Question

Install and manage GNOME extensions

Answer 1

What are GNOME Extensions?
How do I install GNOME Extensions?
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
5th step:
6th step:
7th step:
8th step:
GNOME Extensions: Our Top 5
quick start Guide

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Third-party GNOME extensions can usefully extend your desktop. Read here how to install and manage them..

GNOME is one of the most popular Linux desktops. Ubuntu has been equipped with the GNOME 3 desktop as standard since version 18.04 LTS. For experienced users, switching from Unity to GNOME is no problem. But for many, the extensions in GNOME are a bit confusing at first. In our tips + tricks we show you how to install and manage the GNOME extensions. In addition, we will also introduce you to a few recommendable extensions.

• What are GNOME Extensions?
• How do I install GNOME Extensions?
• GNOME Extensions: Our Top 5

What are GNOME Extensions?

Basically, GNOME Extensions are extensions or add-ons provided by a third party for the GNOME desktop. You can think of the extensions as little code that can change the way GNOME works or the interface. You have probably already come across add-ons through Firefox or Google Chrome. For example, you can install an add-on in your browser to disable ads. This add-on is also developed by a third party and improves the performance of your browser. GNOME extensions are ultimately nothing else - just for the desktop.

The practical thing about the GNOME extensions is that each user can optimize the performance and the surface of his desktop according to his own preferences. There are extensions for displaying the weather or the Internet speed, but also for adapting the desktop surface. An example of this is moving the panel to a dock or positioning the clock.

How do I install GNOME Extensions?

There are several ways to install GNOME extensions. The most common and simplest method is through the browser. Since the Firefox browser is installed by default in Ubuntu, we will also use this in our step-by-step instructions . Alternatively, read our quick guide ..

Note: We use Ubuntu 18.04 LTS in our instructions , but the steps also work for desktop environments of other Linux systems that support GNOME (e.g. Debian or Arch Linux).

1st step:

You first need to install the browser add-on in Firefox. To do this, go to the official website of the GNOME Extensions . Now click on " Click here to install browser extension ".

2nd step:

Click “ Continue Anyway ” so that the add-on can be installed.

3rd step:

The " GNOME Shell Integration " add-on is permanently integrated into Firefox via " Add " .

4th step:

Just adding the add-on is not enough to install extensions on your Linux system. To do this, you need another package on your system, which you can simply install using the command " sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell " in the terminal. Incidentally, Chrome has nothing to do with the Google Chrome browser, so the connection also works with other browsers. Call up the terminal with the key combination [Alt] + [Ctrl] + [T] .

5th step:

Now go back to extensions.gnome.org and look for extensions that you want to install. We select " OpenWeather " as an example from the most popular extensions . Click the extension.

6th step:

Install and activate the extension on your Linux system by clicking on the switch at the top right.

7th step:

Confirm the dialog with " Install ".

8th step:

You have now successfully installed your first extension. Our example extension is activated immediately and appears in the Ubuntu system tray. Of course, you can still adjust each extension in its own settings. So you would have to change the units to Celsius, for example. With " Installed extensions " you get an overview of all your installed extensions and can manage them.

GNOME Extensions: Our Top 5

1. Dash to Dock: A dock for the Gnome Shell. With this extension you can convert the side view into a dock. This function is especially useful for macOS fans. You can place the dock either on the side or at the bottom of the desktop.
2. Caffeine: Allows you to temporarily deactivate the screen saver. So if you send or download large files, you can use this extension to prevent your screen from turning off automatically.
3. OpenWeather: A simple weather widget that does exactly what you expect. You can see the sunrise and sunset and create different locations.
4. RSS Feed: A simple RSS reader, for example to subscribe to our various heise services.
5. NetSpeed: Monitors the download and upload rate.

quick start Guide

1. Open extensions.gnome.org in Firefox.
2. Click on " Click here to install browser extension ".
3. Continue with " Continue Anyway ".
4. Then go to " Add ".
5. Open a terminal and enter " sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell ".
6. Then go to extensions.gnome.org again and install the extensions of your choice by activating the slider within the selected extension.
7. You can manage your extensions via " Installed Extensions ".

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