How to Set Up ArcMenu in GNOME Shell

ArcMenu is a GNOME Shell extension that adds a configurable application menu with multiple layouts, built-in search, and quick links. To set it up, check that your GNOME Shell version is supported, install ArcMenu from the current GNOME Extensions listing, enable it in the GNOME Extensions app, and choose a layout that suits your panel.

Check GNOME Shell compatibility and GMenu

First, open Terminal and check your Shell version:

gnome-shell --version

Open the ArcMenu listing on GNOME Extensions and compare your version with the supported Shell versions shown in its Versions section. At the time of this update, the active 70.0 release lists GNOME Shell 45 through 51. If your system uses an older Shell release, check the listing for a compatible active version instead of forcing an incompatible build.

ArcMenu also requires the GMenu library. The extension listing names these packages for common distributions:

• Debian and Ubuntu: libgnome-menu-3-0 and gir1.2-gmenu-3.0.
• Fedora, Arch, and Manjaro: gnome-menus.
• openSUSE: libgnome-menu-3-0 and typelib-1_0-GMenu-3_0.

Install the packages for your distribution with its package manager. Debian or Ubuntu users can run sudo apt install libgnome-menu-3-0 gir1.2-gmenu-3.0. Do not install packages from another distribution’s list.

Install ArcMenu from GNOME Extensions

Install ArcMenu from the official GNOME Extensions listing. Website installation requires a browser add-on and a native connector. The current connector is gnome-browser-connector; older Ubuntu releases may use chrome-gnome-shell. See the GNOME integration guide for supported browsers and distro packages.

1. Open the ArcMenu listing, confirm that it supports your Shell version, and select its Install control.
2. If the browser asks to install or enable GNOME Shell integration, follow the GNOME guide for your browser and distribution. Install both the browser add-on and native connector, then reload the page.
3. When GNOME Shell displays an installation confirmation, review it and choose Install. Wait for the browser page to show that the extension is enabled.

Enable ArcMenu and open its settings

Open the GNOME Extensions app. Find ArcMenu in the installed list. If its switch is off, turn it on; select its settings button to configure the extension. The app is designed to enable or disable extensions and open their preferences.

In ArcMenu Settings, open Menu Layout and select one of the available layout previews. ArcMenu offers several menu styles, so the button location, category list, and shortcuts can differ between layouts. Start with the default layout, open ArcMenu to see how it fits your desktop, and then adjust appearance or pinned apps if needed.

Open the menu, search, and pin apps

After enabling the extension, look for its menu button on the GNOME panel and click it. The button’s icon and position depend on the desktop and any panel extensions you use, so it may not be the old “A” icon at the upper-left corner. Use the category list to browse applications or select the search field and type an app name. ArcMenu’s built-in search is useful when you do not remember which category contains a program.

To keep an application easy to reach, open All Applications, right-click the app, and choose Pin to ArcMenu when that action appears. Some layouts put pinned applications in their own section. If the context menu does not offer pinning, open ArcMenu Settings and manage the list on the Pinned Apps page instead.

Use folder and system shortcuts

Layouts that include a Places column can open common locations such as Home, Documents, and Downloads directly. Other layouts may show links to Settings or power options in a different area. If those shortcuts are missing, check the current layout and its settings rather than assuming ArcMenu failed to install.

Fix common setup problems

• The website has no working Install switch: install the browser add-on and native connector from GNOME’s integration guide, then restart the browser and revisit the listing.
• ArcMenu is listed but does not open: verify that its switch is on, check Shell compatibility, and install the GMenu packages named on the ArcMenu listing. Sign out and back in if the Shell does not refresh after installation.
• The menu looks different from a guide: ArcMenu has multiple layouts, and other panel extensions can move or replace menu buttons. Open ArcMenu Settings and check the selected layout and menu-button options.
• You cannot find an app-pinning command: switch to a layout that exposes app actions or manage pinned apps in ArcMenu Settings.

For version-specific help, use the ArcMenu project page and include your Linux distribution, GNOME Shell version, and ArcMenu version when reporting a problem.