes added visual flavours to the Linux desktop can make the user experience all worthwhile. One way of achieving this is the use of themes; which can change desktop appearance and interactions. I will show you how to give your Linux desktop a personalized look and feel by installing themes.

_NB: Ubuntu 16 Linux used in this post._

Who does not like a fanciful desktop like the – pretty much a lot, right? Linux has always been targeted as not having an appealing user interface (UI), but with the rise of many user friendly distributions (distros) such ideas have become the thing of the past.

How do you go about installing themes in [ubuntu](https://dev.to/xeroxism/ubuntu-linux-is-everywhere-and-connecting-everything-3enn-temp-slug-838837)? Let me show you.

 

## #1: Download some themes from the internet.

A very good source of themes are websites like [OpenDesktop](https://www.opendesktop.org/), [noobslab](https://www.noobslab.com/p/themes-icons.html) and [Gnome Look](https://www.gnome-look.org/browse/cat/135/). The package should be in ZIP(.zip) format.

Some beautiful themes you could try out include the following:

### **[Ultra-Flat Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Ultra-Flat?content=167473)**

[![ultra flat theme ubuntu](https://i1.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ultra-flat-theme-ubuntu.png?resize=665%2C374&ssl=1)](https://i1.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ultra-flat-theme-ubuntu.png?ssl=1)

### **[Numix Theme](https://numixproject.org/)**

[![numix-theme-for-ubuntu-linux-fossnaija](https://i1.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/numix-theme-for-ubuntu-linux-fossnaija.jpg?resize=658%2C369&ssl=1)](https://i1.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/numix-theme-for-ubuntu-linux-fossnaija.jpg?ssl=1)

### [**Flatabulous Theme**](https://github.com/anmoljagetia/Flatabulous)

[![flatabulous-theme-fossnaija](https://i2.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/flatabulous-theme-fossnaija.jpg?resize=665%2C374&ssl=1)](https://i2.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/flatabulous-theme-fossnaija.jpg?ssl=1)

### [Zutikwo](http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Zukitwo?content=140562)

##  [![zukwito linux theme](https://i2.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/zukwito-theme.jpg?resize=665%2C416&ssl=1)](https://i2.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/zukwito-theme.jpg?ssl=1)

## 

## #2: Extract to the system theme folder:

You can extract the downloaded theme file to the system’s theme folder (which is **/usr/share/themes** ). You can do this using the [terminal](https://fossnaija.com/the-anatomy-of-the-linux-command-line/) (command line interface, CLI) like this:

```
unzip /path/to/downloaded/theme/zip -d /usr/share/themes
```

## **#3: Set the desire theme using tweak tool.**

There are two major tweak tools that are available for ubuntu; the [Unity Tweak Tool](https://dev.to/xeroxism/tweaking-desktop-settings-in-ubuntu-linux-with-powerful-gui-tools-4okl-temp-slug-1174196) and the [Gnome Tweak Tool](https://dev.to/xeroxism/tweaking-desktop-settings-in-ubuntu-linux-with-powerful-gui-tools-4okl-temp-slug-1174196). they both perform the same function of managing and adjusting some deep system settings which are not available in the default ubuntu settings manager. Which ever you choose we serve just fine (here I used the unity tweak tool).

>> Open it

[![unity_tweak_tool_ubuntu_dash_fossnaija](https://i1.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/unity_tweak_tool_ubuntu_dash_fossnaija-1.png?resize=616%2C301&ssl=1)](https://i1.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/unity_tweak_tool_ubuntu_dash_fossnaija-1.png?ssl=1)

>> Go to “Themes” under Appearance Section:

[![unity tweak tool](https://i0.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/unity-tweak-tool.png?resize=665%2C646&ssl=1)](https://i0.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/unity-tweak-tool.png?ssl=1)

IMAGE: FOSSNAIJA.COM

>> Under available themes, you see all the themes in your “ **/usr/share/them**** e**” folder. Select the one you want and then the system will apply that theme to your desktop.

[![gnome tweak tool available themes](https://i0.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/gnome-tweak-tool.png?resize=665%2C219&ssl=1)](https://i0.wp.com/fossnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/gnome-tweak-tool.png?ssl=1)

IMAGE: FOSSNAIJA.COM

Voila! You can install as many themes as you like.

Enjoy!!!

 

 

**Happy Linux’NG!**

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