With the feature freeze for Ubuntu 25.04 now in place, the Yaru design team is busy refining the visual elements of the operating system, including updates to the Yaru theme. This theme includes a modified GTK4/libadwaita stylesheet, a GNOME Shell theme, icon pack, and a selection of system sounds.
The design team has made subtle yet impactful changes to accommodate the new features introduced in GNOME 48. Notably, the previously oversized app icons have been resized to create a more visually consistent appearance, addressing an issue reported last month. Users will now see a variety of app icons that are proportionate, including squared, rectangular, and circular shapes.
Among the updates, the Sysprof utility will feature a new app icon that is better suited for desktop use compared to the old "stop watch" design. This new icon will adapt to the user’s accent colors, providing a cohesive look that enhances the overall user experience.
The updates also introduce Yaru-style symbolic icons for several applications, including the Snapshot camera app and the Text Editor. Users of GNOME Software and Ear Tag will benefit from redesigned icons that fit the Yaru aesthetic.
Additional improvements to the Yaru theme include:
- A new mimetype icon for Typst source files.
- Yaru-style icons for EarTag.
- A redesigned icon for GNOME Software.
- A refreshed power saving tab icon in Settings > Power.
- Fixes for missing characters on the onscreen keyboard.
- The removal of the Yaru spinner icon, which is now managed through CSS.
- Restoration of missing Nautilus emblems.
- Adjustments to icon styles, including a redesign of the library icon in Epiphany (GNOME Web).
These updates aim to ensure that Ubuntu 25.04 works seamlessly with GNOME 48, delivering new features while maintaining the distinctive Ubuntu look and feel. Users can expect to see these changes in the upcoming daily builds and the beta release scheduled for March 27th.
For more information, visit Ubuntu 25.04 and Yaru.