Install the Paper GTK theme from your Linux distribution’s package repository when it is available, then select Paper in your desktop’s GTK theme settings. That avoids the old build-from-source instructions, which rely on an aging upstream project. Paper is a legacy theme for GTK 2 and GTK 3 applications; it does not restyle every part of a modern Linux desktop.
Paper is a flat, Material Design-influenced desktop theme. The maintainer’s Paper project page covers the companion icon set and says that project has been discontinued. Treat the GTK theme as a legacy component: prefer packages maintained by your distribution, and do not assume an old build guide reflects current upstream support. Package names and supported releases differ. Avoid adding an old third-party repository just to follow a dated tutorial, and do not assume a package exists in every Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, or Arch release.
Two current package indexes provide clear installation paths:
paper-gtk-theme (the page currently describes the x86 package as version 2.1.0-r3). Check the index for your Alpine branch and architecture before installing.On another distribution, search its official package repositories for paper-gtk-theme or gtk3-metatheme-paper. If the official repositories have no candidate, stop there rather than running the old git clone, ./autogen.sh, and sudo make install sequence: those commands do not establish that the source is still maintained or safe to build.
If your configured Alpine repositories list Paper for your release and architecture, run the commands as root:
apk update
apk add paper-gtk-themeThe package is listed in Alpine’s Edge community repository. Do not switch a stable Alpine system to Edge solely to get this theme; mixing branches can create broader dependency changes. Use the package that matches the repositories already configured on your machine.
On SLES 15 SP7, enable the SUSE Package Hub extension by following its official post-installation steps. Then refresh repository metadata and install the theme packages:
sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper install gtk3-metatheme-paper gtk2-metatheme-paper metatheme-paper-commonThe GTK 3 package covers GTK 3 applications. Keep the GTK 2 package only if you also want Paper applied to older GTK 2 applications; the shared package provides common theme files. SUSE Package Hub’s package page lists the releases and platforms that provide these packages, so check it before using the command on a different SLES version.
Installing the files does not automatically change the current user’s appearance. In GNOME, open Tweaks, choose Appearance, and set Legacy Applications to Paper. On Xfce, MATE, Cinnamon, or another GTK desktop, open that desktop’s appearance or theme panel and choose Paper in its GTK/application theme list. The exact label varies by desktop version.
On a GNOME session, you can also set the current user’s GTK theme from a terminal:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme 'Paper'That setting changes the current user’s preference; it does not install the theme files. To return to the desktop default, run:
gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-themePaper’s package names target GTK 2 and GTK 3. GTK 3 themes use CSS files in a theme-specific directory such as Paper/gtk-3.0/gtk.css, as explained in the GTK 3 theme documentation. GTK 4 applications, GNOME Shell, Qt programs, and web pages use different styling systems or their own settings, so they may keep their existing appearance. A theme not affecting those components does not necessarily mean installation failed.
gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme. It should return 'Paper' after you select it.For a system without a maintained package, choose a currently maintained GTK theme or use a vetted fork from a source you trust. Paper can still be installed where a distribution packages it. If a future GTK update breaks its appearance, check whether your distribution or a trusted fork maintains a fix instead of relying on the old Autotools instructions.
Capture Linux desktop audio in Audacity by routing its recording stream to your output device’s monitor source. Follow PulseAudio and PipeWire steps, export tips, and fixes for silent tracks.
Install Dropbox on Linux from the official package, sign in, sync a local folder, manage selective sync, and check status from the command line.
Install Inkscape from your Linux distribution’s repositories, the Ubuntu stable PPA, Snap, or Flathub, with current commands and notes for choosing a package source.
Use FSlint to scan selected Linux folders, review duplicate groups, and safely delete redundant files or learn when hard-link merging is appropriate.
Install SABnzbd on Ubuntu or Debian, or run it in Docker on another Linux host. Then open the web interface and configure your provider and download folders.
Install the Paper GTK theme from supported Linux repositories, enable it for GTK apps in GNOME Tweaks, and see what the legacy theme can and cannot change.
The old OpenMediaVault Plex plugin is archived. Set up Plex on OMV 8 with OMV-Extras, the Compose plugin, persistent storage, and Plex’s official container.
Clean and speed up Ubuntu with safe APT cleanup, storage checks, and startup controls that help free space and troubleshoot a sluggish desktop.
Install Hiri on Linux with its Snap package or official tarball, add a desktop launcher, and check supported accounts plus a warning about Hiri’s old Snap release.
Use Fastfetch and built-in Linux commands to check your distro, kernel, CPU, memory, graphics, storage, and connected devices, then save a clear report.
