Make GNOME Look & Feel Like Unity

To make GNOME look and feel like Unity, you install a GNOME Shell extension and a matching theme that recreate the Unity launcher, top panel, and global menu behavior. The most direct route is the Dash to Panel extension combined with a Unity-style icon theme and the Unite extension for a top bar that merges the app menu into the panel.

Why Would You Want Unity Back?

Unity was Canonical’s desktop shell for Ubuntu from 2010 to 2017. It used a left-side launcher, a top panel with the app menu (global menu), and a HUD. When Ubuntu switched back to GNOME, many users missed that workflow. GNOME 3.x/4x is quite different: it has a top bar, a dock (via extensions), and an activities overview. The good news is that GNOME is highly extensible, so you can approximate Unity’s layout and behavior with a few packages.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need a GNOME environment (version 3.38 or later, including GNOME 40–46) and the ability to install extensions. The core pieces are:

• GNOME Shell extensions – small JavaScript add-ons that modify the shell.
• Dash to Panel – turns the dock into a Windows-like taskbar, but you can configure it to be a left launcher.
• Unite – moves the application menu into the top panel and removes the window title bar, giving a Unity-like global menu.
• Arc Menu or Dash to Dock – optional, but Arc Menu gives a Unity-like applications menu button.
• A theme – for example, the Yaru theme (default on Ubuntu) or a custom theme that mimics Unity’s flat look.

Step-by-Step: Recreating the Unity Layout

1. Install GNOME Tweaks (if not already installed) – sudo apt install gnome-tweaks on Debian/Ubuntu.
2. Install the extensions – you can use the GNOME Extension Manager or the website extensions.gnome.org. For Dash to Panel and Unite, install them via your package manager or the extension site.
3. Enable Dash to Panel – in Tweaks or the Extensions app, turn on Dash to Panel. Then open its settings: set the panel position to Left, and enable Show favorites.
4. Enable Unite – turn it on, and in its settings, enable Show application menu and Show window title in the top bar. This merges the app menu into the panel.
5. Install a Unity-like icon theme – for example, Numix Circle or Papirus (which is close to Unity’s icons). Set it in Tweaks under Appearance.
6. Optional: Install Arc Menu – this adds a start-button-like menu on the panel. Configure it to show a list of applications, similar to Unity’s dash.
7. Adjust the hot corner – Unity didn’t have a hot corner; you can disable it in Tweaks (Top Bar > Activities Overview Hot Corner).

How the Extensions Work Together

Dash to Panel replaces the default dock with a full panel. When you set it to the left, it looks like Unity’s launcher. Unite takes the GNOME top bar and merges the window title and app menu into it, so you get the global menu at the top. The combination gives you the two main visual elements of Unity: a left launcher and a top menu bar.

Arc Menu adds a button that opens a full-screen app grid, similar to Unity’s dash. You can also use Dash to Dock instead of Dash to Panel, but Dash to Panel is more configurable for this purpose.

Common Pitfalls and Fixes

• Extensions not working after a GNOME update – GNOME updates often break extensions. Check the extensions website for updates, or use the Extension Manager to update them.
• Unite doesn’t show the app menu – Make sure you have the AppMenu extension enabled (it’s part of Unite). Also, some apps (like Electron apps) don’t support global menus.
• Dash to Panel covers the top bar – In Dash to Panel settings, set the panel to Top or adjust the height. For a Unity look, you might want the launcher on the left and the top bar separate.
• Theme not applying to the shell – You need to enable “User Themes� extension in Tweaks, then select your theme under Appearance.

Alternative Approaches

If you don’t want to fiddle with multiple extensions, you can install a full Unity-like desktop environment. For example, Ubuntu Unity is an official flavor that ships with the Unity desktop. You can install it with sudo apt install ubuntu-unity-desktop and select it at login. That gives you the real Unity experience without configuration.

Another option is to use KDE Plasma with a Unity layout, but that’s a heavier change. The extension method is lighter and keeps your current GNOME setup.

Does It Feel Like Unity?

The look can be nearly identical, but the feel is subtly different. Unity had a global menu that worked consistently across apps, and the HUD (press Alt) is not replicated by any GNOME extension. You can get a similar HUD with the HUD extension (search for “hud� on extensions.gnome.org), but it’s not as integrated. Also, Unity’s launcher had a “spread� view when you clicked the Ubuntu button; GNOME’s overview is similar but not the same.

For most users, the combination of Dash to Panel + Unite + Arc Menu is enough to feel at home. If you rely heavily on the HUD or Unity’s keyboard shortcuts, you may need to set up custom shortcuts in GNOME (Settings > Keyboard).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will these extensions slow down my system?

Extensions are lightweight, but having many can increase memory usage slightly. Dash to Panel and Unite are well-optimized and shouldn’t cause noticeable lag on a modern machine. If you notice slowdowns, disable extensions you don’t use.

Can I get the Unity HUD on GNOME?

There is an extension called “HUD� that provides a similar Alt-key search, but it’s not as comprehensive as Unity’s. It works by searching through application menus, so it may not cover all apps. It’s worth trying if you miss that feature.

Do I need to install the same extensions on every Linux distribution?

Yes, the extensions work on any GNOME Shell (version 3.38+). However, some distributions may have their own extension manager or package names. On Fedora, you can install extensions via the GNOME Software app; on Arch, you can use the AUR. The process is the same.

What if I don’t like the result? Can I revert easily?

Yes. Simply disable or uninstall the extensions in the Extensions app or via Tweaks. Your system will return to stock GNOME. Your themes and icons can also be changed back in Tweaks.

Is it possible to make the launcher auto-hide like Unity?

Yes. In Dash to Panel settings, go to “Behavior� and enable “Auto-hide� with a delay. You can also set the launcher to reveal on mouse hover at the left edge, which is exactly how Unity behaved.

Does this work with Wayland?

Yes, all the mentioned extensions support Wayland. However, some global menu features may not work with certain apps under Wayland due to how windows are managed. If you encounter issues, try logging into an Xorg session (if available) for full compatibility.

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