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htorque
Asked: 2011-04-10 02:30:55 +0800 CST

How do I disable overlay scrollbars?

  • 772

It looks like Ubuntu 11.04 will come with overlay scrollbars by default. I do like them, but I don't like the current mix of scrollbar types as many applications don't yet use those overlay scrollbars.

Is there a way to disable overlay scrollbars (without removing the overlay-scrollbar package)?

overlay-scrollbars

12 Answers

  1. In 12.04 LTS there's a slightly cleaner way to do it. Just run

    gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface ubuntu-overlay-scrollbars false

    in a terminal. Apps opened afterwards will have the non-ayatana scrollbar.

    To get the default behavior back, run

    gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface ubuntu-overlay-scrollbars

    If you are using 12.10 or later, run

    gsettings set com.canonical.desktop.interface scrollbar-mode normal

    And to return to the default, run

    gsettings reset com.canonical.desktop.interface scrollbar-mode
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  2. Best Answer

    You can disable the scrollbars either

    • 68

  3. You can remove the scrollbars completely by typing

    sudo apt-get remove overlay-scrollbar liboverlay-scrollbar
    • 30

  4. Just disabling or removing the overlay-scrollbars as described by the other answers will get you back the scroll bars, but they will be missing the stepper buttons at the end of the bars because they have been disabled in the Ambiance theme. To re-enable them, put the following in the ~/.gtkrc-2.0 file:

    style "default" {
  engine "murrine" {
    stepperstyle = 0
  }
}

    and the following into the file ~/.config/gtk-3.0/gtk.css:

    .scrollbar {
  -GtkScrollbar-has-backward-stepper: 1;
  -GtkScrollbar-has-forward-stepper: 1;
}

    Usually, restarting the applications is enough for the changes to apply.

    • 18

  5. Simply use utility dconf-editor or gconf-editor. If it is not already present you can install this from Ubuntu Software Center.

    This utility is like Windows registry-editor where you can tweak system settings. From entry org > gnome > Desktop > Applications.you find an item named ubuntu-overlay-scrollbars. Toggle the item off, logout/login and you're ready.

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  6. Maybe you're talking about ayatana scrollbar!

    in the case that you want to have the old scrollbar style you only need to use the next command:

    sudo apt-get remove overlay-scrollbar liboverlay-scrollbar liboverlay-scrollbar3

    enter image description here

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  7. In Ubuntu 12.04 you can just install Ubuntu Tweak and the option to disable the vertical overlay scrollbar is in Tweaks -> Miscellaneous. You'll need to log-off or reboot for the changes to take effect.

    If you want the overlay scrollbar back at some point, you just go and enable it back again in the app. In addition you get a large number of tweaks at your disposition. I'd say this is the easiest way to achieve this.

    • 4

  8. Try the following: 

    echo "export LIBOVERLAY_SCROLLBAR=0" > /etc/X11/Xsession.d/80overlayscrollbars

    You'll probably need to log off once.

    More information / ideas can be found here.

    • 3

  9. On 15.10 wily (libgtk-3-0) this worked for me:

    export GTK_OVERLAY_SCROLLING=0
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  10. When you try to uninstall liboverlay-scrollbar doesn't find it! To get rid of the transparent bars was easily fixed. I use leafpad.

    Open a terminal :

    1. gksudo leafpad /etc/X11/Xsession.d/99disable-overlay-scrollbars
    2. Put your password in.
    3. Type export LIBOVERLAY_SCROLLBAR=0
    4. Save, Exit and reboot.

    No more overlay slidebars or transparent slidebars.

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