Home / ubuntu / Questions / 58172
Accepted
Xiè Jìléi
Asked: 2011-08-22 18:19:47 +0800 CST

How to revert to GNOME Classic Desktop?

  • 772

I'm used to GNOME Classic and personally don't want to change to anything else, but it seems there is no more GNOME Classic in the Oneiric release. After apt-get installed gnome-session and all, though there comes back the GNOME Classic option in the session listbox, however, after logged in, it seems not the expected one.

There is no System menu in the top bar, and I couldn't customize panels at all. I want to change the appearance(theme), but I can't find Appearance menu at all. And much more differences to my previous experience of GNOME classic shell.

There are multiple valid answers for this question spanning over several versions of Ubuntu. For your convenience an index of each below:

gnome

12 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    11.10 Overview

    The older GNOME 2.x experience has been retired in GNOME, however you can use the GNOME 3.x classic mode (as shown below) to make an approximation of the older experience.

    enter image description here

    install prerequisites

    In the software center you have the option to install Gnome Shell Install gnome-shell:

    enter image description here

    Similarly - search for CompizConfig Settings Manager Install compizconfig-settings-manager and install this package - we'll need that later.

    Whilst you are there you can also install gnome-tweak-tool Install gnome-tweak-tool to further customise your desktop.

    To quickly install all three of these at once, copy and paste the following into a terminal:

    sudo apt-get install gnome-shell compizconfig-settings-manager gnome-tweak-tool

    enabling compiz

    Now perhaps the tricky part - getting gnome classic to function with compiz:

    In a terminal copy and paste the following:

    gksudo gedit /usr/share/gnome-session/sessions/gnome-classic.session

    Now edit the file shown to contain this line entry:

    enter image description here

    How to login to Gnome-Classic

    Save, logout and in your session options choose Gnome Classic

    enter image description here

    Changing the theme

    You'll notice that the default Ubuntu Ambiance theme doesn't look great in Gnome Classic. We can correct this by changing to a Gnome 3 friendly theme.

    enter image description here

    ... and choosing Appearance enter image description here

    Change the theme to Adwaita... enter image description here

    Note - see the linked questions below for other theming options.

    Changing Icons

    Launch gnome-tweak-tool via the menu option:

    • Applications --> Other --> Advanced Settings

    Change the icon theme as shown:

    enter image description here

    Restructure the desktop layout

    Now lets get back the panels to something that we are familiar with...

    Press Alt+Win and right-click the top menu bar - N.B. Win is the Windows Symbol key

    enter image description here

    (If you are using Gnome Classic (No Effects) i.e. gnome fallback mode then to add to the panel use Alt and right-click)

    Choose Add to Panel

    enter image description here

    Click the option shown and click the button Forward

    enter image description here

    Repeat the Alt+Win + Right Click the date and choose Delete to delete the clock.

    Repeat this delete procedure for the other applets on the top-panel.

    Note - if an error appears indicating that the Panel has reloaded you can safely ignore this.

    Repeat the Alt+Win + Right Click the top panel - add the applet Accessibility.

    Repeat the Alt+Win + Right Click on bottom panel - add the applet Show Desktop and move to the bottom left.

    Repeat the Alt+Win + Right Click on bottom panel - add the applet Wastebasket and move to the bottom right.

    Now we need to change the number of workspaces back to two.

    Navigate to Applications - Other - CompizConfig Settings Manager - General Options - Desktop Size and change the Vertical Virtual Size value to 1

    enter image description here

    Install the indicator-applet

    Now lets install the indicator-applet:

    To add to the panel:

    Alt+Win+Right click the panel and choose Add To Panel and add the following indicator

    enter image description here

    Finish off by Alt+Win+Right click the indicator-applet and move it to the right side of the top panel.

    Optional:

    • You can install fonts-cantarell Install fonts-cantarell if you want to use the default upstream GNOME font

    Linked Questions:

    1. Delete extra toolbar on top of the screen in GNOME fallback mode?
    2. How do I revert Alt-tab behavior to switch between windows on the current workspace?
    3. How do I change to a theme not listed in the Appearance screen?
    4. If you use autologin you need to do this: How do I set the GNOME Classic login to be the default with autologin?
    5. How to re-add indicator-applet for 11.10
    6. How to customize the gnome classic panel
    7. Warning: What are some of the issues with CCSM and why would I want to avoid it?
    • 174

  2. For 11.04

    1. Log in with the classic GNOME session by selecting your username and then selecting Ubuntu Classic:

      Screenshot 2

    From then on GDM will remember your setting. To permanently make the Classic Session be the default, run the Login Settings tool and select the classic desktop:

    enter image description here

    • 64

  3. 12.04 Overview

    The older GNOME 2.x experience has been retired in GNOME, however you can use the GNOME 3.x classic mode (as shown below) to make an approximation of the older experience.

    enter image description here

    Install the prerequisites:

    Install via the software center

    Similarly install myunity:

    Install via the software center

    How to login to Gnome-Classic

    Save, logout and in your session options choose Gnome Classic

    enter image description here enter image description here

    Restructure the desktop layout

    Now lets get back the panels to something that we are familiar with...

    Press Alt+Win and right-click the top menu bar - N.B. Win is the Windows Symbol key

    enter image description here

    (If you are using Gnome Classic (No Effects) i.e. gnome fallback mode then to add to the panel use Alt and right-click)

    Choose Add to Panel

    enter image description here

    Click the option shown and click the button Forward

    enter image description here

    After clicking Add, add the Universal Access applet.

    Repeat the Alt+Win + Right Click on bottom panel - add the applet Wastebasket

    Alt+Win + Right Click over the Wastebasket and move to the bottom right.

    Now we need to change the number of workspaces back to two.

    Launch MyUnity via its icon in System Settings

    change the Vertical Virtual Size value to 1

    enter image description here

    Optional:

    • You can install fonts-cantarell if you want to use the default upstream GNOME font

    Linked Questions:

    1. Delete extra toolbar on top of the screen in GNOME fallback mode?
    2. How do I revert Alt-tab behavior to switch between windows on the current workspace?
    3. How do I change to a theme not listed in the Appearance screen?
    4. If you use autologin you need to do this: How do I set the GNOME Classic login to be the default with autologin?
    • 45

  4. Fixing the look of the panel in 11.10

    As far as just the look of the panel goes, see my answer to How to customize the gnome classic panel for how to get back quite close to the original look. This is accomplished by, amongst other things, reducing the top panel's height and its icon sizes.

    GNOME Classic:
    orig

    With fixes:
    fixed-compacticons

    • 17

  5. 13.04 and up

    With Ubuntu 13.04 you can install the Gnome classic desktop in exactly the same way as for Ubuntu 12.04 and 12.10.

    But now ...

    Ubuntu GNOME has become an official derivative.

    The first official release will be 13.04, which will be available by the end of April 2013. If you're itching to try it now, check out the daily images here.

    Ubuntu GNOME (formerly Ubuntu GNOME Remix) is a mostly pure GNOME desktop experience built from the Ubuntu repositories. As the 12.10 release was our first release, there are still a few minor issues, but we proudly recommend Ubuntu GNOME to anyone interested in using Ubuntu with the best of what GNOME has to offer.

    You can install this the same as any other Ubuntu from a live DVD and forgo anything related to Unity. Or install it as a dual boot alongside Ubuntu.

    • 16

  6. For 11.04 Ubuntu Classic

    I don't know why, but 'Ubuntu Classic Desktop' session disable any Compiz effects for me

    So in order to get my personal "Classic" version (with Compiz) I've done the following

    How to disable Unity and start gnome-panel at each login:

    • start a 'Ubuntu' session (with Unity)

    • open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T)

    • install ccsm

      sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

    • start ccsm

      ccsm

    • disable Unity plugin

      disable Unity plugin

    • start Startup Applications Preferences

      gnome-session-properties

    • add a gnome-panel entry

      enter image description here

    • log out and log in

      gnome-session-save --kill

    Note 1: If you have a nvidia card and run some trouble starting Unity, you may want to

    • install Additional Drivers NVIDIA accelerated driver (version 173)

    • and force Unity start

      sudo sh -c "echo 'UNITY_FORCE_START=1' >> /etc/environment"

    Note 2: If you want to restore default Unity settings run

    unity --reset
    • 7

  7. There is another option. A small group of folks are working on a fork of Gnome 2 called Mate (pronounced MAH-tay, I think; could be wrong on the accent, but I'm reasonably certain it's meant to be two syllables). Its future is still uncertain, but the Linux Mint folks liked it enough to make it an option in their newest release. If you're willing to work outside the Ubuntu repositories, it's pretty easy to install. From the wiki:

    Ubuntu Oneiric Ocelot:

    Add the repo to /etc/apt/sources.list via the following command:

    sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://tridex.net/repo/ubuntu oneiric main"

    or using a text editor of your choice add the following line to /etc/apt/sources.list:

    deb http://tridex.net/repo/ubuntu oneiric main

    To install MATE:

    sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mate-archive-keyring
sudo apt-get install mate-core

    Then simply log out and MATE should be a desktop option.

    I tested it on Oneiric 32-bit, and it installs fine. Takes 310MB of storage, according to apt-get. Didn't require any packages to be removed or updated, so it should play well with others. Note that it's still a young project, though, so bugs and quirks are likely.

    There's no Ubuntu branding/theming by default, but it takes the built-in themes (like Ambiance) reasonably well. And it includes the much-missed (for me, anyway) System menu!

    • 7

  8. It depends on what you want instead. You can no longer use Gnome2, at least not as easily. You can do a sudo apt-get install gnome-session for Gnome3 (which is worse than Unity imo) or you can get the lightweight xfce4 desktop sudo apt-get install xfce4, which is older looking, but very similar in functionality to Gnome2 (possibly even better). Another popular alternative is KDE, which you would get with sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop. Removing unity should be possible with sudo apt-get purge unity, though be careful, as it could inadvertantly uninstall software you may want. I recommend against removing Unity completely, and instead using one of the above desktop managers along side it.

    To switch which one you use, just hit the little gear icon above your password field on the login screen.

    • 6

  9. Step 1. Install Mate, Gnome Flashback, or XFCE

    1a. Installing Mate

    If you are running 14.04 fellow this instructions.

    Click this link to install the MateInstall mint-desktop package, find it in the Ubuntu Software Center, or type sudo apt-get install mint-desktop in a terminal. There are more instructions here

    If you are running 12.04-13.10 fellow this instructions.

    Type this in a terminal

    # this add the repository
sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://packages.mate-desktop.org/repo/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) main"
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mate-archive-keyring
sudo apt-get update
# this installs base packages
sudo apt-get install mate-core
# this installs more packages
sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment

    1b. Installing Gnome flashback (formerly Gnome Fallback)

    If you are running 14.04 fellow this instructions.

    Click this link to install the Gnome FlashbackInstall mint-desktop package, find it in the Ubuntu Software Center, or type sudo apt-get install gnome-session-flashback in a terminal. There are more instructions here

    If you are running 12.04-13.10 fellow this instructions.

    Click this link to install the Gnome Fallback/PanelInstall Gnome Fall back package, find it in the Ubuntu Software Center, or type sudo apt-get install gnome-panel or sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback in a terminal. There are more instructions here

    1c. Installing XFCE (XForms Common Environment)

    Click this link to install the XFCEInstall XFCE package, find it in the Ubuntu Software Center, or type sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop in a terminal. There are more instructions here

    Ubuntu has an XFCE spin called Xubuntu it is recommended to install it from the official image (.iso) that can be downloaded at this page.

    Step 2. Make them look like Ubuntu 10.04.

    2a. Making Mate

    You need to get the Ambiance Theme so open up a terminal and type this in.

    cd ~/Downloads
wget http://dl.dropbox.com/u/72782740/debian/ubuntu/ambiance-mate_12.04_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i ambiance-mate_12.04_all.deb

    Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or...

    After it is done install, change the Theme to Ambiance MATE so open the Appearance preferences (located under System -> Preferences) and select the Ambiance MATE theme.

    Image1

    This is how It is going to look like

    Image1

    After that you now need to chance the wallpaper to the 10.04 one. so first you need to get them. So open up a terminal

    cd ~/Downloads
wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb

    Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or...

    After it is done install, change the wallpaper to the default in 10.04 so open the Appearance preferences (located under System -> Background) and select the the default in 10.04 wallpaper.

    *Sorry I couldn't find a image for this micro-step.

    2b. Making Gnome Flashback

    You need to get the Ambiance theme if you don't ready have it. It isn't any different from the stock one that you need. If you don't have it click here to download it And just install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software Center, or tools like it. Finally you just need to chance the wallpaper to the one in 10.04 and you do that by just opening a terminal and type in

    cd ~/Downloads wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb sudo dpkg -i ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb

    Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or... And it is no difference into changing it from normal unity. More Info

    2b. Making XFCE

    Making the panels look like Gnome 2

    First, Remove the the button panel by right clicking on it and select Delete. Add the Show Desktop, Window Buttons, Workspace Switcher and Trash Applet to the new button panel. Now we are done with the button panel now it is time for the button one so chance the panel size to 24px by right clicking on it and select Panel>Panel Preferences. Rename “File Manager” menu into “Places” by opening the handy terminal and type in sudo nano /usr/share/applications/xfce-settings-manager.desktop find the entry Name and change the entry into this Name=Settings Manager → Name=System save it and close it. Now Right click on the Panel Select Panel Preferences Than Items. Remove all default items and left 8 eight items : Applications Menu, Separator, Notification Area, add a separator between Applications Menu and Notification Area to be Expand by click the item, and click edit item by select Edit the currently selected item button at the bottom of Panel Preferences menu. Then, add two Launcher items and move them to the position after Applications Menu item. Set them to Show Label Instead of Icon, by clicking Edit the currently selected item>Advanced> Show Label Instead of Icon. Now, edit each launcher and add the two main applications. For first launcher, add the Places items by clicking Edit the currently selected item>General>Add new item, search and scroll down to get the Places item. For the second launcher, do the same but put the System item (that we have edited before from the xfce-settings-manager desktop menu). Now, we have a good looking Gnome 2 panels.

    Now We are going to change the theme to Ambiance

    You need to get the Ambiance Theme so open up a terminal and type this in.

    Add Ravefinity Project PPA sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ravefinity-project/ppa -y Update package information and install ambiance and radiance themes sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ambiance-xfce-lxde radiance-xfce-lxde Install other colors variations (blue, green, purple, ...): sudo apt-get install ambiance-colors-xfce-lxde radiance-colors-xfce-lxde

    Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or...

    After it is done install, change the Theme to Ambiance.

    Image1

    This is how It is going to look like

    Image1

    After that you now need to chance the wallpaper to the 10.04 one. so first you need to get them. So open up a terminal

    cd ~/Downloads
wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb

    Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or...

    After it is done install, change the wallpaper to the default in 10.04 so open the Desktop Settings (Right on the desktop -> Desktop Setting) and select the the default in 10.04 wallpaper.

    Step 3. Install MDM (Mate Display Manager)

    You need to get the Ambiance Theme so open up a terminal and type this in.

     sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/mint
 sudo apt-get update
 sudo apt-get install mdm mdm-themes

    During the installation you will get a window asking you to choose your default DM, like the one in the print screen. Choose MDM.

    Image1

    And That is it!!!

    Sources

    • 6

  10. MATE is a lightweight desktop environment that uses the traditional panel desktop layout used in pre-Unity Ubuntu. The MATE desktop environment can be configured to have either one or two panels. Starting with mate-desktop-environment 1.20 MATE desktop environment has true high DPI support. High DPI will be supported by default in Ubuntu MATE 18.04 and later.

    Ubuntu 14.10 and later

    sudo apt update  
sudo apt install mate-desktop-environment-extras

    There are also other optional MATE packages available in the default Ubuntu repositories:

    • mate-applets - Various applets for the MATE panel
    • mate-icon-theme-faenza - MATE Faenza Desktop icon theme
    • mate-media - MATE media utilities (metapackage)
    • mate-notification-daemon - daemon for displaying passive pop-up notifications
    • mate-power-manager - power management tool for the MATE desktop
    • mate-screensaver - MATE screensaver and screen locker
    • mate-system-monitor - Process viewer and system resource monitor for MATE
    • mate-themes - Official themes for the MATE desktop
    • mate-utils - MATE desktop utilities
    • pluma - official text editor of the MATE desktop environment
    • mate-gnome-main-menu-applet - GNOME start menu applet for MATE
    • mate-netspeed - Traffic monitor applet for MATE
    • mate-sensors-applet - Display readings from hardware sensors in your MATE panel
    • mate-user-share - User level public file sharing via WebDAV or ObexFTP
    • mozo - easy MATE menu editing tool
    • mate-netbook - MATE utilities for netbooks

    MATE for Ubuntu 14.04

    Open the terminal, and complete the following steps to enable the appropriate PPAs and install MATE 1.8.1 on Ubuntu 14.04.

    sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/ppa
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/trusty-mate
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends ubuntu-mate-core ubuntu-mate-desktop

    Instead of lightdm use lightdm-gtk-greeter for the login display manager as recommended by the MATE team:

    sudo apt-get install lightdm-gtk-greeter   
sudo reboot

    Ubuntu 12.04, 12.10 and 13.04

    From the terminal run the following command to add the MATE PPA to your software sources:

    sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://packages.mate-desktop.org/repo/ubuntu raring main"

    This is assuming you have Ubuntu 13.04 installed. For Ubuntu 12.04 substitute precise for raring. For Ubuntu 12.10 substitute quantal for raring.

    Run the following commands:

    sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install mate-archive-keyring
sudo apt-get update   
sudo apt-get install mate-core  # this installs base packages
sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment  # this installs more packages

    Instead of lightdm use lightdm-gtk-greeter for the login display manager as recommended by the MATE team:

    sudo apt-get install lightdm-gtk-greeter  
sudo reboot
    • 3