Brief: This simple quick tip shows how to remove trash icon from the desktop in Ubuntu 17.10 and 18.04. Both graphical and command line methods have been discussed.
Starting Ubuntu 17.10, Canonical uses a customized version of GNOME as the default desktop environment. This customized version has a resemblance to the previous default desktop environment, Unity.
While I find the new GNOME desktop quite pleasing, I don’t like one thing here and that is the trash icon on the desktop. It reminds me of the Windows XP days when there always was that recycle bin on the desktop with no direct way of removing it.
It’s pretty much the same in Ubuntu 18.04 and 17.10. You won’t find the option to hide the trash icon from the desktop in the default system settings.
Then how do you remove the trash icon? GNOME Tweaks tool comes to rescue.
Remove trash icon from the desktop using GNOME Tweaks tool
If you have not installed it already, you must. GNOME Tweaks enables you to further tweak your system including installing new themes in Ubuntu 18.04. I cannot imagine myself using Ubuntu without this tool.
You can find it in the software center, just search for it.
Once you have it installed, launch it by searching (press Super/Windows keys) for Tweaks:
In here, go to Desktop in the left side pane and toggle the button for Trash.
That’s it. It will disappear immediately. You can toggle it again to bring back the trash icon on the desktop.
Remove trash icon from the desktop using command line
If you prefer the command line, you can use the command below in a terminal to remove the trash icon from Ubuntu desktop.
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop trash-icon-visible falseIf you want it back, simply replace the false in the above command with true:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.desktop trash-icon-visible trueI hope this quick tip helped you in customizing GNOME desktop on your Ubuntu system. If you know other such quick tips, please share it in the comment section.
How do you put that icon on the launch bar?
What is the real advantage to remove the Trash icon from the desktop, for either novice or experienced users? I don’t see any, other than the occasion to write a post here.
There is no ‘real advantage’ here. Few people like me don’t like to see icons on the desktop. The article is for them :)
Novice question: Let’s say you remove the trash icon. How you do empty the trash when it fills?
(Thank your for all of the informative articles. They have made my switch to Linux smooth and enjoyable.)
You can find the Trash folder in the File Manager and from here, you can empty the trash. This will keep your desktop free of icons. Some people (including me) prefer it this way.
P.S. I am glad It’s FOSS helped you with a better Linux experience.
Thanks for the information; my question would have been the same as JS’s