How to Manage Desktop Themes with Cinnamon Desktop on Linux Mint

Linux Mint, particularly with the Cinnamon desktop environment, offers users an intuitive and highly customizable experience. One of the best features of Cinnamon is its ability to manage and apply different themes easily, allowing users to personalize their desktops according to their preferences. In this guide, we will walk through the steps to manage desktop themes with Cinnamon Desktop on Linux Mint, from changing built-in themes to installing and tweaking custom ones.

Understanding Themes in Cinnamon Desktop

In the Cinnamon desktop environment, themes are divided into different components:

1. Window Borders – Defines the appearance of application windows and their borders.
2. Icons – Controls the look of icons in the system, including folders and application shortcuts.
3. Controls – Also known as GTK themes, these define the appearance of buttons, menus, and other UI elements.
4. Mouse Pointer – Allows users to customize the look of the cursor.
5. Desktop – Applies to elements such as panels, menus, and notifications.

Each of these elements can be customized separately, giving users granular control over their desktop’s look and feel.

Changing the Theme Using System Settings

Cinnamon makes it easy to change themes directly from the system settings.

1. Open the Themes Settings

   • Click on the Menu button (bottom-left corner of the screen).
   • Go to System Settings and select Themes.

2. Select a New Theme

   • In the Themes window, you will see different sections for Window Borders, Icons, Controls, Mouse Pointer, and Desktop.
   • Click on each section to view available options.
   • Select a theme that suits your preference.

Linux Mint ships with a set of pre-installed themes, but additional ones can be installed for more variety.

Installing New Themes

If the default themes do not meet your needs, you can install new ones using different methods:

1. Using the Cinnamon Theme Manager

Cinnamon provides a built-in tool to browse and install new themes directly from the desktop settings.

• Open System Settings and navigate to Themes.
• Click on Add/Remove at the bottom.
• A new window will appear showing a list of available themes.
• Browse through the themes and click Install to apply a new one.

2. Downloading Themes from Cinnamon Spices

Cinnamon Spices ( https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/) is the official repository for Cinnamon themes, applets, desklets, and extensions.

• Visit the website and browse available themes.
• Download the theme file (usually a .tar.gz or .zip file).
• Extract the contents to the ~/.themes/ directory in your home folder.
• Restart Cinnamon by pressing Alt + F2, typing r, and hitting Enter.
• Apply the new theme from the Themes settings.

3. Installing Themes from the Linux Mint Repositories

Some themes are available in the Linux Mint repositories and can be installed using the package manager.

• Open Terminal and run:

  sudo apt update && sudo apt install mint-themes
  

• Once installed, apply the new theme via System Settings > Themes.

Customizing Themes Further

After applying a theme, you might want to tweak it further to suit your preferences. Here are some ways to do that:

1. Manually Editing Theme Files

If you have some experience with CSS and GTK themes, you can manually edit theme files.

• Locate theme files in ~/.themes/ or /usr/share/themes/.
• Edit the gtk.css or cinnamon.css files using a text editor.
• Save changes and restart Cinnamon to apply modifications.

2. Mixing and Matching Theme Components

Instead of using a single pre-defined theme, you can mix and match components:

• Set a different window border style from one theme.
• Use icons from another theme.
• Apply a separate control (GTK) theme.

This level of customization allows you to create a unique and personalized desktop look.

Restoring Default Themes

If something goes wrong or you want to revert to the default look, resetting to default themes is simple.

• Open System Settings > Themes.
• Click on Restore to default at the bottom.

Alternatively, you can reinstall default themes using:

sudo apt install --reinstall mint-themes

Conclusion

Managing themes on Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop is a straightforward process that enables users to fully personalize their system’s appearance. Whether you prefer a minimalistic look, a dark theme for eye comfort, or a vibrant, colorful setup, Cinnamon provides the tools to achieve your ideal desktop aesthetic. By exploring built-in themes, installing new ones, and customizing individual components, you can make Linux Mint truly your own.