How can I reset compiz to the default settings?

Question

I've got a bug that is reoccuring (no window chrome close/minimize/maximize buttons) that is solved by changing the visual effects level (e.g. from none to normal).

Unfortunately, the desktop is relatively unusable until I change that setting upon each login.

I have the inkling that it might be solved by resetting compiz to its default settings. How would I go about resetting compiz (or whatever is in charge of those visual effects) to its defaults?

score 8 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

GUI Option

For 11.04 and below:

Log into a recovery console,
gnome-settings-daemon && gnome-appearance-properties && metacity and press enter.
When the appearance properties dialogue comes up, change your settings to normal under the effects tab.
Close this window, and metacity will run (so you can close the terminal)
Close the terminal to log out from recovery mode, and log back into your desktop.

For all versions:

Install ccsm (Compiz Config Settings Manager).

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Log into the recovery console,
Launch ccsm from the terminal, (you may also optionally run metacity).
Create a new profile (if you want to use this method) by going to preferences, and clicking on reset to defaults:

You can also select the individual plugin causing the problems and reset its values.

Command-Line Option:

Run this command in a terminal (on 11.04 and up):

gconftool --recursive-unset /apps/compiz-1

On 10.10 and below:

gconftool --recursive-unset /apps/compiz

Credits to James Gifford for the command.

I can't find compiz user settings in ~/.gconf/, um.. I've used to rm -fr .config/compiz/compizconfig. Well, you may backup this dir once you've done with ccsm. — Lenik, May 11 '12 at 00:53

score 5 · Answer 2 · edited May 17 '17 at 22:57

5

Roland Taylor's GUI answer broke Unity for me in Ubuntu 12.04. Presumably the "defaults" are the wrong "defaults". Instead, this worked (via the terminal or run prompt):

unity --reset

edited May 17 '17 at 22:57

wjandrea

14,236
4
48
98

answered May 11 '12 at 00:41

Sparhawk

6,929

Hmm, I shall try that out. – Kzqai May 11 '12 at 02:14
The method I had mentioned previously wasn't really for Unity specific settings. – RolandiXor May 11 '12 at 03:57
unity --reset actually freezes my whole system... – Heisenberg Dec 05 '13 at 09:36
@Anh I'm no longer using Unity/Compiz, but after the freeze, are the settings reset? If so, then it might be worth running the above when Unity isn't running. (e.g. boot into a command line.) – Sparhawk Dec 05 '13 at 10:12
1

Using 14.10, "unity --reset" is deprecated, and does nothing. – michael Feb 19 '15 at 14:23

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 02 '15 at 11:28

2

I know it's a very old question but it ranks high on Google and newcomers can benefit from this update. As GConf is deprecated, dconf should be used instead. To reset compiz to default settings you can run the following command:

dconf reset -f /org/compiz/

This should work on 14.04 and up.

answered Dec 02 '15 at 11:28

bimecal

21

Per instructions here, you should also run setsid unity to restart unity. – aaaantoine May 11 '16 at 00:38

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Nov 18 '14 at 15:06

0

The reset in the ccsm breaks the system For that you need to

Open terminal Ctrl+Alt+T
Then type sudo apt-get install unity
And then reset the unity unity --reset

edited Nov 18 '14 at 15:06

αғsнιη

35,660

answered Nov 18 '14 at 14:46

Arvind

1
1

How can I reset compiz to the default settings?

4 Answers4

GUI Option

Command-Line Option:

Linked

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