Summary
- Linux users get passionate about distros and will defend their choices fiercely.
- Ubuntu 26.04 folders were tweaked last week from a gray-based design to an orange one.
- Now, the community is tinkering with a darker Yaru redesign, which is currently undergoing feedback.
I’m really glad that I moved from Windows to Linux in mid-2025. I enjoy free and open-source software more than its proprietary cousins, and the freedom to do what I want with my desktop is refreshing. However, I have learned that people are very passionate about their distro of choice, and they care deeply about the minute details.
For instance, Ubuntu users are currently debating the color of folder icons. The colors were already changed last week, and now a new batch has been designed in an attempt to appease people who weren’t happy with the original designs.
Phew: Linus Torvalds says Linux 7.0 is finally looking normal again
But it still needs testing.
Ubuntu’s folders are undergoing a redesign, again
Second time the charm?
As spotted by OMG Ubuntu, the file icons in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS are being tweaked a little. Last week, we saw the website report on how the familiar gray folders became a more vibrant orange, which had people divided in the OMG Ubuntu article’s comments. A lot of people chimed in to say they liked them, but there were some who didn’t quite resonate with the new look. One user said the new folder design “looks like a child’s sketchbook” and another believes Ubuntu’s focus should be put elsewhere.
Now, people are working together with the Yaru team to create a new redesigned set, and these ones are a little darker. It may seem like a minor change, but the decision behind the redesign is documented pretty well:
See commits for details, but ensuring that the folders do not look as “selected”, due to the too light lighten overlay, and use darker pictograms to ensure they have enough contrast.
Maybe we could reduce the pictograms darken overlays opacity for bigger icons, but I preferred to stay consistent for now.
People have been flocking to the GitHub page to give their opinions on these new icons; some like them, and some want some more tweaking done to them. Personally, I think I prefer the darker version of the icons; it feels much bolder than the lighter one. Either way, we’ll have to see if the design team manages to land on something people like for the most part.
Vanilla OS 2 lets me run Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch apps at the same time
And that’s still not all
