In this article, we’ll delve into the process of making Nautilus 43 follow your GTK theme in Ubuntu Budgie 22.10. Nautilus, the default file manager for the GNOME desktop environment, has shifted to using the libadwaita library, which is a part of GTK4. This change has caused some applications, including Nautilus, to prevent theming. However, there is a workaround to bind Nautilus to the system theme.
To make Nautilus 43 follow your GTK theme in Ubuntu Budgie 22.10, you can add a line in the .profile file to set the GTK_THEME environment variable to your desired theme. This workaround allows Nautilus to match the system theme and maintain a consistent look and feel.
Understanding the Basics
Before proceeding, it’s essential to understand some basic terms:
- Nautilus: It’s the default file manager for the GNOME desktop environment.
- GTK: The GIMP Toolkit (GTK) is a widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces.
- Theme: In the context of operating systems, a theme is a preset package containing graphical appearance details.
Prerequisites
This guide assumes that you have not installed Nautilus as a snap package. If you have, the process might differ slightly.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Open Terminal
The first step is to open your terminal. You can do this by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for ‘Terminal’ in your system’s applications.
Step 2: Navigate to Home Directory
Once the terminal is open, navigate to your home directory by running the following command:
cd ~The cd command changes the current directory. The ~ symbol represents the home directory.
Step 3: Open the .profile File
Next, open the .profile file using a text editor. For this guide, we’ll use the nano editor. Run the following command:
nano .profileThe nano command opens the nano text editor. The .profile file is a personal startup file, used to customize the environment.
Step 4: Add the Theme Line
In the .profile file, add the following line:
export GTK_THEME=your-theme-nameReplace your-theme-name with the name of the theme you want to use. The export command sets the GTK_THEME environment variable to your specified theme.
Step 5: Save and Exit
Press Ctrl+X to exit the editor, then press Y to confirm saving the changes, and finally press Enter to confirm the file name.
Step 6: Logout and Login
The final step is to logout of your session and log back in for the changes to take effect.
Conclusion
After following these steps, Nautilus should now follow the system theme you specified in the .profile file. This workaround allows you to maintain a consistent look and feel across your Ubuntu Budgie 22.10 system.
Remember, Nautilus is a part of the GNOME project, and switching from Nemo to Nautilus may limit your ability to customize and make your own choices regarding file management.
For more information on installing themes, you can refer to the Ubuntu Documentation.
We hope this guide was helpful in binding Nautilus to your system theme. If you encounter any issues or have any further questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below.
Yes, Nautilus is the default file manager for the GNOME desktop environment, which is the default desktop environment for Ubuntu Budgie 22.10.
GTK stands for the GIMP Toolkit, which is a widget toolkit used for creating graphical user interfaces. It provides a set of tools and libraries for developers to create applications with a consistent appearance across different platforms.
A GTK theme is a preset package containing graphical appearance details for GTK-based applications. It includes the color scheme, window borders, button styles, and other visual elements of the user interface.
The recent shift to using the libadwaita library in Nautilus, which is a part of GTK4, has caused some applications, including Nautilus, to prevent theming. This means that Nautilus does not automatically follow the system GTK theme.
The .profile file is a personal startup file in Unix-like operating systems, including Ubuntu Budgie. It is used to customize the environment variables and settings for a user’s login session.
You can open the terminal in Ubuntu Budgie 22.10 by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for ‘Terminal’ in your system’s applications.
Yes, you can use any GTK theme with Nautilus by specifying the theme name in the .profile file. However, some themes may not be fully compatible with Nautilus or may not provide a consistent look and feel.
No, you don’t need to restart your computer. Simply logging out of your session and logging back in should be sufficient for the changes to take effect.
Yes, you can switch back to Nemo file manager if you prefer. However, note that switching from Nautilus to Nemo may affect your ability to customize and make your own choices regarding file management.
You can refer to the Ubuntu Documentation for more information on installing themes in Ubuntu Budgie.
