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Asked: 2024-09-28T16:27:30+05:30 In:

What steps can I take to troubleshoot high usage of GNOME Shell in Ubuntu 24.04?

I’ve been running Ubuntu 24.04 recently, and I noticed my system has been feeling sluggish, especially when I’m using GNOME Shell. It seems like the CPU usage is spiking, and I can’t pinpoint why. I mean, I’m not running any intensive applications—just the usual stuff like browsing, a text editor, and a music player.

At first, I thought it might just be my outdated hardware causing the issue, but then I checked the system monitor and saw that GNOME Shell itself was hogging a ton of resources. I tried restarting my computer, thinking maybe it was a temporary glitch, but it didn’t help. I even disabled some extensions that I rarely use, but the high usage persists.

It’s kind of frustrating trying to get to the bottom of this. I’m a bit of a novice when it comes to diving into system logs or terminal commands, so I’m hoping to get some advice without feeling too overwhelmed.

Has anyone else dealt with high GNOME Shell resource usage? What steps did you take to troubleshoot it? Are there specific commands I should run in the terminal to gather more information, or perhaps certain logs I should check? Also, could it be that some background processes or services are clashing with GNOME Shell or consuming excessive resources?

I’ve heard about tools like `top` and `htop`, but I don’t really know how to interpret what they’re showing me. Would using those help pinpoint what’s going on?

Any suggestions on tweaks or settings that might help reduce the load on GNOME Shell would be greatly appreciated! I just want my system to feel snappy again, you know? If it helps, I’m using a standard setup with no crazy customizations aside from a few extensions. Thanks in advance for any tips or tricks you can share!

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    2 Answers

    1. Experiencing high CPU usage with GNOME Shell on Ubuntu 24.04 can be frustrating, especially when you are using a standard setup without intensive applications. To troubleshoot the problem, you should start by using the terminal to gather more information about the processes running on your system. Running commands like `top` or `htop` will display real-time CPU usage by each process. When you launch these tools, look for processes that show unusually high CPU usage. In particular, pay attention to anything labeled “gnome-shell” or similar, as this indicates that the shell is consuming resources excessively. If you’re uncertain about what you observe, take note of the process IDs and resource consumption levels, then Google them to understand their purpose better.

      In addition to monitoring processes, consider checking your system logs for any error messages that might be related to GNOME Shell. The command `journalctl -xe` can provide insights into system errors and warnings. Furthermore, you can test the impact of your installed extensions by either temporarily disabling them or starting your session in “Safe Mode” (which can be done by logging in without extensions). If the performance improves, then one or more extensions may be causing the issues. Also, consider adjusting your system settings, such as reducing the number of animations and using a lighter theme, to decrease the load on GNOME Shell. By systematically examining these elements, you should be able to identify and address the performance bottlenecks effectively.

    2. Dealing with High GNOME Shell Resource Usage

      It sounds like you’re having a frustrating time with GNOME Shell being resource-hungry! Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially fix the sluggish performance.

      1. Check Resource Usage

      Using top or htop can definitely help you identify what’s taking up CPU resources. Here’s how to use them:

      • Open a terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
      • Type top and press Enter. This will show you a list of processes and their CPU usage. Look for anything unusually high.
      • If you want something more user-friendly, install htop by running sudo apt install htop, then start it by typing htop.

      2. System Logs

      You can check the system logs to see if anything unusual pops up:

      • Open a terminal and check the logs using: journalctl -xe. This command shows error messages and warnings that may give you a clue.

      3. Disable or Remove Extensions

      Even if you’ve already disabled some extensions, consider trying to completely remove them one by one to see if that helps. Sometimes, extensions can conflict with each other or the GNOME Shell itself.

      4. Background Processes

      Check for any unnecessary background processes that might be running. In htop, you can see other services and processes. If something looks unfamiliar, do a quick Google search to find out what it is.

      5. Graphics Driver

      Sometimes, poor graphics performance can also cause responsiveness issues. Check if you’re using the appropriate graphics driver by going to Settings > About > Graphics. If you see a proprietary driver available, consider switching to it.

      6. Tweaks for Performance

      You can use the GNOME Tweaks tool to adjust some settings that might help:

      • Install it with sudo apt install gnome-tweaks.
      • In Tweaks, look under the "Extensions" section to manage them further.
      • Under "Appearance," you can try reducing animations to see if that makes a difference.

      7. Reinstall GNOME Shell

      If all else fails, you might consider reinstalling GNOME Shell. You can do this via terminal with:

      sudo apt remove gnome-shell
      sudo apt install gnome-shell

      Take it step by step, and don't hesitate to ask the community for help if you get stuck on any part. Good luck, and I hope your system feels snappier soon!

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