GNOME System Customization: Achieving a Windows 11-Style Dock

March 02, 2026 2022 system-customization

Following up on recent system tweaks, I’ve successfully transformed my Ubuntu GNOME desktop to mirror the clean, centered aesthetic of Windows 11. Here’s a breakdown of the configuration and how to ensure it stays persistent.

The Objective

The goal was to move the traditional Ubuntu dock into a single, centered panel that expands dynamically as applications are opened, with the “Show Apps” (Start) button positioned at the very left of the centered group.

Core Extensions

To achieve this, I used two primary GNOME extensions:

Dash to Panel: This is the heavy lifter that combines the top bar and the dock into a single taskbar at the bottom.
ArcMenu: (Optional) While I explored ArcMenu for a more themed Start menu, the built-in Ubuntu “Show Apps” button proved more stable for this specific centered layout.

Configuration Steps

1. Centering the Taskbar

Using gsettings, I configured Dash to Panel to center all elements. The key is the panel-element-positions JSON:

gsettings --schemadir ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/dash-to-panel@jderose9.github.com/schemas set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-panel panel-element-positions \
'{"0":[{"element":"showAppsButton","visible":true,"position":"centered"},{"element":"taskbar","visible":true,"position":"centered"},{"element":"activitiesButton","visible":false,"position":"hidden"},{"element":"leftBox","visible":false,"position":"hidden"},{"element":"centerBox","visible":false,"position":"hidden"},{"element":"rightBox","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"dateMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"systemMenu","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"},{"element":"desktopButton","visible":true,"position":"stackedBR"}]}'

2. Ensuring Persistence

One common issue with GNOME extensions is that they can sometimes revert after a restart or crash. To prevent this, ensure that user extensions are globally enabled:

gsettings set org.gnome.shell disable-user-extensions false

Summary

The final result is a sleek, modern desktop that maintains the power of Linux while enjoying the refined UI of Windows 11. For more detailed logs and a step-by-step breakdown of all my system customizations, stay tuned for my upcoming comprehensive System Customization Guide.