Top 25 icon themes for Ubuntu

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buntu, a popular Linux distribution, offers a highly customizable interface that allows users to personalize their desktop experience. Changing the icon theme is one of the most effective ways to add a unique touch to your Ubuntu setup. With countless creative and visually appealing icon themes available, you can transform your desktop into a stunning and distinctive environment that reflects your personality and style.

In this article, we’ll present the top 25 icon themes for Ubuntu, carefully curated to provide a diverse selection of styles and designs. From minimalist and monochromatic to colorful and intricate, this collection has something for everyone. So let’s dive in and discover the perfect icon theme to enhance and elevate your Ubuntu desktop experience!

Icon themes are the easiest way to change the look and feel of your Ubuntu desktop. Your Ubuntu desktop is transformed into your desired theme. If you are stuck and wish to give your Ubuntu a new feel, try the tricks highlighted in this article.

Before beginning, you should know that there are two different ways of installing themes on your system:

• The first step is using command-line
• The second step is downloading the theme manually and extracting it to the ~/.icons (this folder is always hidden, and therefore, you need to enable hidden files to access it, and it is located in your home folder)

Top 25 icon themes for Ubuntu

Older Ubuntu versions, such as 16.04 and 18.04, use the Unity Tweak Tool and GNOME Tweaks to change the icons. Now let us dive deep into our topic of interest.

1. Pop icon theme

System76 developed this icon theme, and it is my top choice. Combining it with the GTK theme will give your Ubuntu desktop a stunning and marvelous look. Install it using the following command line:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:system76/pop
sudo apt update
sudo apt install pop-icon-theme

2. Papirus icon theme

This theme is inspired by paper icons based on its material theme. The theme has a pleasing look since it is more refined and polished. This theme is beautiful and exciting since it brings out the best feel of the paper icons. Follow the steps below to install the theme to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:papirus/papirus
sudo apt update
sudo apt install papirus-icon-theme

3. Paper icon theme

This icon theme was developed by Hewitt Sam, who is also the developer of the Moka theme. The theme is said to be inspired by the Google materials design. If you are a fan of Android, this is a suitable theme for you as this flat icon theme will remind you of the Android feel.
Follow the steps below to install the theme to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:snwh/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install paper-icon-theme

4. Moka icon theme

This theme was developed by Hewitt Sam, who developed the Paper icon theme. This theme is a gem; you will agree with me by looking at the image below. Use the following commands to install the theme to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository -u ppa:snwh/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install moka-icon-theme

You can manually install this theme by cloning it from the repo on the GitHub page. You can follow this instruction to install it manually.

cd /opt
sudo git clone https://github.com/snwh/moka-icon-theme.git
cd moka-icon-theme
sudo mv Moka /usr/share/icons
sudo rm -Rf /opt/moka-icon-theme

5. Numix icon theme

Most Linux users are familiar with this theme since it is the default theme in most Linux distros, including Korora and Antergos. Numix Icon theme can be installed using the following command line:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:numix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install numix-icon-theme-circle

6. Dalisha icon theme

The Dalisha icon theme is a vibrant font full of fancy colors. This fond is suitable for those who love fancy looks and feels. It might also be a bit overwhelming, but it is there for whoever wants it. You can try it now and get Dalisha’s delicious taste now. Use the commands below to install it:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/icons
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install dalisha-icons

Alternatively, you can download the Dalisha Icon theme here.

7. The Vivacious Colors icon theme

If you want a colorful and vibrant theme, your solution should be the Vivacious colors. This theme is bright and deserves to be among the top ten best icon themes. Use the below commands to install the Icon theme to your Ubuntu operating system.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ravefinity-project/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install vivacious-colors

Manual installation

Step 1: Alternatively, you can manually download the file from here.

Step 2: Then, move the folder to /usr/share/themes for themes and icons move the folder to /usr/share/icons, respectively.

Step 3: Make changes and enjoy the vibrant theme using the gnome-tweaks tools.

NOTE: You can download the .deb file from the file given above and use Ubuntu software to install the GTK theme without much strain.

8. Uniform Icon Theme

This is flat but, at the same time fabulous icon theme. However, the name uniform can be deceiving since the icons are hardly uniform in this Icon theme. Let us use the below commands to install the theme to our Ubuntu operating system.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/icons2
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install uniform-icons

Manual Installation

Follow the procedure below to manually install the Uniform Icon theme to your Ubuntu operating system.
First, download the file here.

cd Downloads
tar -xvf 'Uniform+ icons.tar.gz'
cd 'Uniform+ icons'/
tar -xvf icons.tar.xz
cd icons
sudo mv Uniform+ /usr/share/icons/

NOTE: Please be patient as the file extracts since it takes a while to complete the extraction process.

9. Xenlism Wildfire icon theme

This icon theme is mainly referred to as a minimalist theme though some have distinct views concerning the theme. Use the commands below to install it:

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keys.gnupg.net --recv-keys 90127F5B
echo "deb http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/xenlism-wildfire/repo deb/" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xenlism-wildfire-icon-theme

Manual installation

Download the icon theme from here.

After downloading, double-click the file, which will be installed using software installed on your Ubuntu operating system.

10. La Capitane Icon Theme

Are you a macOS fan? This is the right Icon theme as it gives the look and feel of macOS. Clone the icon theme into your Icons folder using the following commands:

cd ~/.icons
git clone https://github.com/keeferrourke/la-capitaine-icon-theme.git

After cloning it, use the gnome-tweak tool to change to your preferred theme.

11. Square 2.0 Icon theme

This is a square plus beautiful flat font that is worth a try. Follow the directives outlined below to install it on your operating system.

• Download the icon theme from here
• Locate the download folder, extract the files, then move the downloaded icon file to /usr/share/icons
• Finally, use the gnome-tweak-tool to change your theme

12. Evolvere icon theme

I know most of you love vibrant colors. This icon theme has several variant colors that beautify your desktop. Try it now.

Download the icon theme from here, then extract it to the ~/.icons folder.

13. Shadow icon theme

This icon theme contains a beautiful shadow that its users have widely loved.

Download the icon theme from here, then extract the folder to ~/.icons and use the gnome-tweak-tool to change your preferred theme.

14. Compass Icon Theme

This beautiful icon theme was developed for Nitrux Linux. However, this theme can be used by other Linux distros. Just clone the icon theme from here and move it to the ~/.icons folder in your Home folder.

15. Vibrancy Colors icon theme

This is a modern icon theme composed of beautiful rounded icons. This theme gives your desktop a decent look and feel.

Download the icon theme from here and double-click the .deb file to install it using software install.

16. Obsidian icon theme

The obsidian icon theme is based on the popular Faenza icon theme. A GTK theme accompanies this theme. Follow the directives outlined below to install it on your operating system.

Download the icon theme from here, then extract it to ~/.icons.

17. Masalla icon theme

This theme is flat, and it comes with vibrant colors. You only need to download the .deb file and double-click it to execute and install it on your Ubuntu operating system.

Click here to download the file.

18. Newaita

If you are after simplicity, this is your best icon theme. You can try it by downloading the icon theme from here, then extract it and move it to the ~/.icons folder.

19. Oranchelo icon theme

Do you want a flat and fresh icon theme? Oranchelo is here for you. It is a colorful theme that supports many icons. Its color variance makes your desktop look fresh and outstanding.

Download the icon theme from here.

Extract the file, then move it to the ~/.icons folder.

20. Aurora Nuevo Icons

The Aurora Nuevo theme is suitable for users who love simplicity. Try it now by downloading the theme from here. Extract the files and move them to the ~/.icons folder. You can choose which theme color suits you from the downloaded files.

21. Marwaita Icon Theme

The Marwaita icon theme is a colorful icon theme that blends well with both the dark and light modes. Download the icon theme from here, then move the downloaded file to the hidden ~/.icons folder.

22. Simple Circles Icons

Are you fond of changing colors? This is the best theme for your Ubuntu. The icon theme comes with many colorful icon sets that are circular.

Download the icon theme from here, extract the downloaded file, and place it in your ~/.icons folder in your home folder.

23. Candy Icon Theme

Are you looking for a suitable theme for dark mode? Then I bet this will be your best suit. It comes with attractive icons that you should find interesting for your desktop.

Download the file from here, then extract the downloaded file to the ~/.icons folder and change to your preferred theme using the gnome-tweak-tool.

24. Tela Icon Theme

This icon theme is suitable for both dark and light modes. It has a flat color design that makes Linux distros look amazing.

To use the theme, download the file from here, then move the downloaded file to the ~/.icons folder.

25. Avidity Icon Theme

this is another icon pack that suits dark mode users. It comes with a couple of color shades that beautify your desktop.

Download the icon theme from here, then extract the downloaded file to the ~/.icons folder and change it to your preferred theme using the gnome-tweak-tool.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored 25 of the best icon themes available for Ubuntu, showcasing diverse styles to suit different tastes and preferences. These themes can breathe new life into your Ubuntu desktop, adding a personal touch and making your computing experience more enjoyable. So whether you’re a fan of minimalist designs, vibrant colors, or anything in between, this list has a theme that perfectly complements your Ubuntu environment.

Customizing your Ubuntu desktop is an ongoing process, and experimenting with different icon themes is part of the fun. Feel free to mix and match these themes, and don’t be afraid to explore even more options available in the Ubuntu community. With so many fantastic icon themes at your fingertips, personalizing your Ubuntu experience has never been more exciting. Happy customizing!