lookandfeeltool

View documentation for the original command

$ tldr plasma-apply-lookandfeel

lookandfeeltool [options]
lookandfeeltool --list
lookandfeeltool --apply <theme-name>
lookandfeeltool --reset
lookandfeeltool --set-active <theme-id>

--version, -v
    Displays the version information of the lookandfeeltool utility.

--help, -h
    Displays a comprehensive help message, detailing command usage and available options.

--list
    Lists all currently installed and available global look and feel themes on the system.

--apply <theme-name>
    Applies the global look and feel theme specified by <theme-name>. The name must exactly match one of the themes listed by --list.

--reset
    Resets the KDE Plasma desktop's look and feel settings to the system's default global theme.

--set-active <theme-id>
    Applies the global look and feel theme specified by its internal <theme-id>. This option is an alternative to --apply and can be useful for themes with complex or non-standard names.

The lookandfeeltool command-line utility is an integral part of the KDE Plasma desktop environment, designed to manage and apply global "Look and Feel" themes. These comprehensive themes encapsulate various aspects of the desktop's visual presentation and user experience, including the Plasma theme, application style, color scheme, window decorations, icon theme, cursor theme, and font settings, often bundling wallpapers as well.

It provides a non-graphical interface for functionalities typically accessible through the "System Settings" application's "Look and Feel" module. This makes lookandfeeltool particularly valuable for scripting desktop configurations, automating theme deployment across multiple systems, or applying specific aesthetic setups without relying on the graphical user interface. Users can leverage this tool to list available themes, apply a chosen theme by name or ID, or revert the desktop to its default appearance. It's a key component for power users, theme developers, and system administrators who require programmatic control over the KDE Plasma desktop's aesthetics.

This command is specific to the KDE Plasma desktop environment and requires it to be installed and running. Changes applied typically affect the current user's session. It is not a universally available Linux command on non-KDE systems.

A global look and feel theme is typically a directory containing various configuration files and assets (e.g., metadata.desktop, colors/, icons/, plasmashell/, wallpapers/). These themes are usually stored in ~/.local/share/plasma/look-and-feel/ for user-installed themes, and /usr/share/plasma/look-and-feel/ for system-wide themes.

A single global theme bundles and applies settings for the Plasma theme, application style (e.g., GTK, Qt), color scheme, window decorations, icon theme, cursor theme, font settings, and often a default wallpaper, providing a cohesive desktop aesthetic.

This command is invaluable for scripting desktop setups, allowing system administrators to standardize desktop appearances across an organization, or for users to quickly switch between custom theme configurations without manual interaction via the GUI.

The lookandfeeltool emerged as part of the KDE Plasma desktop environment, specifically aligning with the development of KDE Plasma 5 (and earlier in KDE 4), to consolidate disparate appearance settings into a unified "global theme" concept. Its evolution has paralleled the graphical "Look and Feel" module in KDE's System Settings, providing a command-line counterpart for automation and advanced configuration. It has become a standard utility for KDE power users and administrators.

plasmashell(1), kwriteconfig5(1), kcmshell5(1)