How To Change Selected Items Color in Ubuntu

In Ubuntu, the default color for selected items is orange. However, you may want to change this to a color that suits your personal preference or to improve visibility. This article will guide you through the process of changing the selected items color in Ubuntu, using different methods depending on your Ubuntu version.

Using the dconf-editor Tool in Ubuntu 11.10

For Ubuntu 11.10, you can use the dconf-editor tool to change the color. Here’s how:

1. Install dconf-editor: First, you need to install the dconf-editor tool. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T and run the following command:

sudo apt-get install dconf-tools

This command uses the sudo (Super User Do) command to run the apt-get install command, which installs the dconf-tools package.

2. Open dconf-editor: Once installed, open dconf-editor by pressing Alt+F2, typing dconf-editor, and pressing Enter.
3. Navigate to the Interface settings: In the program, navigate to org => gnome => desktop => interface.
4. Change the color: Look for the line “gtk-color-scheme” and add the desired color string, such as bg_color:#f0f1f2;selected_bg_color:#023C88. Replace the last color in the string (#023C88) with the highlight color you want.
5. Log out and log back in: After making the changes, log out and log back in to see the effect.

Modifying Color Values in Specific Files in Ubuntu 16.10

For Ubuntu versions that do not have the dconf-editor tool, such as 16.10, you can manually modify the color values in specific files. Here’s how:

1. Open the files: Open the following files using a text editor:

/usr/share/themes/Ambiance/gtk-3.0/gtk.css
/usr/share/themes/Ambiance/gtk-3.0/settings.ini
/usr/share/themes/Ambiance/gtk-2.0/gtkrc

2. Change the color: In these files, look for the color value #f07746, which represents the default Ubuntu orange color. Replace it with the desired color value, such as #4f4f4f for gray.
3. Save the changes and log out and log back in: Save the changes and log out and log back in to see the updated color.

Using the GTK Theme Preferences Tool in Ubuntu 13.10 and Newer

For versions before 13.10, you can try using the GTK Theme Preferences GUI tool, which can be installed from a PPA. However, for newer versions, starting from 13.10, you can install it directly from the main repositories using the command:

sudo apt-get install gtk-theme-config

Once installed, you can use the GTK Theme Preferences tool to customize the GTK themes, including changing the “Selected Items” color. However, keep in mind that some elements like buttons and other highlights based on images may still retain their original color.

Conclusion

In summary, to change the “Selected Items” color in Ubuntu, you can use the dconf-editor tool or manually modify specific files for older versions. For newer versions, you can use the GTK Theme Preferences tool. Remember to always back up your original settings before making any changes to your system. Happy customizing!