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How to Enable Dark Mode on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

Ubuntu 20.04's Nautilus file manager and desktop with the dark theme enabled

LUbuntu 20.04 LTS “Focal Fossa” ships with a built-in dark theme. You can activate the dark version of Ubuntu’s standard Yaru theme and get a dark GNOME desktop in just a few clicks. Here’s how.

First, click the system menu button on the panel at the top-right corner of Ubuntu’s GNOME desktop and select “Settings.”
You can also click the “Show Applications” button at the bottom-left corner of your screen, search for the “Settings” application, and launch it from there.
Opening the Settings window from Ubuntu's GNOME panel
Click the “Appearance” category in the Settings application.
Viewing GNOME's appearance options
By default, Ubuntu uses the “Standard” window color theme with dark toolbars and light content panes. To activate Ubuntu’s dark mode, click “Dark” instead.
To use a light mode without the dark toolbars, click “Light” instead.
Ubuntu's appearance window with the standard theme selected.
Your change will take effect immediately. You can now close the window.
Ubuntu's appearance window with the dark Yaru theme selected.
Note that this won’t change Ubuntu’s panel interface to dark mode. For example, when you click the menu button at the top-right corner of your screen, you’ll see that it has a light background even when you have dark mode enabled.
Ubuntu's dark theme with a light panel menu
To change the panel theme, you’ll need to install a GNOME Shell extension. OMG! Ubuntu! has a guide that will walk you through the process of installing the gnome-shell-extensions package, enabling the “User Themes” extension, and switching the “Shell” theme to “Yaru-dark.”

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