Ubuntu GNOME Settings Terminal Commands | Generated by AI
In Ubuntu with GNOME (the default desktop environment since Ubuntu 17.10+), the graphical Settings app is launched from the terminal using this command:
gnome-control-center
This opens the main Settings window (the same as clicking the gear icon or searching for “Settings”).
Quick tips & useful variants
- Open a specific panel directly (very handy!):
# Wi-Fi & network
gnome-control-center network
# Bluetooth
gnome-control-center bluetooth
# Sound / audio
gnome-control-center sound
# Displays / monitors
gnome-control-center display
# Power / battery
gnome-control-center power
# Privacy / screen lock
gnome-control-center privacy
# Users / accounts
gnome-control-center user-accounts
# Date & Time
gnome-control-center datetime
# Keyboard / shortcuts
gnome-control-center keyboard
# Mouse & Touchpad
gnome-control-center mouse
# Background / wallpaper
gnome-control-center background
# Notifications
gnome-control-center notifications
# Search for a panel by keyword
gnome-control-center search
- To see all available panels (may vary slightly by Ubuntu version):
gnome-control-center --list
(or just press Tab after typing gnome-control-center + space to autocomplete panel names)
If the command is not found
Very rare on a standard Ubuntu desktop install, but you can (re)install it:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --reinstall gnome-control-center
Extra notes (2025–2026 Ubuntu versions)
- Still works the same way in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, 24.10, 25.04, 25.10, etc.
- If you’re not using GNOME (e.g., KDE, XFCE, Cinnamon flavors of Ubuntu), the command is different:
- KDE Plasma →
systemsettings - XFCE →
xfce4-settings-manager - Cinnamon →
cinnamon-settings
- KDE Plasma →
Let me know your Ubuntu version / desktop environment if this doesn’t work or if you want to open a very specific settings page!