16

In Unity the user name is shown in the panel. Is is possible to make it so that it is not displayed? For example it would be nice if only the icon but not the user name were displayed.

The displayed user name

N.N.
  • 18,219

6 Answers6

24

(If you dont want to install other programs)

Open a terminal and use this command to disable the name display

gsettings set com.canonical.indicator.session show-real-name-on-panel false

enter image description here

To revert it back simple use

gsettings set com.canonical.indicator.session show-real-name-on-panel true

enter image description here

After using one of the commands you need to log off and back on or use unity --replace & to reload unity.

You can also remove the user switching menu from the indicator panel with

gsettings set com.canonical.indicator.session user-show-menu false

enter image description here

and enable it with

gsettings set com.canonical.indicator.session user-show-menu true

enter image description here

but if you do so you will disable both the username and the user switching indicator. You cannot remove the user switching menu while keeping the username indicator.

Bruno Pereira
  • 73,643
12

open dconf-editor, go to "apps -> indicator-session" and unmark "user-show-menu"

enter image description here

logout and login again

Jorge Castro
  • 71,754
xsquirrel
  • 121
9

Install package dconf-tools 

sudo apt-get install dconf-tools

press Alt+F2 and run:

dconf-editor

In dconf-editor, navigate to apps > indicator-session and untick the option show-real-name-on-panel

enter image description here

Then reload unity to see the effect:

unity --replace

Or logout and login

Achu
  • 21,237
  • You forgot to mention that I need to logout and login again for the changes to apply. Maybe it could be done by reseting Unity as well? – N.N. Dec 14 '11 at 08:34
  • @N.N. Thanks :) i edited my answer unity --replace will be enough to see the change. – Achu Dec 14 '11 at 08:48
  • This works well. Is there any other methods to accomplish the same, e.g. doing it via the command-line? – N.N. Dec 14 '11 at 08:51
  • @N.N. Sorry :) i don't know ho to do that in command line yet. But i will include in the answer when learn one. – Achu Dec 14 '11 at 08:55
  • Bruno posted a command-line solution http://askubuntu.com/a/87674/19490 . Oh, and as I commented to Bruno's post it might be an idea to include screenshots of the difference the settings makes makes to make your answer even better. – N.N. Dec 14 '11 at 09:21
  • @N.N. Yeah.. I saw that and i learned the terminal command :) you can use Bruno's answer :) If you preferred a command line. But i think you already got the answer right? :) – Achu Dec 14 '11 at 09:27
  • I got it but most I'm not the only one who'll read your post. Most visitors of posts on this site come directly from a search engine. Improving posts for future visitors is a good thing. – N.N. Dec 14 '11 at 09:30
  • let us continue this discussion in chat – Achu Dec 14 '11 at 09:38
  • I would say this is just an amend to the answer and I would be happy to see the information I provided "under the same roof" so feel free to edit your answer and include also the command line version (you can also copy the images). Don't know, its up to you guys. (@Achu, @N.N.) – Bruno Pereira Dec 14 '11 at 10:48
5

For 12.04 (should work on earlier versions also)

So, To disable user name displaying, there is two way: 1) Command Line 2) Graphical way.

1) Command Line

If you don't want the switching feature at all, no name and no user icon. Do this:

Open a terminal and execute this command to disable it. Then Logout and Login.

gsettings set com.canonical.indicator.session user-show-menu false

To re-enable, just change false to true

gsettings set com.canonical.indicator.session user-show-menu true

2) Graphical way (using Ubuntu-tweak)

  1. Install Ubuntu-tweak

  2. Open Ubuntu-tweak by typing the name in dash

    opening ubuntu-tweak from dash

  3. Go to the section Tweaks → Session indicator

    Go to Tweaks -> Session indicator

  4. Toogle the switch User indicator to Off state.

    enter image description here

(To revert the settings, just toogle the User indicator switch again)

That's it. Logout and Login again to see the change.

Below are screenshots before and after disabling the user name:

  • Before:

    enter image description here

  • After:

    enter image description here

Community
  • 1
Anwar
  • 76,649
1

Install Ubuntu Tweak for Ubuntu 11.10 by installing the PPA here.

Once installed, go to the tweaks tab, and change the setting for "Show full name in panel". enter image description here

William
  • 7,668
0

Since Ubuntu 12.10 the user name is not displayed in the panel. Thus, you do not have to do anything.

N.N.
  • 18,219