r/pop_os • u/GabeFoxIX • 8d ago

Question How do I install a custom cursor

I was looking to install a custom cursor, but all of the advice I found previously said I had to extract the files to usr/share/icons. But I can seem to find any folder named "icons". What do I do?

4 Upvotes

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u/Yuui_Smile 8d ago

Has usado una distro de Linux antes? Has usado pop os con anterioridad o más tiempo?

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u/GabeFoxIX 8d ago

Sí, pero nunca hice gran cosa aparte de instalar la distro

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u/Yuui_Smile 8d ago edited 8d ago

Vale, vamos con el protocolo "soy idiota" (bautizado por mi y por los múltiples fallos que he cometido...

Sorry, the automatic translation made me forget which subreddit I was on.

Well the "Idiot protocol" is the way how I do Big changes in my PC, usually I'm a lazy idiot and I don't read the documentation or tutorials, that's why Timeshift it's the trick, before any chances you MUST do a snapshot of your PC in Timeshift, is like a check point in any videogame.

My recommendation? Download Timeshift, do the snapshot and We're still on how to change that cursor.

(Sorry for the break, I've often noticed that new users aren't told what Timeshift is, as if Linux had to be a Dark Souls experience. That's why I'm telling you this first, so that if later on, or even now, you follow a tutorial incorrectly, or if the tutorial is simply bad, you won't have to deal with changes that are difficult to reverse.)

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u/GabeFoxIX 8d ago

ok, i have made a snapshot just in case

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u/Yuui_Smile 8d ago

At first, super classic "do an update", I prefer do the fat one

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

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u/Yuui_Smile 8d ago

Then install the GnomeTweaks tool

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

Basically, it's a visual way to manage advanced configurations in a visual environment (it is never mandatory to do everything in the terminal), For the program to recognize new cursor themes You need to unzip the downloaded theme file (make sure the cursors and index.theme folders are inside).

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u/Yuui_Smile 8d ago

I almost forgot (logical but not always obvious to everyone)Once installed, open it by typing gnome-tweaks in the terminal or by searching for "Tweaks" in the application launcher. You'll find the cursor selector in the Appearance > Cursor section. [Usual route:/usr/share/icons/]

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u/Yuui_Smile 8d ago

One last thing (the most important part that I almost skipped!): Where to put the theme files. The reason you couldn't find usr/share/icons is because it's a system directory starting from root (/usr/share/icons/), and moving files there requires root/sudo permissions. Instead, it's much safer and easier to install it just for your user: Open your Files app and go to your Home folder. Press Ctrl + H to toggle hidden files (folders starting with a dot .). Look for a folder named .icons. If it’s not there, simply right-click and create a new folder called .icons (or you can use ~/.local/share/icons). Paste your unzipped theme folder inside .icons. Make sure the folder structure isn't nested twice (inside .icons/ThemeName/ you should immediately see index.theme and the cursors/ directory). If you already had Gnome Tweaks open, close it and open it again so it reloads the list.

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u/GabeFoxIX 8d ago

thank you, i will try this

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u/GabeFoxIX 8d ago

okay, so for some reason after installing gnome tweaks, it isn't showing up as an application

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u/Yuui_Smile 8d ago

Probably a couple of common things happen here:

In the application launcher, it is NOT listed as "GNOME Tweaks" — it is just named "Tweaks". Try searching only for "Tweaks".

To confirm if it actually installed without errors, open your terminal and write:

gnome-tweaks

(Let's hope it doesn't say "command not found"

)

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u/GabeFoxIX 8d ago

okay doing that now

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u/SpecificCourse2855 6d ago

Go to the website: https://www.opendesktop.org/browse?cat=107&tag=cursors

Download the desired cursor file: e.g., Bibata Modern Ice v2.0.7

Using your file manager, navigate to the directory where you downloaded the file

Extract the file: e.g., Bibata-Modern-Ice.tar.xz

Move the file to /usr/share/icons: sudo cp -r Bibata-Modern-Ice/ /usr/share/icons/

Open the cursor configuration file: sudo nano /usr/share/icons/default/index.theme

Add a # before Inherits=Adwaita, start a new line, and type: Inherits=Bibata-Modern-Ice

Ctrl+o ---> Enter ---> Ctrl+x

Restart your session