See [GNOME](/index.php/GNOME "GNOME") for the main article. ## Contents * [1 Keyboard](#Keyboard) * [1.1 Turn on NumLock on login](#Turn_on_NumLock_on_login) * [1.2 Hotkey alternatives](#Hotkey_alternatives) * [1.3 Keyboard switch with command](#Keyboard_switch_with_command) * [1.4 XkbOptions keyboard options](#XkbOptions_keyboard_options) * [1.5 De-bind Windows key](#De-bind_Windows_key) * [2 Disks](#Disks) * [3 Hiding applications from the menu](#Hiding_applications_from_the_menu) * [4 Screencast recording](#Screencast_recording) * [5 Screenshot](#Screenshot) * [6 Log out delay](#Log_out_delay) * [7 Disable animations](#Disable_animations) * [8 Retina (HiDPI) display support](#Retina_.28HiDPI.29_display_support) * [9 Passwords and keys (PGP Keys)](#Passwords_and_keys_.28PGP_Keys.29) * [10 Terminal](#Terminal) * [10.1 Change default terminal size](#Change_default_terminal_size) * [10.2 New terminals adopt current directory](#New_terminals_adopt_current_directory) * [10.3 Pad the terminal](#Pad_the_terminal) * [10.4 Disable blinking cursor](#Disable_blinking_cursor) * [10.5 Disable confirmation window when closing Terminal](#Disable_confirmation_window_when_closing_Terminal) * [11 Middle mouse button](#Middle_mouse_button) * [12 Enable button and menu icons](#Enable_button_and_menu_icons) * [13 Use custom colours and gradients for desktop background](#Use_custom_colours_and_gradients_for_desktop_background) * [14 Transitioning backgrounds](#Transitioning_backgrounds) * [15 Custom GNOME sessions](#Custom_GNOME_sessions) * [16 Redirect certain URLs to specific web browsers](#Redirect_certain_URLs_to_specific_web_browsers) * [17 Removing film holes/film strip from video thumbnails in Nautilus](#Removing_film_holes.2Ffilm_strip_from_video_thumbnails_in_Nautilus) * [18 Prevent GNOME software from downloading updates](#Prevent_GNOME_software_from_downloading_updates) * [19 Increase volume above and beyond 100%](#Increase_volume_above_and_beyond_100.25) ## Keyboard ### Turn on NumLock on login Run the following command: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.peripherals.keyboard numlock-state on ``` ### Hotkey alternatives A lot of hotkeys can be changed via system settings menu. For example, to re-enable the show desktop keybinding: *System settings* > *Keyboard* > *Shortcuts* > *Navigation* > *Hide all normal windows* However, certain hotkeys cannot be changed directly via system settings. In order to change these keys, use *dconf-editor*. An example of particular note is the hotkey `Alt-` + ``` (the key above `Tab` on US keyboard layouts). In GNOME Shell it is pre-configured to cycle through windows of an application, however it is also a hotkey often used in the [Emacs](/index.php/Emacs "Emacs") editor. It can be changed by opening *dconf-editor* and modifying the *switch-group* key found in `org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings`. It is possible to manually change the keys via an application's so-called **accel** map file. Where it is to be found is up to the application: For instance, Thunar's is at `~/.config/Thunar/accels.scm`, whereas Files's is located at `~/.config/nautilus/accels` and `~/.gnome2/accels/nautilus` on old release. The file should contain a list of possible hotkeys, each unchanged line commented out with a leading ";" that has to be removed for a change to become active. For example to replace the hotkey used by Files to move files to the trash folder, change the line: ``` ; (gtk_accel_path "/DirViewActions/Trash" "Delete") ``` to this: ``` (gtk_accel_path "/DirViewActions/Trash" "Delete") ``` The file is regenerated regularly so do not comment the file. The uncommented line will stay but every comment you add will be lost. ### Keyboard switch with command To change the default keyboard shortcut **Win** + **Space** to another hot key: For example to change to *Alt*+*Shift*: open Gnome-Tweak-Tool (or Keyboard Settings, in GNOME 3.16) and set *Typing* > *Modifiers-only input sources* > *select Alt-shift*. For more information see also the forum [thread](https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=152127). ### XkbOptions keyboard options Using the **dconf-editor**, navigate to the key named `org.gnome.desktop.input-sources.xkb-options` and add desired XkbOptions (e.g. *caps:swapescape*) to the list. See `/usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/xorg` for all XkbOptions and `/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/*` for the respective descriptions. **Note:** To enable the `Ctrl+Alt+Backspace` combination to terminate Xorg, use [gnome-tweaks](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=gnome-tweaks). Within the **Tweak Tool**, navigate to *Typing > Key sequence to kill the X server* and select the option `Ctrl+Alt+Backspace` from the dropdown menu. ### De-bind Windows key By default, the 'Windows key' will open the GNOME Shell overview mode. You can unbind this key by running the command below ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.mutter overlay-key 'Foo' ``` ## Disks GNOME provides a disk utility to manipulate storage drive settings. These are some of its features: * **Enable write cache** is a feature that most hard drives provide. Data is cached and allocated at chosen times to improve system performance. Not recommended unless the computer has a backup battery pack or is a laptop as data would be lost on power failure. *Settings* > *Drive Settings* > *Write Cache* > **On** * **Automatic Mount Options** can mount drives and partitions that are GPT based - will use default, recommended options. **Warning:** This setting erases related [fstab](/index.php/Fstab "Fstab") entries *Partition Settings* > *Edit Mount Options* > *Automatic Mount Options* > **On** ## Hiding applications from the menu **Tip:** * Desktop entries can be hidden by editing the `.desktop` files themselves. See [Desktop entries#Hide desktop entries](/index.php/Desktop_entries#Hide_desktop_entries "Desktop entries"). * [Menulibre](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/Menulibre/) provides a menu editor without GNOME dependencies. Use the *Main Menu* application (provided by the [alacarte](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=alacarte) package) to hide any applications you do not wish to show in the menu. ## Screencast recording GNOME features built-in screencast recording with the `Ctrl+Shift+Alt+r` key combination. A red circle is displayed in the bottom right corner of the screen when the recording is in progress. After the recording is finished, a file named `Screencast from %d%u-%c.webm` is saved in the Videos directory. In order to use the screencast feature the gst plugins need to be installed. ## Screenshot Default save directory: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.gnome-screenshot auto-save-directory file:///home/*USER*/Desktop ``` Check the *gnome-screenshot* manual page for more options. ## Log out delay To eliminate the default 60 second delay when logging out: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.SessionManager logout-prompt false ``` ## Disable animations To disable Shell animations (such as "Show Applications" and the wave animation in the top left activities hot corner), run: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface enable-animations false ``` ## Retina (HiDPI) display support GNOME introduced HiDPI support in version 3.10\. If your display does not provide the correct screen size through EDID, this can lead to incorrectly scaled UI elements. As a workaround you can open *dconf-editor* and find the key `scaling-factor` in `org.gnome.desktop.interface`. Set it to `1` to get the standard scale. Also see [HiDPI](/index.php/HiDPI "HiDPI"). ## Passwords and keys (PGP Keys) You can use the Passwords and Keys program [seahorse](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=seahorse) to create a PGP key as it is a front end for [GnuPG](/index.php/GnuPG "GnuPG") and installs it as dependency. This may be useful in the future (for instance if to encrypt a file). Create a key as shown below (the process may take about 10 minutes): *File* > *New* > *PGP Key* > *Name* > *Email* > *Defaults* > *Passphrase*. ## Terminal ### Change default terminal size The default size of a new terminal can be adjusted in the menu *Edit > Profile preferences* . ### New terminals adopt current directory By default new terminals open in the `$HOME` directory. To have new terminals adopt the current working directory: `source /etc/profile.d/vte.sh`. Add the command to the shell configuration to retain the behaviour. [[1]](http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/93476/gnome-terminal-keep-track-of-directory-in-new-tab) ### Pad the terminal To pad the terminal (create a small, invisible border between the window edges and the terminal contents) create the file below: `~/.config/gtk-3.0/gtk.css` ``` vte-terminal, terminal-window { padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; -vte-terminal-inner-border: 10px 10px 10px 10px; } ``` ### Disable blinking cursor Since GNOME 3.8 and the migration to GSettings and DConf the key required to modify in order to disable the blinking cursor in the Terminal differs slightly in contrast to the old GConf key. To disable the blinking cursor in GNOME 3.8 and above use: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface cursor-blink false ``` To disable the blinking cursor in Terminal only use: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.Terminal.Legacy.Profile:/org/gnome/terminal/legacy/profiles:/:$(gsettings get org.gnome.Terminal.ProfilesList default | tr -d \')/ cursor-blink-mode off ``` Note that `gnome-settings-daemon`, from the package of the same name, must be running for this and other settings changes to take effect in GNOME applications - see [GNOME#Configuration](/index.php/GNOME#Configuration "GNOME"). ### Disable confirmation window when closing Terminal The Terminal will always display a confirmation window when trying to close the window while one is logged in as root. To avoid this, execute the following: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.Terminal.Legacy.Settings confirm-close false ``` ## Middle mouse button By default, GNOME 3 disables middle mouse button emulation regardless of [Xorg](/index.php/Xorg "Xorg") settings (**Emulate3Buttons**). To enable middle mouse button emulation use: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.peripherals.mouse middle-button-enabled true ``` ## Enable button and menu icons Since GTK+ 3.10, the GSettings key 'menus-have-icons' has been deprecated. Icons in buttons and menus can still be enabled by setting the following overrides: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.xsettings overrides "{'Gtk/ButtonImages': <1>, 'Gtk/MenuImages': <1>}" ``` ## Use custom colours and gradients for desktop background To use custom colours and gradients for your desktop background, you will first need to set either a transparent picture or else a non-existent picture as your desktop background. For instance, the command below will set a non-existent picture as the background. ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background picture-uri none ``` At this point, the desktop background should be a flat colour - the default colour setting is for a deep blue. For a different flat colour you need only change the primary colour setting: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background primary-color ``` where is a hex value (such as *ffffff* for white). For a colour gradient, you will also need to change secondary colour setting `org.gnome.desktop.background secondary-color` and select a shading type. For instance, if you want a horizontal gradient, execute the following: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background color-shading-type horizontal ``` If you are using a transparent picture as your background, you can set the opacity by executing the following: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background picture-opacity ``` where value is a number between 1 and 100 (100 for maximum opacity). ## Transitioning backgrounds GNOME can transition between different wallpapers at specific time intervals. This is done by creating an XML file specifying the pictures to be used and the time interval. For more information on creating such files, see the following [article](http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/create-custom-transitioning-background-your-gnome-228-desktop). Alternatively, a number of tools are available to automate the process: * **mkwlppr** — This script creates XML files that can act as dynamic wallpapers for GNOME by referring to multiple wallpapers. [http://pastebin.com/019G2rCy](http://pastebin.com/019G2rCy) || see [mkwlppr](http://pastebin.com/019G2rCy) For setting the XML file as the default background, see [GNOME#Lock screen and background](/index.php/GNOME#Lock_screen_and_background "GNOME"). ## Custom GNOME sessions It is possible to create custom GNOME sessions which use the GNOME session manager but start different sets of components ([Openbox](/index.php/Openbox "Openbox") with [tint2](/index.php/Tint2 "Tint2") instead of GNOME Shell for example). Two files are required for a custom GNOME session: a session file in `/usr/share/gnome-session/sessions/` which defines the components to be started and a [desktop entry](/index.php/Desktop_entry "Desktop entry") in `/usr/share/xsessions` which is read by the [display manager](/index.php/Display_manager "Display manager"). An example session file is provided below: `/usr/share/gnome-session/sessions/gnome-openbox.session` ``` [GNOME Session] Name=GNOME Openbox RequiredComponents=openbox;tint2;gnome-settings-daemon; ``` And an example desktop file: `/usr/share/xsessions/gnome-openbox.desktop` ``` [Desktop Entry] Name=GNOME Openbox Exec=gnome-session --session=gnome-openbox ``` **Note:** GNOME Session calls upon the `.desktop` files of each of the components to be started. If a component you wish to start does not provide a `.desktop` file, you must create a suitable desktop entry in a directory such as `/usr/local/share/applications`. ## Redirect certain URLs to specific web browsers Use Chromium for certain types of URLs while maintaining Firefox as default browser for all other tasks. Be sure pcre (for pcregrep) is installed: ``` # pacman -S pcre ``` Setup custom xdg-open: `/usr/local/bin/xdg-open` ``` #!/bin/bash DOMAIN_LIST_FILE=~/'domains.txt' OTHER_BROWSER='/usr/bin/chromium-browser' BROWSER_OPTIONS='' # Optional, for command line options passed to browser XDG_OPEN='/usr/bin/xdg-open' DEFAULT_BROWSER='/usr/bin/firefox' if echo "$1" | pcregrep -q '^https?://'; then matching=0 while read domain; do if echo "$1" | pcregrep -q "^https?://${domain}"; then matching=1 break fi done < "$DOMAIN_LIST_FILE" if [[ $matching -eq 1 ]]; then "$OTHER_BROWSER" $BROWSER_OPTIONS ${*} exit 0 fi "$DEFAULT_BROWSER" ${*} exit 0 else "$XDG_OPEN" ${*} fi ``` Configure domains for redirect to Chromium: `$HOME/domains.txt` ``` stackexchange.com stackoverflow.com superuser.com www.youtube.com github.com ``` Setup xdg-open-web as desktop application: `$HOME/.local/share/applications/xdg-open-web.desktop` ``` [Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Name=xdg-open web GenericName=Web Browser Exec=xdg-open %u Terminal=false Type=Application MimeType=text/html;text/xml;application/xhtml+xml;application/vnd.mozilla.xul+xml;text/mml;x-scheme-handler/http;x-scheme-handler/https; StartupNotify=true Categories=Network;WebBrowser; Keywords=web;browser;internet; Actions=new-window;new-private-window; ``` ``` $ update-desktop-database $HOME/.local/share/applications/ ``` Set xdg-open web as default Web application in GNOME settings: GNOME Settings > Details > Default Applications > set Web to xdg-open web. ## Removing film holes/film strip from video thumbnails in Nautilus Nautilus (Files) overlays the film holes/film strip effect on video thumbnails since Gnome 3.12\. To remove or override this effect, the environment variable `G_RESOURCE_OVERLAYS` can be used to reference the path of a compiled resource (in this instance `filmholes.png`) and specify the path for the relevant overlay. This environment variable has only been available since GLib 2.50 and will have no effect on versions before this. Extract `filmholes.png` from Nautilus. ``` gresource extract /usr/bin/nautilus /org/gnome/nautilus/icons/filmholes.png > filmholes.png ``` Edit `filmholes.png` using your preferred editor and remove the film effect from the image, leaving the transparency and dimensions intact, then overwriting the extracted image. Copy or move the extracted image where desired, such as `/usr/share/icons/` and edit `~/.profile`, adding the following export, changing `/usr/share/icons/` as needed to the location you placed the file. ``` export G_RESOURCE_OVERLAYS=/org/gnome/nautilus/icons/filmholes.png=/usr/share/icons/filmholes.png ``` If [ffmpegthumbnailer](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?name=ffmpegthumbnailer) has been installed as a dependency for another file manager that may generate thumbnails, the `Exec` line in `/usr/share/thumbnailers/ffmpegthumbnailer.thumbnailer` should be modified removing the `-f` flag. To ensure that no thumbnails remain that may already have the film effect embedded, remove the thumbnail cache. ``` rm -r ~/.cache/thumbnails ``` Log out and back in to your session and you should no longer have the film holes/film strip effect on your thumbnails in Nautilus. ## Prevent GNOME software from downloading updates By default GNOME Software will download updated packages from the Arch Linux repositories. This forces GNOME Software to refresh the package lists for pacman automatically. This is the equivalent to `pacman -Sy`. If the user ignores the GNOME software update prompt, but does install a new package, that will result in [partial upgrades](/index.php/Partial_upgrades "Partial upgrades"), which are **unsupported**. To prevent GNOME Software from refreshing the package lists set the following dconf setting: ``` $ gsettings set org.gnome.software download-updates false ``` ## Increase volume above and beyond 100% Install the extension [volume mixer](https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/858/volume-mixer/). Then use the mouse to scroll above the volume icon in the top panel to increase the volume above and beyond 100%.