Navigate to the Nautilus Settings

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 98 views

Introduction

As a user of Ubuntu 24.04, you may have noticed that the bookmarks in the left-hand column of Nautilus can take up a significant amount of space, making it difficult to navigate through your files and folders. This can be especially frustrating if you have a large number of bookmarks. In this article, we will explore how to reduce the padding between bookmarks in Nautilus, allowing you to make the most of your screen space.

Understanding the Issue

The padding between bookmarks in Nautilus is controlled by the CSS styles applied to the bookmarks list. The Yaru-sage-dark theme, which is the default theme in Ubuntu 24.04, uses a specific set of CSS styles to control the appearance of the bookmarks list. By default, the padding between bookmarks is set to a certain value, which can be adjusted using CSS.

Method 1: Using the Gnome Tweaks Tool

One way to reduce the padding between bookmarks in Nautilus is to use the Gnome Tweaks tool. Gnome Tweaks is a utility that allows you to customize various aspects of the Gnome desktop, including the appearance of Nautilus.

To use Gnome Tweaks to reduce the padding between bookmarks, follow these steps:

Install Gnome Tweaks: If you haven't already, install Gnome Tweaks by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

2. **Launch Gnome Tweaks**: Launch Gnome Tweaks by searching for it in the application menu or by running the following command in the terminal:
   ```bash
gnome-tweaks

Navigate to the Nautilus Settings: In the Gnome Tweaks window, navigate to the "Desktop" section and click on the "Nautilus" tab.
Adjust the Bookmarks Padding: In the "Nautilus" tab, you will see a setting called "Bookmarks padding". Adjust this setting to the desired value by moving the slider or entering a value in the text box.
Apply the Changes: Click the "Apply" button to apply the changes.

Method 2: Editing the CSS Styles

Another way to reduce the padding between bookmarks in Nautilus is to edit the CSS styles used by the Yaru-sage-dark theme. To do this, you will need to create a custom CSS file and add it to the Nautilus configuration directory.

To edit the CSS styles, follow these steps:

Create a Custom CSS File: Create a new file called custom.css in the ~/.config/nautilus directory. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo nano ~/.config/nautilus/custom.css

2. **Add the CSS Styles**: In the `custom.css` file, add the following CSS styles to reduce the padding between bookmarks: ```css .bookmarks-list { padding: 0 0 0 0; }

.bookmarks-list .bookmark padding 0 0 0 0;

These styles will remove the padding between bookmarks and reduce the overall width of the bookmarks list. 3. Save the Changes: Save the changes to the custom.css file. 4. Restart Nautilus: Restart Nautilus by running the following command in the terminal:

nautilus -q

This will reload the Nautilus configuration and apply the custom CSS styles.

Method 3: Using a Custom Theme

If you prefer to use a custom theme, you can create a custom theme that includes the desired CSS styles to reduce the padding between bookmarks.

To create a custom theme, follow these steps:

Create a New Theme Directory: Create a new directory called custom-theme in the ~/.themes directory. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo mkdir ~/.themes/custom-theme

2. **Create a Custom CSS File**: Create a new file called `custom.css` in the `custom-theme` directory. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:
   ```bash
sudo nano ~/.themes/custom-theme/custom.css

Add the CSS Styles: In the custom.css file, add the following CSS styles to reduce the padding between bookmarks:

.bookmarks-list padding 0 0 0 0;

.bookmarks-list .bookmark padding 0 0 0 0;

   These styles will remove the padding between bookmarks and reduce the overall width of the bookmarks list.
4. **Create a Custom Theme File**: Create a new file called `custom-theme.info` in the `custom-theme` directory. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:
   ```bash
sudo nano ~/.themes/custom-theme/custom-theme.info

Add the Theme Information: In the custom-theme.info file, add the following information to describe the custom theme:

[Theme] Name=Custom Theme Comment=Custom theme with reduced padding between bookmarks

6. **Save the Changes**: Save the changes to the `custom-theme.info` file.
7. **Apply the Custom Theme**: Apply the custom theme by running the following command in the terminal:
   ```bash
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme custom-theme

This will apply the custom theme and reduce the padding between bookmarks.

Conclusion

Q: What is the default padding between bookmarks in Nautilus?

A: The default padding between bookmarks in Nautilus is controlled by the CSS styles applied to the bookmarks list. The Yaru-sage-dark theme, which is the default theme in Ubuntu 24.04, uses a specific set of CSS styles to control the appearance of the bookmarks list. By default, the padding between bookmarks is set to a certain value, which can be adjusted using CSS.

Q: How can I reduce the padding between bookmarks in Nautilus?

A: There are several ways to reduce the padding between bookmarks in Nautilus, including:

Using the Gnome Tweaks tool to adjust the bookmarks padding setting
Editing the CSS styles used by the Yaru-sage-dark theme to reduce the padding between bookmarks
Creating a custom theme that includes the desired CSS styles to reduce the padding between bookmarks

Q: What are the benefits of reducing the padding between bookmarks in Nautilus?

A: Reducing the padding between bookmarks in Nautilus can make it easier to navigate through your files and folders, especially if you have a large number of bookmarks. It can also help to make the most of your screen space, allowing you to see more bookmarks at once.

Q: Can I customize the appearance of the bookmarks list in Nautilus?

A: Yes, you can customize the appearance of the bookmarks list in Nautilus by editing the CSS styles used by the Yaru-sage-dark theme or by creating a custom theme. You can also use the Gnome Tweaks tool to adjust various settings, including the bookmarks padding setting.

Q: How do I create a custom theme for Nautilus?

A: To create a custom theme for Nautilus, you will need to create a new directory in the ~/.themes directory and add a custom CSS file to it. You will also need to create a custom theme file that describes the theme and includes the desired CSS styles.

Q: Can I use a custom theme with the Gnome Tweaks tool?

A: Yes, you can use a custom theme with the Gnome Tweaks tool. To do this, you will need to create a custom theme file that describes the theme and includes the desired CSS styles. You can then apply the custom theme using the Gnome Tweaks tool.

Q: How do I apply a custom theme to Nautilus?

A: To apply a custom theme to Nautilus, you will need to run the following command in the terminal:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme custom-theme

Replace custom-theme with the name of your custom theme.

Q: Can I revert to the default theme if I don't like my custom theme?

A: Yes, you can revert to the default theme if you don't like your custom theme. To do this, you will need to run the following command in the terminal:

gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme

This will reset the theme to the default theme.

Q: Are there any other ways to customize the appearance of Nautilus?

A: Yes, there are several other ways to customize the appearance of Nautilus, including:

Using the Gnome Tweaks tool to adjust various settings, such as the font size and color scheme
Editing the CSS styles used by the Yaru-sage-dark theme to customize the appearance of the bookmarks list and other elements
Creating a custom theme that includes the desired CSS styles and other customizations

Q: Can I customize the behavior of Nautilus?

A: Yes, you can customize the behavior of Nautilus by editing the Nautilus configuration file or by creating a custom script that modifies the behavior of Nautilus.

Q: Where can I find more information about customizing Nautilus?

A: You can find more information about customizing Nautilus in the Nautilus documentation and in online forums and communities. You can also search for tutorials and guides on YouTube and other websites.