dconf

Read or write GNOME configuration settings

TLDR

Print a specific key value

$ dconf read [/path/to/key]

Print a specific path sub-directories and sub-keys

$ dconf list [/path/to/directory/]

Write a specific key value

$ dconf write [/path/to/key] "[value]"

Reset a specific key value

$ dconf reset [/path/to/key]

Watch a specific key/directory for changes

$ dconf watch [/path/to/key|/path/to/directory/]

Dump a specific directory in INI file format

$ dconf dump [/path/to/directory/]

SYNOPSIS

dconf {read|write|reset|list|help} [OPTIONS...]

read KEY
    Reads the value of KEY.

write KEY VALUE
    Writes VALUE to KEY. VALUE must be in GVariant format.

reset KEY
    Resets KEY to its default value.

list [PATH]
    Lists the keys or subdirectories at PATH. Defaults to root if PATH is not specified.

help
    Displays help information.

--all
    Used with list to list all keys (including those which are not directly under the specified path but contained in subdirectories).

--verbose
    Show detailed information. (e.g. errors)

DESCRIPTION

dconf is a low-level configuration system.
It provides a centralized way to store and retrieve configuration settings, primarily used by the GNOME desktop environment and related applications.

dconf interacts with a hierarchical database, which can be accessed via a command-line tool or programmatically through libraries.
It is commonly used to set application preferences, system settings, and other configuration options.
dconf replaces GConf in newer GNOME versions.

While designed to be a backend, dconf commands allow users to read, write, and reset keys in the database from the command line. This makes it useful for scripting configuration changes and debugging issues.

CAVEATS

dconf directly manipulates the underlying configuration database. Incorrect usage can lead to application malfunctions or system instability. Understanding GVariant syntax is crucial for writing values.

GVARIANT FORMAT

When using dconf write, the VALUE must be a valid GVariant string. Examples: 's "hello"' (string), 'i 10' (integer), 'b true' (boolean), 'as ["item1", "item2"]' (string array).

EXAMPLE USAGE

To read the theme name:
dconf read /org/gnome/desktop/interface/gtk-theme

To set the theme name:
dconf write /org/gnome/desktop/interface/gtk-theme 's "Adwaita"'

To reset the theme name:
dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/interface/gtk-theme

HISTORY

dconf was created as a replacement for GConf in the GNOME desktop environment. It was designed to be faster and more efficient than GConf, while also offering a more flexible and extensible configuration system. It has been the primary configuration backend for GNOME since version 3.