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Ubuntu Icon Themes

Introduction​

Icon themes are collections of graphical elements that replace the default system icons in Ubuntu. They provide a consistent visual language across applications, folders, and system elements, allowing you to personalize your desktop experience. Ubuntu's icon theming system is highly flexible, enabling you to install pre-made themes or create your own custom icon sets.

This guide will walk you through understanding, installing, and even creating your own Ubuntu icon themes.

Understanding Icon Themes in Ubuntu​

Icon themes in Ubuntu follow a standardized structure defined by the freedesktop.org Icon Theme Specification. These themes provide icons for:

  • Applications (Firefox, Terminal, etc.)
  • Actions (save, print, edit, etc.)
  • Status indicators (battery, network, etc.)
  • Places (home folder, desktop, etc.)
  • File types (document, image, video, etc.)
  • Devices (hard drive, USB, etc.)

Ubuntu's default icon theme is called "Yaru," which provides the orange and purple aesthetic you see after a fresh installation.

Installing New Icon Themes​

You can install icon themes in Ubuntu using multiple methods:

Method 1: Using the Ubuntu Software Center​

  1. Open Ubuntu Software Center
  2. Search for "icon themes"
  3. Browse the available options and click "Install" on your preferred theme

Method 2: Using the apt Package Manager​

Many icon themes are available in Ubuntu's repositories:

bash
# Install Papirus icon theme - one of the most popular themes
sudo apt install papirus-icon-theme

# Install elementary icons
sudo apt install elementary-icon-theme

# Install Numix icon theme
sudo apt install numix-icon-theme

Method 3: Manual Installation​

For themes not available in the repositories:

  1. Download the icon theme (typically as a .tar.gz or .zip file)
  2. Extract the theme to either:
    • System-wide location: /usr/share/icons/
    • User-specific location: ~/.local/share/icons/ or ~/.icons/
bash
# Example: Download and install Tela icon theme
mkdir -p ~/.local/share/icons
cd /tmp
wget https://github.com/vinceliuice/Tela-icon-theme/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
unzip master.zip
cd Tela-icon-theme-master
./install.sh -d ~/.local/share/icons

Applying Icon Themes​

Once installed, you can apply an icon theme using:

Using GNOME Tweaks​

  1. Install GNOME Tweaks if not already installed:
bash
sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
  1. Open GNOME Tweaks
  2. Navigate to the "Appearance" tab
  3. Select your preferred icon theme from the "Icons" dropdown menu

Using gsettings Command​

You can also change the icon theme via the terminal:

bash
# List available icon themes
ls /usr/share/icons ~/.local/share/icons ~/.icons 2>/dev/null

# Set the icon theme (replace "Papirus" with your theme name)
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface icon-theme "Papirus"

Icon Theme Structure​

If you're interested in creating your own icon theme or modifying an existing one, it's important to understand the standard structure:

ThemeName/
├── index.theme           # Theme metadata
├── 16x16/                # Icons for 16x16 pixel size
│   ├── actions/          # Action icons
│   ├── apps/             # Application icons
│   ├── devices/          # Device icons
│   └── ...
├── 22x22/                # Icons for 22x22 pixel size
│   └── ...
├── 24x24/
│   └── ...
├── 32x32/
│   └── ...
├── 48x48/
│   └── ...
└── scalable/             # Vector icons (SVG format)
    └── ...

The index.theme file defines metadata about the theme:

ini
[Icon Theme]
Name=My Custom Theme
Comment=A beautiful custom icon theme
Inherits=hicolor
Directories=16x16/actions,16x16/apps,...

[16x16/actions]
Size=16
Context=Actions
Type=Fixed

# More directory definitions...

Creating a Simple Custom Icon Theme​

Let's create a basic custom icon theme by overriding just a few icons:

  1. Create the directory structure:
bash
mkdir -p ~/.local/share/icons/MyCustomTheme/{16x16,22x22,24x24,32x32,48x48,scalable}/apps
  1. Create the index.theme file:
bash
cat > ~/.local/share/icons/MyCustomTheme/index.theme << 'EOF'
[Icon Theme]
Name=MyCustomTheme
Comment=My custom Ubuntu icon theme
Inherits=Yaru
Directories=16x16/apps,22x22/apps,24x24/apps,32x32/apps,48x48/apps,scalable/apps

[16x16/apps]
Size=16
Context=Applications
Type=Fixed

[22x22/apps]
Size=22
Context=Applications
Type=Fixed

[24x24/apps]
Size=24
Context=Applications
Type=Fixed

[32x32/apps]
Size=32
Context=Applications
Type=Fixed

[48x48/apps]
Size=48
Context=Applications
Type=Fixed

[scalable/apps]
Size=48
Context=Applications
MinSize=8
MaxSize=512
Type=Scalable
EOF
  1. Create or download a custom icon (SVG format is recommended):
bash
# Example: Create a custom terminal icon
# Save this SVG code to a file
cat > ~/.local/share/icons/MyCustomTheme/scalable/apps/terminal.svg << 'EOF'
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="48" height="48" viewBox="0 0 48 48">
  <rect width="44" height="34" x="2" y="7" rx="2" ry="2" fill="#333" />
  <path d="M6 15l6 6-6 6" stroke="#3f3" stroke-width="2" fill="none" />
  <path d="M14 27h12" stroke="#3f3" stroke-width="2" />
</svg>
EOF
  1. Update the icon cache:
bash
gtk-update-icon-cache -f ~/.local/share/icons/MyCustomTheme
  1. Apply your new theme using GNOME Tweaks or gsettings:
bash
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface icon-theme "MyCustomTheme"

Since our theme inherits from Yaru, it will use Yaru icons for everything except the custom terminal icon we created.

Modifying Existing Themes​

If you want to modify an existing theme rather than creating one from scratch:

  1. Copy the theme to your user directory:
bash
# Example with Papirus
cp -r /usr/share/icons/Papirus ~/.local/share/icons/Papirus-Custom
  1. Edit the index.theme file to change the name:
bash
sed -i 's/Name=Papirus/Name=Papirus-Custom/' ~/.local/share/icons/Papirus-Custom/index.theme
  1. Replace icons as needed:
bash
# Replace Firefox icon with a custom one
cp my-custom-firefox.svg ~/.local/share/icons/Papirus-Custom/scalable/apps/firefox.svg
  1. Update the icon cache and apply the theme.

Advanced: Creating a Complete Icon Theme​

Creating a complete icon theme is a significant undertaking, but here are the basic steps:

  1. Plan your theme (style, colors, design principles)
  2. Create a template icon in SVG format
  3. Create the directory structure
  4. Create the most common icons first:
    • Apps: firefox, terminal, settings, file-manager
    • Places: folder, home, desktop
    • Actions: save, edit, delete
  5. Use symbol links for similar icons
  6. Test on different backgrounds and sizes
  7. Share your theme with the community

Troubleshooting​

Icons Not Showing After Installation​

If icons don't appear after installation:

bash
# Update icon cache
sudo gtk-update-icon-cache -f /usr/share/icons/ThemeName
# OR for user themes
gtk-update-icon-cache -f ~/.local/share/icons/ThemeName

# Restart GNOME Shell (in X11 session)
Alt+F2, type "r", press Enter

# Or log out and log back in

Mixed Icons Appearing​

If you see a mix of different icon styles:

  1. Check the "Inherits" line in your theme's index.theme file
  2. Ensure you've created icons for all necessary sizes
  3. Check file permissions (should be readable)

Summary​

Ubuntu icon themes provide a powerful way to customize your desktop experience. In this guide, we've covered:

  • Understanding how icon themes work in Ubuntu
  • Installing pre-made icon themes through different methods
  • Applying icon themes using GNOME Tweaks and gsettings
  • The structure of icon themes
  • Creating a simple custom icon theme
  • Modifying existing themes
  • Troubleshooting common issues

By mastering icon themes, you can create a unique and personalized Ubuntu desktop that reflects your style and preferences.

Additional Resources​

Exercises​

  1. Install three different icon themes and compare their styles and completeness.
  2. Create a custom folder icon and add it to an existing theme.
  3. Design a simple app icon in SVG format and add it to your custom theme.
  4. Create a script that switches between different icon themes based on the time of day.
  5. Contribute an icon to an open-source icon theme project on GitHub.

If you spot any mistakes on this website, please let me know at [email protected]. I’d greatly appreciate your feedback! :)