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# 17 Best Icon Themes For Ubuntu and Other Linux
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/best-icon-themes-ubuntu-16-04/
- Published: 2016-06-08T11:55:37.000Z
- Updated: 2025-02-13T05:40:16.000Z
- Description: Want to make your Linux or Ubuntu desktop pretty? We suggest you to try these gorgeous icon themes!
- Author: Abhishek Prakash
- Tags: List 📋, Customization ⚙️

Bored with the same old look of Ubuntu? Why not try one of the best Ubuntu themes listed here?

Icon themes are the best and perhaps the easiest way to change the looks of your Ubuntu desktop. It literally transforms the entire look of your desktop. If you don’t know where to begin, don’t worry. In this article, I will show you the **best icon sets for Ubuntu** and how to use them.

I have written this article keeping Ubuntu/Pop!\_OS in mind, but almost all the icon themes should work for other Linux distributions and desktop environments.

## How to install a new icon theme in Ubuntu

Before we get to our list of the best icon themes for Ubuntu, let us first see how to change the icons in Ubuntu.

I have already written in detail about [how to change themes in Ubuntu](https://itsfoss.com/install-themes-ubuntu/). Let me give you a quick rundown here:

There are basically two ways you can install icon themes in Ubuntu:

- **Downloading the theme manually and extracting them into \~/.icons (you need to** [**enable hidden files**](https://itsfoss.com/hide-folders-and-show-hidden-files-in-ubuntu-beginner-trick/) **to access it, if it’s still not there, create a .icons folder in the /home directory)**
- **Installing the themes via a PPA (run some commands, we’ll see it later)**

Once you have installed the icons, you can use [GNOME Tweaks in Ubuntu](https://itsfoss.com/gnome-tweak-tool/) to change the icons.

Ubuntu users can refer to this video to see how to change icons and themes:

[Subscribe to YouTube Channel for more Ubuntu Videos](https://www.youtube.com/c/itsfoss?sub%5Fconfirmation=1&ref=itsfoss.com)

Okay, let us get started with the list!

📋

This list is in no particular order of ranking.

## 1\. Candy Icon Theme

This is a really attractive icon set with colorful icons. You should find it good enough for dark mode themes. Colorful, and a bit of gradient effect on them.

![Candy icon Folder and Ubuntu Dock](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/candy-icons-folders.png)

Candy Icons

[Download Candy Icon Pack](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1305251?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 2\. Sweet Rainbow

This is an add-on for the candy icon pack with a different folder icon set. All the same icons, with more for folders (replacing the solid colors). 

After you add Candy icons to the **\~/.icons** directory, add the sweet rainbow pack, and select it as the icon theme for it to take effect.

![Sweet Rainbow Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/sweet-rainbow-folder-icons-1.png)

Sweet Rainbow

[Download Sweet Rainbow](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1284047?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 3\. Tela Icon Theme

Yet another impressive icon pack – this should blend in with both dark/light GTK themes you have installed. The flat color designs for the icons do make your distro look good.

![Tela Icon Theme Appllied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/Tela-icons.png)

Tela Icons

[Download Tela Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1279924?ref=itsfoss.com)

There is also a [Tela Circle Icon pack](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1359276?ref=itsfoss.com). As the name suggests, Tela Icons, in a circular fashion.

## 4\. Marwaita Icon Theme

![Marwaita Icon theme in Ubuntu Dock and Nautilus File Manager](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/marwaita-icons.png)

Marwaita Icons

A color icon set that goes well with both the dark mode and light mode as well. You should find more icons for all your essential applications on Linux. Try it out!

[Download Marwaita Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1270110?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 5\. Papirus icon theme

[Papirus](https://github.com/PapirusDevelopmentTeam/papirus-icon-theme?ref=itsfoss.com) is based on the material theme inspired by [paper icons](https://github.com/snwh/paper-icon-theme?ref=itsfoss.com). It is more polished and refined, bringing out the best of the paper icons.

![Papirus Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/papirus.png)

Papirus Icons

You can install this icon theme using the official PPA:

```
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:papirus/papirus
sudo apt update
sudo apt install papirus-icon-theme
```

[Papirus Icon Theme](https://github.com/PapirusDevelopmentTeam/papirus-icon-theme?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 6\. Numix Circle

The next in our list of the best icon themes for Ubuntu is [Numix](https://numixproject.github.io/?ref=itsfoss.com). You can guess the popularity of [Numix theme suite](https://itsfoss.com/install-numix-ubuntu/) from the fact that it is the default theme in several Linux distributions.

![Numix Circle Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/numix-circle.png)

Numix Circle Icons

You can install Numix icon theme on Ubuntu using the commands below:

```
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:numix/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install numix-icon-theme-circle
```

[Numix Icon Theme](https://numixproject.github.io/?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 7\. Uniform icon theme

A flat and fabulous icon theme, uniform. Don’t go by the name. These icons are hardly uniform. That's the interesting part. 😉

![Uniform Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/uniform-icons.png)

Uniform Icons

You can download the icon theme files and then paste the directories to \~/.icons directory.

[Download Uniform Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1012468?ref=itsfoss.com)

Also read the README file inside the extracted folder to know which folder need to be copied and pasted.

🚧

Remember, the icon theme contains very huge number of icons, and the full version is approximately 500MB.

## 8\. Shadows Icon Theme

The Shadows icon theme is next on our list. This icon theme, at least the folder style, has a similarity to the Sweet rainbow pack, but with a different touch across the system.

![Shadows Icon Theme in Ubuntu Dock and Nautilus File Manager](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/shadows-icon-theme.png)

Shadows Icon Theme

Download and paste it in the .icons folder. And change the theme using GNOME Tweaks.

[Download Shadows Dark Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1717303?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 9\. WhiteSur Icon

Are you a fan of macOS icons? Then this is for you. It gives you a look similar to macOS Big Sur.

![WhiteSur Icon Theme Applied to Ubuntu](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/whitesur.png)

WhiteSur Icon Theme

[Download WhiteSur Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1405756?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 10\. Win10Sur Icon theme

In this icon theme, you get a mix of Windows and Big Sur look. If you are someone who wants to try such an approach, try this one.

![Win10Sur Icon pack applied on Ubuntu](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/win10sur.png)

Win10Sur Icons

You can download the icon theme from the GNOME Look website.

[Download Win10Sur Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1440037?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 11\. Flat Remix Icons

Flat Remix is a popular theme out there, following a flat design approach, different from the circular border approach. If you are a fan of such flat designs, you will not regret this icon theme.

![Flat Remix Icons Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/Flat-remix.png)

Flat Remix Icons

Download, extract and paste it to the .icons folder. Later, change it with the GNOME Tweaks tool.

[Download Flat Remix Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1012430?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 12\. Miya Icons

This icon theme follows a different look for many normally used apps. Moreover, you can see glowing folder icons, with a clean look.

![Miya Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/miya-icons.png)

Miya Icons

An interesting looking one (or should I say, futuristic and unique?).

![Miya Icon Theme Folder Icons](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/Miya-folders.png)

Miya Icon Theme Folder Icons

[Download Miya Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1715694?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 13\. Qogir Icon Theme

Qogir is a very popular and neat looking icon theme. The whole icon theme is based on a flat design approach.

![Qogir Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/qogir-icon.png)

Qogir Icon Theme

[Download Qogir Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1296407?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 14\. Pop icon theme

This is one of my favorite icon themes, developed by System76 for its Linux distribution Pop!\_OS. Combine it with its GTK theme, and it gives your Linux desktop an outstanding look.

![Pop Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/pop-icons.png)

Pop Icon Theme

It is available in the Ubuntu repositories. So you can install it using:

```
sudo apt install pop-icon-theme
```

[Pop Icon Theme](https://github.com/pop-os/icon-theme?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 15\. Reversal Icon Theme

Reversal is a modern and colorful icon theme. Unlike some other options, it is mild to the eyes, colorful, but with a soft contrast.

![Reversal Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/reversal-icons.png)

Reversal Icon Theme

There is also a similar icon theme called [Inverse Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1344791?ref=itsfoss.com) from the same developer, with the difference that, it is circle here, instead of pebbles.

[Download Reversal Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1340791?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 16\. Ketsa Dark Icon Theme

This is a fluid type design. It is a quite unique take, so it involves a limited number of app icons.

![Ketsa Dark Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/ketsa-dark-icon.png)

Ketsa Dark Icon Theme

For everything available, they are visually pleasing.

![Ketsa Dark Folder Icons Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/ketsa-dark-folders.png)

Ketsa Dark Folder Icons

[Download Ketsa Dark Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1955483?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 17\. Flatery Icon Theme

This is one of the best icon theme, with a flat design concept. The folders and file icons look pretty minimal and pleasing.

![Flatery Icon Theme Applied](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/flatery-icons.png)

Flatery Icon Theme

Even though the download size of the theme file is a bit higher, and the overall project is a bit old, it is worthy trying this out.

[Download Flatery Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1332404?ref=itsfoss.com)

## Honorable Mentions

- [Kora Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1256209?ref=itsfoss.com): Kora is a colorful and beautiful icon theme. It has a shiny look on folders and also offers some colors to choose from.
- [Obsidian icon theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1169579?ref=itsfoss.com): Obsidian is based on the once hugely popular [Faenza](https://tiheum.deviantart.com/art/Faenza-Icons-173323228?ref=itsfoss.com) icon theme.
- [Fluent Icon Theme](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1477945?ref=itsfoss.com): The Fluent theme is preferred by many, that want a Windows 11 like look for their distro, If you are one of them, then this icon pack will be the right choice for you.
- [BeautyLine](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1425426?ref=itsfoss.com): Do you love the Garuda Linux icons? Then look nowhere else, this is for you.
- [Newaita-Reborn](https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1625931?ref=itsfoss.com): This was released a while ago as a beta, but looks pretty goof when applied.

*💬 What is your favorite icon theme? Let me know in the comments down below!*