How to Change the GNOME Activities Icon with a Custom One

Want to add a custom icon to replace the GNOME Activities button in the top left corner? Here's how to do it with ease.

The GNOME desktop environment adheres to its philosophy of user interaction, which is focused on maximum simplicity. However, some of its components do not always meet user expectations and preferences. Fortunately, GNOME extensions allow users to extensively customize almost every element of it to their liking.

This tutorial will show you how to replace the GNOME Activities button, which is placed in the upper left corner of the GNOME desktop, with a predefined custom icon or one you create.

Change the GNOME Activities icon
GNOME Activities icon

Change the GNOME Activities Icon

The simplest way to accomplish this is to use the Logo Menu extension, which is developed especially for this purpose. So, install it from its GNOME extensions portal page.

If you’re unsure how to deal with GNOME extensions, check out our “How to Install GNOME Shell Extensions Easily and Quickly” article.

After installing the extension, open its settings in the GNOME Extensions application.

GNOME Extensions App
GNOME Extensions App

All that’s left to do is to choose one of the many available icons to use, as here you’ll find a good selection of them on the most popular Linux distros. Don’t forget to check out the extension’s “Other Options” tab to adjust its behavior to your liking.

So far, so good. But what if your favorite distribution logo isn’t among those available? Fortunately, there is an easy solution for this. Below I’ll show you how to add any icon you want to the list of predefined ones so that it’s available for selection.

Assume we want to add an icon for Void Linux. The first step, of course, is to find an appropriate icon. However, the icon must meet various requirements to be displayed correctly. The icon should be in SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format, with the extension author’s recommended size of 496×496 pixels.

Void Linux Logo
Void Linux Logo

Then, copy that image to the “/home/{username}/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/logomenu@aryan_k/Resources” directory. In my case, the command would be as follows:

cp void-linux-logo.svg /home/linuxiac/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/logomenu\@aryan_k/Resources/Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Additionally, we may open the directory with the GNOME’s Files app and ensure that the icon we copied is present.

GNOME Files App
GNOME Files App

Next, open the “constants.js” file in any text editor and add a new entry for the logo you just added.

vim /home/$USER/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/logomenu\@aryan_k/constants.jsCode language: PHP (php)
constants.js

Save the file and exit. Finally, log out and log in again. Then, open the extension settings, and the logo you added should be there. Just select it and enjoy your new GNOME Activities icon.

Logo Menu Icon Settings
Logo Menu Icon Settings

Bottom Line

This guide shows how to replace the Activities button in GNOME with a custom icon. Furthermore, as we demonstrated, you are not limited only to the currently available ones. You can let your imagination run wild and design your icon, giving a small but unique touch to your GNOME desktop environment.

I hope we were of help to you. We welcome your feedback and suggestions in the comments section below.

Bobby Borisov

Bobby Borisov

Bobby, an editor-in-chief at Linuxiac, is a Linux professional with over 20 years of experience. With a strong focus on Linux and open-source software, he has worked as a Senior Linux System Administrator, Software Developer, and DevOps Engineer for small and large multinational companies.

Think You're an Ubuntu Expert? Let's Find Out!

Put your knowledge to the test in our lightning-fast Ubuntu quiz!
Ten questions to challenge yourself to see if you're a Linux legend or just a penguin in the making.

1 / 10

Ubuntu is an ancient African word that means:

2 / 10

Who is the Ubuntu's founder?

3 / 10

What year was the first official Ubuntu release?

4 / 10

What does the Ubuntu logo symbolize?

5 / 10

What package format does Ubuntu use for installing software?

6 / 10

When are Ubuntu's LTS versions released?

7 / 10

What is Unity?

8 / 10

What are Ubuntu versions named after?

9 / 10

What's Ubuntu Core?

10 / 10

Which Ubuntu version is Snap introduced?

The average score is 68%