Ubuntu 25.10 recently entered its user-interface freeze, but not before significant updates were introduced to the Yaru theme, which serves as the default theme for the OS. Yaru is a community-driven project, though it receives guidance from Canonical’s engineering and design teams, allowing anyone to contribute.
Key Theme Changes in Ubuntu 25.10
The latest Yaru theme release, exclusive to Ubuntu 25.10 and not available for previous versions, has been updated to align with new features and changes in the upcoming GNOME 49. Notably, the login accessibility menu from GNOME 49 has been adapted with new symbolic icons to fit into the Yaru style.
As Ubuntu 25.10 will feature two new desktop applications, Loupe (image viewer) and Ptyxis (terminal app), new icons have been designed for these programs. While Loupe’s icon remains similar to its predecessor for familiarity, it now includes a splash of color. On the other hand, Ptyxis has a distinct purple icon to differentiate it from the previous GNOME terminal.
Additionally, new icons for file types such as .toml and .csv have been added, while the icon for YAML files has been adjusted to be more versatile.
Earlier this year, the Yaru team worked on redesigning the trash icons for the Ubuntu dock, and this effort blossomed into a new trash icon that resembles a conventional bin. Other icons have also received updates, including those for GNOME Software, System Monitor, Firmware Updater, and GNOME Builder.
Besides interface icons, symbolic icons have been revamped across the system. This includes clearer representations for network status, an airplane mode indicator, and various states for battery charging.
Other improvements bring enhanced spinner cursors and adjustments to UI elements such as padding and border radius, further improving the consistency of the GNOME Shell environment.
The updated Yaru theme is currently being implemented in daily builds of Ubuntu 25.10 and is expected to be showcased in the upcoming beta release, which is set to launch in early October.
For more details on the Yaru theme, you can follow the development on GitHub.