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System Settings can be run from the launcher (pinned by default), the Dash, or the power cog. But what command would I enter in a terminal window if I want to run it from there?

fossfreedom
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Knowledge Cube
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9 Answers9

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gnome-control-center

Note: for versions between 14.04 and 17.04 (when Unity was used instead of GNOME), the command is unity-control-center.

Pablo Bianchi
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Vibhav
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if you run gnome-control-center and get command not found, you can install it with:

sudo apt install gnome-control-center
Pablo Bianchi
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grant
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For Ubuntu Mate the command is mate-control-center.

fosslinux
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Alex Punnen
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I found a different solution...

  1. I tried removing/installing gnome-control-center; this did reinstall the application I still couldn't open it.

  2. Later I found that it would start up on the side of the screen and I couldn't access it

  3. I changed the display mode to single display and it came back. Hope it helps.

Zanna
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Jaison
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Well, in KDE NEON 5.16.4 (Ubuntu 18.04), it is written in the "System Settings Handbook":

The System Settings can be started in one of three ways:

  • By selecting Settings → System Settings from the Application Menu.
  • By pressing Alt+F2 or Alt+Space. This will bring up the KRunner dialog. Type systemsettings5, and press Enter.
  • Type systemsettings5 & at any command prompt. All three of these methods are equivalent, and produce the same result.

In my case, I needed to configure my HP LaserJet settings. Doing this as user, after applying and saving, they were ignored. So I think I had to do this as root and the settings are stored normaly now, so, each time the user opens the print dialog, the system remembers that I want log side binding and 1200 resolution :=)

I thought that sudo systemsettings5 & was enough, but as Zanna suggests: It should also be recommended to use 'sudo -H' if opening a GUI app with sudo.

jimmyz
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    Why do we need sudo here? It seems like a bad idea to unnecessarily run a GUI application as root, especially using plain sudo which in most versions of Ubuntu could cause config files in a user's home to become owned by root and (in the worst case scenario) prevent the relevant software from being run by a normal user in future until the ownerships are fixed (which may be confusing for users) – Zanna Sep 12 '19 at 07:20
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    In my case, I needed to configure my HP LaserJet settings. Doing this as user, after applying and saving, it was ignored. Doing this as root, the settings are stored normaly. Now, each time the user opens the print dialog, it remembers that I want log side binding and 1200 resolution. – jimmyz Sep 12 '19 at 07:32
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    thanks for explaining. I wonder if that behaviour is normal or expected. Some system settings areas prompt me for authorisation, but most do not. I would suggest editing your answer to note that you found you needed to use sudo for this purpose for some reason. It should also be recommended to use sudo -H if opening a GUI app with sudo – Zanna Sep 12 '19 at 07:45
  • This worked brilliant for me! I had to restore my taskbar and only had the command lind left and so this was essential for me to get back to work! Thank you for sharing this! I didn’t need any sudo though. – João Esperancinha Jan 18 '24 at 07:35
3

To launch Settings on Ubuntu

  • gnome desktop users can use terminal(Ctrl+t) or run command(Alt+F2) to execute :

    /usr/bin/gnome-control-center

  • For Cinnamon desktop users :

    /usr/bin/cinnamon-settings

  • For Unity desktop users :

    unity-control-center
devpa
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In Crouton, you must run anything that would require a password from the terminal, such as update manager, software center, synaptic, etc. So, to get to system settings you would enter in the terminal:

gnome-control-center

That will bring up the system settings GUI.

To check for updates, or if the update manager appears in the Unity Launcher, run it from the terminal, not by clicking on it:

sudo update-manager

The same applies to synaptic, the software center, etc. Anything which requires a password, must be run from the terminal in Crouton with a sudo.

Scott Stensland
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Tractor
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One thing no one mentions in this is if you run it from the command line you are likely to encounter errors because some environmental variables aren't being used.

First thing, you shouldn't need sudo to run the control center, but if you do make sure you run it as your user.

sudo -i gnome-control-center

Also if you run gnome-control-center without sudo it gives permission denied notes.

gnome-control-center
/sys/firmware/dmi/tables/smbios_entry_point: Permission denied
/dev/mem: Permission denied

So it is useful to know how to run it without running into issues if you are debugging something.

Goddard
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  • I don't get (and don't see why I should/could) get any errors running gnome-control-center as a regular user. Are you sure is not an issue on your setup or a bug? – Pablo Bianchi Aug 17 '21 at 03:10
  • At the time I got some errors and was just sharing the information. Not even sure this is an issue now. – Goddard Aug 17 '21 at 12:59
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If you use the Cinnamon desktop you can use

/usr/bin/cinnamon-settings
Zanna
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Nils
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