Making a again up of the Gnome desktop setting on Linux entails exporting all database configuration recordsdata out of Dconf. To set up Dconf, open up a terminal and observe the directions that correspond together with your Linux OS.
SPOILER ALERT: Scroll down and watch the video tutorial on the finish of this text.
Set up Dconf
Notice: Dconf is a central a part of Gnome, so it might already be in your Linux PC. That mentioned, it’s all the time a good suggestion to re-install software program like this, particularly if you happen to by accident uninstalled it prior to now.
Ubuntu
sudo apt set up dconf*
Debian
sudo apt-get set up dconf
Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S dconf
Fedora
sudo dnf set up dconf
OpenSUSE
sudo zypper set up dconf
Generic Linuxes
Putting in Dconf on any Linux distribution is sort of simple, because it as a central a part of Gnome, and the Gnome set of functions. To set up Dconf, open up a terminal window, search your bundle supervisor for “dconf” and set up it.
Back Up Gnome Settings
Making a full backup with Dconf will can help you save all Dconf settings and configurations, together with the Gnome Shell desktop setting. For many customers that is overkill. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re paranoid and wish to be sure that each setting is protected, that is the best way to go.
Open up a terminal and use the dconf dump command to export the complete Dconf database to your Linux PC. DO NOT USE SUDO!
dconf dump / > full-backup
The settings dump is full. The subsequent step is to look over the contents of the file, to confirm that the backup ran appropriately. Utilizing cat will print the contents of the info in a terminal, and can help you look it over.
cat ~/full-backup
If every thing appears good, sort clear and create a brand new folder in ~/Paperwork to carry the backup file. Holding the Dconf backup in a separate folder will be sure that it doesn’t get by accident deleted.
mkdir -p ~/Paperwork/dconf-backups/ mv full-backup ~/Paperwork/dconf-backups/
Gnome-only Backup
For those who aren’t involved with all the settings in your Linux desktop and are solely seeking to again up the Gnome desktop, bookmarks, and Gnome app configurations, this answer is finest.
To begin the backup course of, use the dconf dump command and export ONLY the /org/gnome/ settings.
dconf dump /org/gnome > gnome-backup
When Dconf finishes dumping your settings, confirm its contents by viewing it with the cat command.
cat ~/gnome-backup
Look over the file. If every thing appears good, create a brand new folder to carry the backup in your Linux PC and place the file there.
mkdir -p ~/Paperwork/gnome-backups/ mv gnome-backup ~/Paperwork/gnome-backups/
Themes And Icons
Making a backup of Gnome Shell will ensure that, when restored, your favorites, in addition to different settings are intact. Nonetheless, Dconf can’t again up the icons and themes you employ. In order for you these to be intact if you restore your backup, you’ll must make a replica of your {custom} icon themes for protected conserving.
Notice: most customers have {custom} icon themes within the ~/.icons and ~/.themes folders. In case your icon themes aren’t in these folders, observe the system backup directions as an alternative.
tar -cvpf custom-icons.tar.gz ~/.icons tar -cvpf custom-themes.tar.gz ~/.themes mv *.tar.gz ~/Paperwork/gnome-backups/
Alternatively, create a system-wide backup of your icons and themes.
sudo -s cd /usr/share/ tar -cvpf custom-icons.tar.gz icons tar -cvpf custom-themes.tar.gz themes
mv *.tar.gz ~/Paperwork/gnome-backups/
Gnome Shell, together with your whole {custom} icons are backed up.
End up the method by placing the “gnome-backups” folder in your favourite cloud service. Alternatively, place it on a house server or an exterior exhausting drive.
Restore Backup
Obtain the “gnome-backups” to your Linux PC and open up a terminal. Within the terminal, use the CD command to entry the recordsdata inside.
cd ~/Downloads/gnome-backups
Begin the restoration course of by importing the Dconf backup file into the system.
Full Restore Command
dconf load / < full-backup
Gnome-only Restore Command
dconf load /org/gnome < gnome-backup
Subsequent, restore your {custom} icons. To restore the icons and themes for a single person, do:
tar --extract --file custom-icons.tar.gz -C ~/ --strip-components=2 tar --extract --file custom-themes.tar.gz -C ~/ --strip-components=2
Alternatively, for system-wide icons and themes, run the next instructions in a terminal:
sudo tar --extract --file custom-icons.tar.gz -C /usr/share/ --strip-components=1 --overwrite sudo tar --extract --file custom-themes.tar.gz -C /usr/share/ --strip-components=1 --overwrite
After all of the backup recordsdata are restored, your Gnome Shell desktop ought to look the best way it did earlier than the backup. If it doesn’t, press Alt + F2, sort “r” and press enter to reset the desktop.
Can’t reset the desktop? You’ll must reboot your Linux PC. After rebooting, log again into the Gnome Shell. Upon logging again into Gnome, every thing shall be again to regular.
