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Asked: 2024-09-24T12:49:08+05:30 In:

How can I change the terminal icon and modify its command in Ubuntu?

I’ve been trying to customize my Ubuntu setup, and one of the things I really want to do is change the terminal icon. Honestly, every time I open that default terminal icon, it just feels so boring and unpersonalized. I mean, I use the terminal all the time, so why not make it look cooler, right? I’ve seen some folks on Reddit showing off their custom terminal icons and it looks awesome!

But here’s the catch – I’m not really sure how to go about it. I’ve poked around in the settings and the .desktop files, but I’m kinda lost. Do I need to create a new icon file, or can I just modify the existing one? And what about the command it runs? I’ve heard there are ways to change that too, like adding custom scripts or commands that run when the terminal launches.

Also, I don’t want to mess anything up or break my terminal, you know? I rely on it too much for my coding, file management, and just about everything else. If I could just see a step-by-step of how to do both the icon change and modifying the command, I think I’d be all set.

And just to add a little more to the mix, if I end up changing the terminal command, what are some cool tricks or useful commands I could set it to run? I’ve seen people add things like ‘htop’ or even custom scripts that show system stats right away. Anyway, any advice would be really appreciated! I promise I’ll post some screenshots of my customized terminal once I figure it all out!

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    2 Answers


    1. To customize the terminal icon in Ubuntu, start by locating the existing terminal .desktop file. This file is usually found in the `/usr/share/applications/` directory or in `~/.local/share/applications/`. You can open the terminal and use a command like sudo nano /usr/share/applications/gnome-terminal.desktop to access it. In this file, look for the line that starts with Icon=. You can change the value following this line to the path of your custom icon image. Make sure your new icon file is in a standard format (like PNG or SVG) and properly sized for icons (usually 32×32 or 48×48 pixels). After saving your changes, your terminal icon will be updated, and you might need to reboot or restart the desktop environment for changes to take effect.

      To modify the command that runs when you launch the terminal, you can again edit the .desktop file, specifically the line that starts with Exec=. You can replace it with custom commands or scripts. For instance, if you want to run htop upon opening the terminal, you can use exec gnome-terminal -- bash -c "htop; exec bash". This way, `htop` runs right after you open the terminal, and once you exit `htop`, the terminal remains open. You can explore various useful commands like `neofetch` for system info or create a script that displays your favorite shortcuts or frequently used commands on startup. Just be cautious when changing default terminal functionality to maintain a smooth experience, and always back up .desktop files before making changes.







    2. Customizing Ubuntu Terminal


      How to Change Your Ubuntu Terminal Icon and Command

      Changing your terminal icon and command can definitely make your Ubuntu experience more personalized and enjoyable! Here’s a simple guide to get you started:

      Changing the Terminal Icon

      1. First, you’ll want to make or find an icon you like. Icons are usually in PNG or SVG format. You can use image editing software or just download one that suits your style.
      2. Once you have your icon, you need to locate the terminal’s .desktop file. For the default terminal, it’s usually located at:

        /usr/share/applications/org.gnome.Terminal.desktop
      3. Open a terminal and use a text editor to edit the file (you might need `sudo` to save changes):

        sudo nano /usr/share/applications/org.gnome.Terminal.desktop
      4. Look for the line that starts with Icon=. Change it to:

        Icon=/path/to/your/custom/icon.png

        (Replace /path/to/your/custom/icon.png with the actual path to your icon file.)

      5. Save and exit the editor (in nano, you do this with CTRL+X, then Y, and ENTER).
      6. You may need to log out or restart your system to see the changes.

      Modifying the Terminal Command

      1. Still in the .desktop file, look for the line that starts with Exec=. This is the command that runs when you open the terminal.
      2. You can change it to something like gnome-terminal -e "htop" to open htop right away, or you can add custom scripts:

        Exec=gnome-terminal -e "/path/to/your/script.sh"
      3. Just ensure your script is executable (you can make it executable with chmod +x /path/to/your/script.sh).
      4. Again, save and exit the file. Restart the terminal to see your new configuration!

      Cool Commands to Run on Startup

      • htop – A fantastic resource monitor.
      • neofetch – Displays system info with a nice logo.
      • watch -n 1 date – Shows the date and time that updates every second!
      • /path/to/your/custom/script.sh – Any script that does something cool right on launch.

      Just be careful not to mess with any system files! Backup your .desktop file before changing it just in case. Happy customizing, and I can’t wait to see those screenshots!


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