How to Set Up Cairo-Dock on a Linux Desktop

Cairo-Dock is a customizable Linux dock for launching and tracking applications. To set it up, install the package from your distribution, launch it in your current desktop session, adjust its position and applets, and enable startup at login. Package names and desktop compatibility vary, so use your distribution’s repositories and the current project instructions rather than old manual RPM downloads.

Choose a desktop session that supports Cairo-Dock

Cairo-Dock is easiest to integrate into an existing X11 desktop such as Xfce, MATE, or Cinnamon. The project’s bundled GNOME/Cairo-Dock session uses X11 and currently supports GNOME Session through version 49; newer GNOME sessions should start Cairo-Dock from the desktop you already use instead of selecting that bundled session. Wayland support depends on the compositor: upstream documents support for compositors such as Wayfire, KWin, Labwc, and COSMIC, but not GNOME Shell/Mutter. Check the Wayland notes from Cairo-Dock if your session uses Wayland.

If your desktop already has a dock or panel, decide whether you want both. You can hide or remove redundant launchers later, but running two docks at the same screen edge may make them overlap.

Install Cairo-Dock from your distribution

Use a terminal and choose the command for your Linux distribution. These commands install the packaged stable build; the version available may differ from the newest upstream release.

Ubuntu and Debian

sudo apt update
sudo apt install cairo-dock cairo-dock-plug-ins

On Ubuntu, the package is in the Universe repository. If APT cannot find it, enable Universe in Software & Updates, or run sudo add-apt-repository universe, then run sudo apt update again. Debian lists Cairo-Dock and the plug-in metapackage in its package archive. See the Ubuntu package record or Debian package record.

Fedora and Arch Linux

# Fedora
sudo dnf install cairo-dock

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -Syu cairo-dock

Fedora provides a Cairo-Dock metapackage. On Arch, some applet dependencies are optional; install only the extras you need. Consult the Fedora package page and ArchWiki’s Cairo-Dock page for current package details.

openSUSE

Package availability is release-specific. Search for Cairo-Dock on openSUSE’s software page and follow instructions only for your exact openSUSE release. Avoid installing a downloaded RPM built for a different release.

Launch the dock and adjust its position

After installation, open Cairo-Dock from your applications menu, usually under a system-tools category. You can also start it from a terminal with cairo-dock. It should appear along a screen edge with a default set of launchers and applets.

Right-click an empty area of the dock and open Cairo-Dock > Configure. In the configuration window, select a screen edge and set an icon size that fits your display. Try auto-hide if the dock covers windows; turn it off if you want the dock visible all the time. Changes can be adjusted again later, so start with a simple bottom-edge layout.

Choose applets and add your favorite apps

Open the Applets section in the configuration window to see available dock components. Enable only the ones you will use—for example, a clock, trash, workspace switcher, or system monitor. Applets and their dependencies vary by distribution; if an item is missing, check whether your package manager offers an additional Cairo-Dock plug-in package.

To pin an application, open the applications menu and drag its icon onto the dock. If the app is already running, right-click its dock icon and choose the option to make it a launcher. To remove an unwanted launcher or applet, right-click it and select its remove action. This changes the dock layout, not the application installed on your computer.

Start Cairo-Dock automatically when you log in

Once the dock looks right, enable its own startup option: right-click Cairo-Dock, open the Cairo-Dock submenu, and select Launch Cairo-Dock on startup. The project says this creates an XDG autostart entry under your home directory and works with many, though not all, desktop environments. If that menu item is unavailable, add cairo-dock through your desktop’s session or autostart settings; the exact menu differs between Xfce, KDE Plasma, MATE, and other desktops.

Recent upstream builds also provide a user systemd service, but it starts the dock in every graphical session managed by systemd. Use that only if it matches your setup, and avoid enabling more than one autostart method or you may get duplicate docks. The Cairo-Dock running guide lists the desktop-specific options and how to disable its service.

Fix common setup problems

• The dock is missing: Move the pointer to its screen edge in case auto-hide is enabled. Check whether it is hidden behind a full-screen window, then launch cairo-dock from a terminal to see startup errors.
• Apps do not appear as expected: Remove the launcher and drag the application into the dock again. If its icon is still wrong, edit the launcher and choose an icon file.
• You use GNOME on Wayland: Cairo-Dock does not currently support GNOME Shell/Mutter’s Wayland session. Use a compatible desktop/compositor or another session supported by your system.
• Two docks start at login: Keep only one startup entry. Check both Cairo-Dock’s menu option and your desktop’s autostart list.

For other issues, see the project’s Cairo-Dock troubleshooting guide. Once its position, launchers, applets, and startup behavior match your desktop, the basic setup is complete.