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Icons won't show up on the GNOME 3 desktop. Terminal commands or Tweak Tool won't work.And i do have some stuff, the desktop folder isn't empty.

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  • Which version of Ubuntu GNOME and GNOME are you running?
    – user364819
    Nov 6, 2016 at 18:25

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
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The GNOME 3 DE is designed to be used without having icons on the desktop, so desktop icons are not supported on the standard GNOME 3 desktop environment. But for users who want to work with icons on the desktop, an alternative is offered. You'll have to log out and switch the user session to GNOME Classic mode. Log back in and now you are able to use desktop icons in GNOME DE.

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  • I'm using "GNOME on Wayland".
    – Arynn
    Nov 6, 2016 at 18:35
  • @Arynn : Then you have to stick with the default standard GNOME 3 desktop environment as it is intended to be used ... or ... switch the session to GNOME Classic mode from the login screen. :)
    – cl-netbox
    Nov 6, 2016 at 18:37
  • I never tried GNOME 3 Classic, i only tried normal GNOME 3 and GNOME on Wayland. Regular GNOME 3 had a really buggy Shell Menu (If i click on "show apps" and then search something, the search results will overlap the apps). Does the same happen in Classic?
    – Arynn
    Nov 6, 2016 at 18:42
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    @Arynn : You will just have to try it out - if you are satisfied, go with GNOME Classic (including desktop icons), if you don't like it, stick with GNOME 3 standard ... but your main question is answered, right ? :)
    – cl-netbox
    Nov 6, 2016 at 18:46
  • Sure, i'll try.
    – Arynn
    Nov 6, 2016 at 18:59
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This seems to be solved in Ubuntu 17.10 (currently in development).

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  • It doesn't work on my freshly upgraded 17.10
    – z33k
    Jan 18, 2018 at 18:34
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Gnome on Wayland doesn't support icons.

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You can enable Gnome desktop icons, whether you're on Wayland or Xorg. Open a terminal and enter the following command (for a more detailed answer, see my answer here):

sudo setcap -r /usr/bin/gnome-shell

Hope it helps. :)

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  • This answer is incorrect
    – not my real name
    Jun 14, 2021 at 5:22
  • @RayWu Why? I've tested it on one of the Gnome 3.x's, and it worked perfectly. Yes, it removes the nice capability of the Shell, but that's the only way to do it right now, AFAIK.
    – MAChitgarha
    Jun 14, 2021 at 6:37
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Install Gnome shell desktop-icons extension

To install it directly from the browser (firefox/chrome) you can install the chrome gnome shell package,

sudo apt-get install chrome-gnome-shell

as well as the extension for your browser, firefox or chrome.

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