How to Install Custom Themes and Icons on Linux
With GNOME Tweaks, and where to safely download them from.
Customising the visual look of your Linux desktop is more flexible than on most systems — with some care about where you download themes from.
Installing a theme (GNOME)
- Install "GNOME Tweaks":
sudo apt install gnome-tweaks. - Download a theme from gnome-look.org (the most established community repository).
- Extract the downloaded file into
~/.themes(create it if it doesn't exist). - Open GNOME Tweaks → Appearance → select the installed theme.
Icons, the same process
Same as themes, but the files go in
~/.icons instead of ~/.themes.
Warning: only download themes and icons from well-known sources like gnome-look.org — a theme is, essentially, code that runs on your desktop, so the source matters just as much as with any other software.
Frequently asked questions
Does customising the theme affect performance?
The impact is minimal in most cases — some very elaborate themes with lots of effects can be slightly more noticeable, but it isn't a real concern for most users.
Where should I safely download themes from?
gnome-look.org is the most established and reliable community repository for GNOME themes. Avoid unknown sources, since a theme is code that runs on your system.