Unity is a popular desktop environment for Ubuntu, a Linux-based operating system. One of the key features of Unity is its customizable desktop wallpapers. In this article, we will explore where to find Unity desktop wallpapers and how to manage them.
To find Unity desktop wallpapers, you can navigate to the /usr/share/backgrounds/ directory on your Ubuntu system. However, to make wallpapers available in the "Appearance" window, you need to manually edit the appropriate XML files or select them from the "pictures" folder in your home directory.
Location of Unity Desktop Wallpapers
The default Unity desktop wallpapers are stored in the /usr/share/backgrounds/ directory. This directory is part of the ubuntu-wallpapers-<codename> package, where <codename> represents the specific version of Ubuntu you are using (e.g., precise, trusty, etc.).
To get a list of the wallpaper files, you can run the following command in the terminal:
dpkg -L ubuntu-wallpapers-$(lsb_release -cs)Here, dpkg -L lists files associated with a package, ubuntu-wallpapers- is the package name, and $(lsb_release -cs) automatically fetches the codename of your Ubuntu version.
Appearance Window and XML Files
In the “Appearance” window, the wallpapers shown in the dropdown menu are obtained from XML files in the /usr/share/gnome-background-properties/ directory. Simply dropping wallpaper files into the /usr/share/backgrounds/ directory will not make them available for selection in the “Appearance” window.
To add wallpapers to the “Appearance” window, you need to manually edit the appropriate XML files. Be sure to backup these files before making any changes.
Selecting Wallpapers from Other Directories
You can navigate to the “pictures” folder in your home directory or even outside of the home directory to select wallpapers that are not in the “backgrounds” directory. This is a convenient way to use personal images or downloaded wallpapers.
Handling Deleted Wallpapers
If you have deleted all wallpapers from the /usr/share/backgrounds/ directory, they may still be visible in the “Appearance” window due to cached thumbnails. However, after a reboot, deleted wallpapers should no longer be available on the desktop.
Other Wallpaper Packages
It is worth noting that other packages, such as those holding KDE or XFCE wallpapers, can also install wallpaper files in the background directories. You can explore these packages for additional wallpaper options.
Conclusion
In summary, Unity desktop wallpapers are primarily located in the /usr/share/backgrounds/ directory. However, to make wallpapers available in the “Appearance” window, you need to place them in the appropriate XML files or select them from the “pictures” folder in your home directory. Remember, always backup any system files before making changes. Enjoy customizing your Unity desktop environment with your favorite wallpapers!
The default Unity desktop wallpapers are stored in the /usr/share/backgrounds/ directory.
To add wallpapers to the "Appearance" window, you need to manually edit the appropriate XML files in the /usr/share/gnome-background-properties/ directory. Make sure to backup these files before making any changes.
Yes, you can navigate to the "pictures" folder in your home directory or even outside of the home directory to select wallpapers that are not in the "backgrounds" directory.
If you delete all wallpapers from the "/usr/share/backgrounds/" directory, they may still be visible in the "Appearance" window due to cached thumbnails. However, after a reboot, deleted wallpapers should no longer be available on the desktop.
Yes, there are other packages, such as those holding KDE or XFCE wallpapers, that can install wallpaper files in the background directories. You can explore these packages for additional wallpaper options.
