You might want to go through with setting up Gnome through Gnome Guide first.

This guide is not going to be as detailed as the ones released in the main series as its content updates much more often as newer versions of Gnome and new extensions come out.

Facial Recognition With Howdy

This applies outside of Gnome as well. If your computer supports facial recognition, you can check the details to setting up Howdy from the official GitHub page. For Fedora 43-44 users, check Getting Howdy to Run on Fedora by Martin's Blog.

Better-Looking Fonts

The Adwaita series font is pretty good, but I find the IBM Plex series to be more modern and pleasing.

Fedora

sudo dnf install ibm-plex-fonts-all

Arch

sudo pacman -S ttf-ibm-plex

Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt install fonts-ibm-plex

dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/font-name "'IBM Plex Sans 11'"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/document-font-name "'IBM Plex Sans 12'"
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/monospace-font-name "'IBM Plex Mono 11'"

GNOME Extensions (Universal Benefits)

AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support

Adds AppIndicator, KStatusNotifierItem and legacy Tray icons support to the Shell.

Blur my Shell

Adds customisable blur effects to GNOME Shell elements for a polished look.

Caffeine

Prevents screen dimming and suspension on demand.

Clipboard Indicator

Provides a clipboard history and quick paste menu in the top panel.

Windows-like <Super>v keyboard shortcut

dconf write /org/gnome/shell/keybindings/toggle-message-tray "['<Super>M']"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/clipboard-indicator/toggle-menu "['<Super>V']"

Copyous (elegant alternative to Clipboard Indicator)

A modern clipboard manager with support for text, code, images, files, links, characters, and colours.

Windows-like <Super>v keyboard shortcut

dconf write /org/gnome/shell/keybindings/toggle-message-tray "['<Super>M']"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/copyous/open-clipboard-dialog-shortcut "['<Super>V']"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/copyous/clipboard-history "'keep-all'"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/copyous/clipboard-position-vertical "'bottom'"

GNOME Fuzzy App Search

Enables fuzzy matching in Activities search to find apps without exact names.

Just Perfection

Tweaks or hides nearly every GNOME Shell UI element for fine‑grained control.

My settings:

# Hide ripple box in hot corner
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/ripple-box false

# Hide searchbar in overview (you can still search
# by just typing)
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/search false

# Hide window titles when hovering over windows in
# overview
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/window-preview-caption false

# Always show workspace switchers no matter how many
# workspaces are opened (especially useful for dynamic
# workspace users)
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/workspace-switcher-should-show true

# Make workspace switchers larger
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/workspace-switcher-size 13

Shotzy

Image search on Google Lens, OCR and QR scan directly from the built-in GNOME Screenshot tool.

Night Theme Switcher

Switcher between light and dark theme depending on sunrise/sunset.

Make the light mode shell light.

dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/nightthemeswitcher/commands/enabled 'true'
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/nightthemeswitcher/commands/sunrise "\"dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/color-scheme \\\"'prefer-light'\\\"\""
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/nightthemeswitcher/commands/sunset "\"dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/color-scheme \\\"'prefer-dark'\\\"\""

Tiling Shell

Brings tiling window management to GNOME, allowing automatic window arrangements in customisable layouts.

Personal recommendations

Extensions with a more niche usecase that I recommend you to check out.

App Icons Taskbar

Windows-styled taskbar

My settings

# Stylise panel into Windows-styled task bar
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/clock-font-size "(true, 12)"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/clock-position-in-panel "'RIGHT'"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/icon-size "24"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/indicator-color-use-system-accent-color "true"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/indicator-location "'BOTTOM'"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/isolate-workspaces "false"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/main-panel-height "(true, 40)"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/override-panel-clock-format "(true, '%a %R\\n%F')"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/panel-location "'BOTTOM'"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/aztaskbar/show-apps-button "(true, 0)"

# Requires Just Perfection extension; moves notifications to bottom right to match with task bar
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/just-perfection/notification-banner-position "5"

Shotzy

Image search on Google Lens, OCR and QR scan directly from the built-in GNOME Screenshot tool.

Kando Integration

Allows you to use the Kando Menu in Gnome Wayland sessions.

Follow this link to download configuration files to achieve the effect in the above video.

Others

Not in my setup, but you may like them.

Dash to Dock

Moves the dash out of overview into a dock for quicker app launching and window switching.

My settings:

Go to the extension's settings --> Appearances, turn on Shrink the dash to make the dash smaller and slicker.

Alphabetical App Grid

Sorts the app grid alphabetically to make apps easier to find.

My settings:

Position of ordered folders --> Start, to make folders appear before apps.

GTK4 Desktop Icon NG

Allows for links, folders, and files in the desktop.

Show Desktop Plus (QoL additions to GTK4 Desktop Icons NG)

A button that shows your desktop, hiding all other windows. (Just like clicking the bottom right corner or Super + D in Windows)

dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/show-desktop-plus/button-position "'right-end'"
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/extensions/show-desktop-plus/enable-hotkey true # Super + D to show desktop

Contributors

aier9500Lunear01

Changelog

6/4/26, 5:25 PM

View All Changelog

• bdc42-Full Repository Security Review and Fixeson 6/4/26
• 5d70a-Add Tiling Shell extension with description for window management in GNOMEon 5/28/26
• 4f87b-Moved extensions to 'others' section. Updated descriptions for extension sections.on 5/24/26
• 28b48-Update video playback settings for demos in guides. Fix broken video.on 5/23/26
• b5534-Change team name, fixing links.on 5/21/26
• cc0a2-Adding logitech-linux-setup resource folder for dotfiles.on 5/13/26
• 21a6c-Fixing visual bug.on 5/13/26
• 95ba8-Add note for downloading Kando configuration fileson 5/13/26
• 56e54-Add new GNOME extension and update Timeshift instructions for clarityon 5/12/26
• d75df-Update guide title and enhance facial recognition section with Fedora-specific instructionson 5/12/26
• 520db-Fixing grammatical errors as well as improving fluidity of the guide.on 5/11/26
• f0e70-Show Desktop Pluson 5/8/26
• fb277-Move Alphabetical App Grid to 'Others' section.on 5/3/26
• 79305-+ Stylise for improved readability. + Demo photo for Copyous.on 5/3/26
• 4447f-Remove extension recommendations in the default Gnome guide.on 5/3/26
• d8b6c-Add demo assets and update aier's Gnome guide with Kando integration detailson 5/1/26
• 00c9a-#39 Reformat project so each markdown file has their own asset subfolder in the public asset folder.on 4/30/26
• 41235-GB Englishon 4/30/26
• 2348f-Grammatical adjustmentson 4/12/26
• cb358-Disable isolate workspaces for icons.on 4/10/26
• 4f62a-Major list structure overhaul and item updates.on 4/10/26
• 63839-Use better blur effects from Blur My Shell Instead of from Kiwi.on 2/17/26
• f5812-Replaced **bold with highlightson 2/4/26
• 8792e-Fixed container syntax error and consistency.on 1/13/26
• c3f67-Moved shortcuts to main Gnome guide.on 1/13/26
• ff00d-+ appindicator m category for tinted shell m alphabetical order for all items.on 1/13/26
• 650cd-Grammatical change and remove transparent move behavior from Kiwi extension.on 12/16/25
• 35118-Grammar and Spell Checks for the entire Webon 12/11/25
• 54c8f-Restructuring for better asset management.on 12/10/25
• a7215-Update to use permalinkon 12/2/25
• 120a4-Simplify notes.on 11/26/25
• b7fdb-Trying out new contributor format.on 11/26/25
• 85ff1-+- use Dconf instead of Gsettings for cli +- Dash to Dock now essential +- Lock Keys archived + Kiwi & settings + Auto Power Profileon 11/26/25
• 15837-Polishing aier's Gnome and pinning it.on 11/14/25
• 26c5a-Restructuring tags.on 11/10/25
• b3a9f-Updated extension usage and added "Previously in My Setup" section.on 10/28/25
• f9939-Refactor just-perfection extension settings and update user themes section for clarityon 10/22/25
• 82fe7-Prettier formatting.on 10/16/25
• 272c1-Clarify usage of the just-perfection extension to address visual inconsistencies and bugs with the top bar.on 10/9/25
• cd412-Update top bar settings for just perfection.on 10/9/25
• 4a816-Adding Author.on 9/28/25
• 02788-Adding Howdy and making the page prettier.on 9/28/25
• 091f4-Remove outdated aier's Fedora Gnome reference guide and update links in Gnome Guideon 9/27/25
• ca005-aier's Fedora Guide Finished First Editionon 9/27/25