How to make your GNOME desktop look like Windows 11 (if that's your jam)

2026-02-26 · Source: News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET · Field: Technology & Digital — Operating Systems & Desktop Customization · Depth: Intermediate, quick

Summary

This guide details the process of customizing a GNOME desktop environment to visually resemble Windows 11. The customization involves several steps, beginning with installing a Windows 11-like GTK theme, such as the Windows 11 GTK theme or ZorinOS themes, by downloading and extracting it into the ~/.themes or /usr/share/themes directory. Next, users install a Windows 11-style icon pack into the /usr/share/icons folder and apply it using GNOME Tweaks, which may require installation via `sudo apt-get install gnome-tweaks -y` for Ubuntu, `sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks -y` for Fedora, or `sudo pacman -S gnome-tweaks` for Arch. The process also includes installing the Dash to Panel and Arcmenu GNOME extensions from their respective websites. Finally, users install the GNOME Extensions application via Flatpak to manage and configure these extensions, optionally adding a Windows 11 wallpaper, and restarting the system to apply all changes.

Key takeaway

For IT professionals or power users seeking a familiar interface on Linux, customizing GNOME to resemble Windows 11 offers a practical solution. You can achieve this by systematically applying themes, icon packs, and specific GNOME extensions like Dash to Panel and Arcmenu. This approach allows you to leverage the stability of Linux while maintaining a comfortable and recognizable desktop experience, potentially easing transitions for new Linux users or standardizing environments.

Key insights

GNOME desktops can be extensively customized to mimic Windows 11 aesthetics using themes, icon packs, and extensions.

Principles

• Desktop environments are highly customizable.
• User-specific themes reside in ~/.themes.

Method

To customize GNOME, install a GTK theme and icon pack, then add Dash to Panel and Arcmenu extensions. Manage and configure these using GNOME Tweaks and GNOME Extensions, then restart.

In practice

• Use `mkdir ~/.themes` to create a theme directory.
• Install GNOME Tweaks for theme/icon management.
• Install Flatpak for GNOME Extensions app.

Topics

• GNOME Customization
• Linux Desktop Environments
• Desktop Theming
• GNOME Extensions
• Windows 11 Interface

Code references

• ZorinOS/zorin-desktop-themes

Best for: Software Engineer, IT Professional

Related on AIssential

• Windows 11 update adds major Start menu customization options — Windows 11 updates enhance Start menu and taskbar customization based on user feedback.
• I tried AnduinOS 2.0, and it may be the easiest way to ditch Windows for Linux — AnduinOS 2.0 is a re-engineered Linux distribution prioritizing privacy, stability, and performance through a modular, "hard-fail" build process.
• Using Rhino Linux's new Lomiri snapshot took me back to the glory days of Unity — Rhino Linux's Lomiri desktop aims to revive convergence by bridging desktop and mobile UIs, learning from past Unity challenges.
• Design Beautiful Dashboards in AI/BI — Consistent, well-designed dashboards build trust and improve data comprehension through thoughtful layout, typography, and color.
• Microsoft starts removing Copilot buttons from Windows 11 apps — Microsoft is streamlining Windows 11 by removing redundant Copilot buttons while retaining underlying AI functionalities.
• Lucide Releases Version 1.0, Removing Brand Icons and Cutting Bundle Size for Millions of Projects — Lucide 1.0 removes brand icons due to legal and maintenance issues while significantly reducing bundle size and enhancing framework integration.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET.