Changing Ubuntu’s icon theme is a sure-fire way to give your desktops a personalised look and feel, and Papirus is one the best Linux icon themes available.
In this post, I show you how to install the Papirus icon pack on Ubuntu using its official PPA. This method means you get future updates when released, alongside your other software updates.
But why the Papirus icon set so popular with Linux users?
Mainly because it’s good! Tens of thousands of Linux users use it, loving the simple, colour and playful style, and number of major desktop Linux distributions preinstall it by default.
Visually, Papirus icons use a playful palette of bold colours and simple shapes. Combined with a subtle raised edge, icons in the Papirus set have a semi-3D look that bucks the uber-modern trend for super-flat icons.
It eschews a boxy rigidity in favour of free forms and shapes, delivering icons that are both distinct but consistent, giving Linux desktops a professional look and feel overall.
Aside from its style, what helps make this impeccably-made pack extra popular is its coverage: it has more than 1,000 individual app icons, with regular updates adding new icons regularly.
Coverage takes in the best Ubuntu apps, like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and VLC, to indie apps, Steam games, progressive web apps, and even Windows software run through Wine.
Basically, the Papirus icon theme is as comprehensive as an icon set can be.
Use Papirus Icons on Ubuntu
Since the Papirus icon theme is designed to work with GNOME Shell, Cinnamon, Xfce, and other popular Linux-based desktop environments.
To install the latest version1 of Papirus icons on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (or above) add the official Papirus PPA to your list of software sources.
To do this, run this command in a new Terminal window:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:papirus/papirus
Then run this command to install the Paprius icon set:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install papirus-icon-theme
Once the Paprius icon theme is installed you can go ahead and change your icon theme.
How to do that?
On Ubuntu you can install the Tweaks app from the Ubuntu Software (or App Center) tool.
Finally, to change theme, open Tweaks, go to the Appearance > Icons section, and select the ‘Papirus’ icon pack.
Your new icon choice will take effect immediately.
Enjoy!
- Older versions are available in the PPA for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and 18.04 LTS users. ↩︎