Fans of the Papirus icon theme for Linux are in for a treat with the release of its first update in 2025. This significant update enhances the theme’s support for KDE Plasma 6 by including new icons for applications such as Konversation, KTorrent, and RedShift. Additionally, it introduces KDE and Plasma logo glyphs for ‘start menu’ alternatives and adds a variety of symbolic icons.
Retro gaming enthusiasts will find joy in the new mime type support featured in this update, accommodating icons for ROMs from consoles like ZX Spectrum, SEGA Dreamcast, SEGA Saturn, MSX, and Neo Geo Pocket. Furthermore, the update introduces colored file icons for different image types, allowing for easier visual distinction.
The update also brings a fresh batch of application icons, including:
- Bambu Studio
- BoxBuddy
- Ente Auth
- Firefox Dev Edition
- Gear Lever
- Ghostty
- GNOME Online Accounts (GTK)
- Helldivers 2 (Steam)
- Marknote
- Papers
- Ptyxis
- Seamly2D
- Sioyek
- TETR.IO
- Tuxedo Control Center
- Valent
- Zed
- Zen Browser
Moreover, new programming icons have been added for files related to:
- Excalidraw (PWA)
- Yuescript
- AsciiDoc
- Go, Vlang & Zig modfile
- F#
Several existing apps, files, and services also received updated icons, including subtle tweaks for the Clapper video player and a redesigned freeCAD icon to align with its new official logo.
This update continues Papirus‘ commitment to regular enhancements, which is a key aspect of its popularity among Linux desktop users. A consistent and well-maintained icon set reduces the visual clutter created by missing icons, and Papirus responds effectively to user requests, further broadening its comprehensive coverage.
To use Papirus Icons on Ubuntu, you can download the theme from GitHub. The project PPA provides pre-built packages for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and later distributions. After installation, you’ll need to activate the icon theme using the GNOME Tweaks tool in the Appearance > Icons section or through a dconf command.