{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "content": {
    "$type": "pub.lemma.blog.entry",
    "content": "# Get the macOS desktop layout in Linux\r\n\r\n![Alt text](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:5g2hkj2od4zr3tlpb2su364e/bafkreihkojkc7qyowykim32aceodwikw3qfiejs5z47knjpqzm6mdhbjou@jpeg \"Title\")\r\n\r\nIf you're moving from macOS to Linux you might want to keep a familiar workflow to stay productive and a big part of that is having everything in the same place that you're used to.\r\n\r\nYou want:\r\n- A centered dock at the bottom with\r\n  - File browser and app launcher\r\n  - Your open/pinned apps\r\n  - Downloads folder\r\n  - Trash can\r\n- A status bar at the top with\r\n  - The current app's menu on the left\r\n  - A system tray and clock on the right \r\n\r\nLuckily, the KDE Plasma desktop environment is extremely configurable and you probably know there are many themes to choose from, some of which are meant to look like macOS. However, installing them from System Settings doesn't mean they will work. \r\n\r\nThemes can be fragile and complicated. They often have prerequisites and dependencies for them to work properly so the author recommends using a theme manager. So you try to install this theme manager but if you don't want to compile it yourself you need to add a repository from a third-party developer platform except you can't because the service is down with time-out errors. So you decide to install the theme yourself and it *almost* works. Maybe the fonts get messed up when the windows have a certain size. Maybe Plasma crashes out of nowhere when you close an app. Maybe the theme worked on a previous Plasma version but not on the latest one. You get it, it's a nightmare.\r\n\r\n**But fear not. You can easily get the desktop layout you want** without changing the icons, cursors, styles, and all the things that can easily break with a full theme. You just need to replace the configuration file that contains the definitions for your **panels and widgets**.\r\n\r\nSave this file as `plasma-org.kde.plasma.desktop-appletsrc` and place it in ` ~/.config/` replacing the existing one. But first create a copy of the original as backup in case you want to go back to it.\r\n\r\n**Replace** `your_user` with your username.\r\n\r\n`~/.config/plasma-org.kde.plasma.desktop-appletsrc`\r\n```\r\n[ActionPlugins][0]\r\nMiddleButton;NoModifier=org.kde.paste\r\nRightButton;NoModifier=org.kde.contextmenu\r\n\r\n[ActionPlugins][1]\r\nRightButton;NoModifier=org.kde.contextmenu\r\n\r\n[Containments][391]\r\nItemGeometries-3413x1920=\r\nItemGeometriesHorizontal=\r\nactivityId=198f133b-6ebc-4041-98d0-2ae3424fe89c\r\nformfactor=0\r\nimmutability=1\r\nlastScreen=0\r\nlocation=0\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.folder\r\nwallpaperplugin=org.kde.image\r\n\r\n[Containments][391][ConfigDialog]\r\nDialogHeight=630\r\nDialogWidth=810\r\n\r\n[Containments][391][Wallpaper][org.kde.image][General]\r\nImage=file:///usr/share/wallpapers/KubuntuLight/\r\nSlidePaths=/home/your_user/.local/share/wallpapers/,/usr/share/wallpapers/\r\n\r\n[Containments][392]\r\nItemGeometries-2048x1280=\r\nItemGeometriesHorizontal=\r\nactivityId=198f133b-6ebc-4041-98d0-2ae3424fe89c\r\nformfactor=0\r\nimmutability=1\r\nlastScreen=1\r\nlocation=0\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.folder\r\nwallpaperplugin=org.kde.image\r\n\r\n[Containments][392][Wallpaper][org.kde.image][General]\r\nImage=file:///usr/share/wallpapers/KubuntuLight/\r\nSlidePaths=/home/your_user/.local/share/wallpapers/,/usr/share/wallpapers/\r\n\r\n[Containments][393]\r\nactivityId=\r\nformfactor=2\r\nimmutability=1\r\nlastScreen=0\r\nlocation=3\r\nplugin=org.kde.panel\r\nwallpaperplugin=org.kde.image\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][397]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.appmenu\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][398]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.panelspacer\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][399]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.marginsseparator\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400]\r\nactivityId=\r\nformfactor=0\r\nimmutability=1\r\nlastScreen=-1\r\nlocation=0\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.systemtray\r\npopupHeight=432\r\npopupWidth=432\r\nwallpaperplugin=org.kde.image\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][401]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.vault\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][402]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.kdeconnect\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][403]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.keyboardindicator\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][404]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.kscreen\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][405]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.clipboard\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][406]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.devicenotifier\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][407]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.weather\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][408]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.cameraindicator\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][409]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.volume\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][409][Configuration][General]\r\nmigrated=true\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][410]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.manage-inputmethod\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][411]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.keyboardlayout\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][412]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.networkmanagement\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][413]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.printmanager\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][414]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.notifications\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][418]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.brightness\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][419]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.battery\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][Applets][420]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.bluetooth\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][400][General]\r\nextraItems=org.kde.plasma.vault,org.kde.kupapplet,org.kde.kdeconnect,org.kde.plasma.keyboardindicator,org.kde.plasma.mediacontroller,org.kde.kscreen,org.kde.plasma.clipboard,org.kde.plasma.devicenotifier,org.kde.plasma.weather,org.kde.plasma.battery,org.kde.plasma.cameraindicator,org.kde.plasma.volume,org.kde.plasma.bluetooth,org.kde.plasma.manage-inputmethod,org.kde.plasma.brightness,org.kde.plasma.keyboardlayout,org.kde.plasma.networkmanagement,org.kde.plasma.printmanager,org.kde.plasma.notifications\r\nknownItems=org.kde.plasma.vault,org.kde.kupapplet,org.kde.kdeconnect,org.kde.plasma.keyboardindicator,org.kde.plasma.mediacontroller,org.kde.kscreen,org.kde.plasma.clipboard,org.kde.plasma.devicenotifier,org.kde.plasma.weather,org.kde.plasma.battery,org.kde.plasma.cameraindicator,org.kde.plasma.volume,org.kde.plasma.bluetooth,org.kde.plasma.manage-inputmethod,org.kde.plasma.brightness,org.kde.plasma.keyboardlayout,org.kde.plasma.networkmanagement,org.kde.plasma.printmanager,org.kde.plasma.notifications\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][415]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.marginsseparator\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][416]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.digitalclock\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][416][Configuration]\r\npopupHeight=400\r\npopupWidth=560\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][Applets][417]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.showdesktop\r\n\r\n[Containments][393][General]\r\nAppletOrder=397;398;399;400;415;416;417\r\n\r\n[Containments][447]\r\nactivityId=\r\nformfactor=2\r\nimmutability=1\r\nlastScreen=0\r\nlocation=4\r\nplugin=org.kde.panel\r\nwallpaperplugin=org.kde.image\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][448]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.kickerdash\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][448][Configuration][ConfigDialog]\r\nDialogHeight=630\r\nDialogWidth=810\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][448][Configuration][General]\r\ncustomButtonImage=org.kde.plasma.quicklaunch\r\nfavoritesPortedToKAstats=true\r\nuseCustomButtonImage=true\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][449]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.icontasks\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][449][Configuration][ConfigDialog]\r\nDialogHeight=630\r\nDialogWidth=810\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][449][Configuration][General]\r\nlaunchers=preferred://filemanager,applications:systemsettings.desktop,applications:org.kde.discover.desktop\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][450]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.trash\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][451]\r\nimmutability=1\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.marginsseparator\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][452]\r\nactivityId=\r\nformfactor=0\r\nimmutability=1\r\nlastScreen=-1\r\nlocation=0\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.folder\r\nwallpaperplugin=\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][452][Configuration]\r\nactivityId=\r\nformfactor=0\r\nimmutability=1\r\nlastScreen=-1\r\nlocation=0\r\nplugin=org.kde.plasma.folder\r\npopupHeight=419\r\npopupWidth=288\r\nwallpaperplugin=\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][452][Configuration][ConfigDialog]\r\nDialogHeight=630\r\nDialogWidth=810\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][Applets][452][Configuration][General]\r\nurl=file:///home/your_user/Downloads\r\n\r\n[Containments][447][General]\r\nAppletOrder=448;449;451;452;450\r\n\r\n[ScreenMapping]\r\nitemsOnDisabledScreens=\r\n\r\n```\r\n\r\nAll done! 🥳  \r\nYou may need to restart Plasma. Enjoy your new desktop!"
  },
  "path": "/3mkyw6gnmak2r",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-04T05:16:34.850Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:5g2hkj2od4zr3tlpb2su364e/site.standard.publication/3mmhg6ulmlszy",
  "title": "Get the macOS desktop layout in Linux",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-04T16:10:50.187Z"
}