Score:0

Downgrade to GNOME 3.36 on Ubuntu 21.04

cn flag

I did an sudo apt-get dist-upgrade on my Ubuntu 20.04 LTS yesterday and so far I like what I'm seeing, but GNOME 3.38 broke most of my extensions and can't install GNOME Tweaks, so, I would like to downgrade to GNOME 3.36, anyway how?

Settings say that I'm running Ubuntu 21.04 with GNOME 3.38.5, Wayland.

As I can remember, it was running GNOME 3.36 with X11.

This is originally an Ubuntu Studio 20.04 LTS with XFCE, but i installed GNOME on it.

EDIT1: Output of ls -al ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions:

rose@cryptoazure:~$ ls -al ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions
total 300
drwxrwxr-x 75 rose rose 4096 jul 14 15:58 .
drwx------  4 rose rose 4096 jul 16 15:56 ..
drwxrwxrwx  5 root root 4096 jun 11 04:59 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 14 23:46 applications-overview-tooltip@RaphaelRochet
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 mai 17 04:04 app_view_columns@fawtytoo
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 jun 11 04:57 [email protected]
drwxrwxr-x  3 rose rose 4096 jul  8 10:08 bifocals@shiznatix
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 jun 11 06:14 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  6 root root 4096 abr 25 02:08 BigSurStatusArea@korpsvart
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 13 02:28 blur-me@nunchucks
drwxrwxr-x  3 rose rose 4096 jul  2 20:41 blur-my-shell@aunetx
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 mai  9 00:56 [email protected]
drwxrwxr-x  5 rose rose 4096 jun 30 11:08 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 mai 16 01:50 [email protected]
drwxrwxr-x  3 rose rose 4096 jul 14 15:58 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 16 01:48 [email protected]
drwxrwxr-x  4 rose rose 4096 jul  5 04:31 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 abr 25 02:12 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 10 17:25 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  5 root root 4096 mai 28 02:57 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  5 root root 4096 mai  2 14:25 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 jun 29 20:20 desktop-icons@csoriano
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 jun  5 22:23 desktopicons-neo@darkdemon
drwxrwxrwx  5 root root 4096 mai 16 01:49 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  5 root root 4096 abr 25 04:07 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 14 23:45 escape-overview@raelgc
drwxrwxr-x  3 rose rose 4096 jul  2 23:28 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  5 root root 4096 mai 13 02:17 floating-dock@[email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 abr 26 01:29 [email protected]
drwxrwxr-x  3 rose rose 4096 jun 30 11:08 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 16 01:44 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 15 00:00 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 14 23:51 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 27 01:44 [email protected]
drwxrwxr-x  3 rose rose 4096 jul 14 15:58 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 25 07:31 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  7 root root 4096 jun 30 09:17 just-perfection-desktop@just-perfection
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 nov  7  2018 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 12 01:05 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 jun 16 22:50 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 jun 22 17:06 Mock-Universal-Menu@zacharygough
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 10 17:29 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  8 root root 4096 abr 25 03:43 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 17 05:13 no-dash-and-search-in-overview@fthx-freeroot
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 abr 25 04:13 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 abr 25 04:12 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 abr 25 01:51 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 15 00:00 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  7 root root 4096 mai 15 00:02 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 15 01:23 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 mai 12 00:59 quickmenu@slippinggitty
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 15 00:20 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 abr 25 04:03 removeaccesibility@lomegor
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 17 05:04 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 abr 25 04:14 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 jun 11 04:57 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 14 23:39 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 14 22:45 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 jun 11 04:58 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  5 root root 4096 mai  9 22:28 shell-configurator@adeswanta
drwxrwxrwx  6 root root 4096 mai 10 17:30 [email protected]
drwxrwxr-x  2 rose rose 4096 jul  2 22:39 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  7 root root 4096 mai 15 00:16 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 abr 25 01:52 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 abr 25 04:04 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 16 01:47 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 jun 29 20:20 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 jun 29 20:20 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 mai 27 02:27 user-pics@comfy
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 abr 25 01:51 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root 4096 abr 25 04:04 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 abr 25 07:26 windowIsReady_Remover@[email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 mai 14 23:50 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  3 root root 4096 mai 17 05:06 [email protected]
drwxrwxrwx  4 root root 4096 jun 12 09:48 [email protected]
rose@cryptoazure:~$ 

For ls -al /usr/share/gnome-shell/extensions

rose@cryptoazure:~$ ls -al /usr/share/gnome-shell/extensions
total 20
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 4096 jul 14 22:23 .
drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 jul 14 22:13 ..
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 jul 14 22:23 [email protected]
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 jul 14 22:13 [email protected]
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 jul 14 22:13 [email protected]
rose@cryptoazure:~$ 

EDIT2: Output of sudo apt install gnome-tweak-tool:


rose@cryptoazure:~$ sudo apt install gnome-tweak-tool
[sudo] password for rose: 
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 gnome-shell-extension-prefs : Depends: gnome-shell (= 3.36.9-0ubuntu0.20.04.2) but 3.38.4-1ubuntu2 is to be installed
                               Depends: gnome-shell-common (= 3.36.9-0ubuntu0.20.04.2) but 3.38.4-1ubuntu2 is to be installed
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
rose@cryptoazure:~$ 

24601 avatar
in flag
Does this answer your question? [I have Ubuntu 20.10 with Gnome 3.38 but I want to return to Gnome 3.36](https://askubuntu.com/questions/1291219/i-have-ubuntu-20-10-with-gnome-3-38-but-i-want-to-return-to-gnome-3-36)
AZUREAS avatar
cn flag
@24601, output gives me some errors, making me unable to neither downgrade or upgrade any further.
FedKad avatar
cn flag
Please correct the heading of your question: Ubuntu version in the heading does not match the version in question body.
heynnema avatar
ru flag
Better to fix your problem with 3.38 than to downgrade. How did 3.38 break your extensions, and what happens when you try to install Tweaks? Edit your question and show me `ls -al ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions` and `ls -al /usr/share/gnome-shell/extensions`. Start comments to me with @heynnema or I'll miss them.
AZUREAS avatar
cn flag
@heynnema Added outputs of both commands in the post. And I prefer downgrading, as I'm more used to 3.36 But it's okay if it's not possible tho.
heynnema avatar
ru flag
@AZUREAS Holy sxxt! I've **never** seen a computer with as many gnome-shell extensions as you have. **No wonder that you're having trouble**. First, put 3.38 back on your system. Install Tweaks. **DISABLE ALL** extensions except the ones in /usr. Reboot. Your system should be stable now. Decide which extensions you **MUST** have, and enable them one at a time, noting if problems arise. Then **DELETE** the bulk of your non-necessary extensions.
AZUREAS avatar
cn flag
@heynnema How should I install Tweaks if an error prompts on?
heynnema avatar
ru flag
@AZUREAS Did you put gnome-shell 3.38 back on yet? Then try to install Tweaks. Otherwise, use the `Extensions` app or go to https://extensions.gnome.org/local/ to manage extensions.
heynnema avatar
ru flag
@AZUREAS If the above doesn't let you manage extensions, a real quick and dirty way is to temporarily rename the extensions folder and reboot. `mv ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions.HOLD`.
AZUREAS avatar
cn flag
@heynnema I'm still on 3.38, but I'm unable to install/manage extensions because of that error on my "EDIT2".
heynnema avatar
ru flag
@AZUREAS Have you tried to reinstall gnome-shell and gnome-shell-common? Have you tried renaming the extensions folder as per my last comment?
vanadium avatar
cn flag
Messy system : "This is originally an Ubuntu Studio 20.04 LTS with XFCE, but i installed GNOME on it.", 30 extensions .... Time for a fresh reinstall. Will cost you less time. Alternatively, remove all components, then download source code and compile. That is also a way to build your custom system.
karel avatar
sa flag
Does this answer your question? [Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages](https://askubuntu.com/questions/223237/unable-to-correct-problems-you-have-held-broken-packages)
AZUREAS avatar
cn flag
@vanadium I decided I'll do a fresh install again, I still will use Ubuntu Studio because I make music & I need some features Ubuntu Studio has, but I'll be more careful with extensions and random upgrade commands, but still, I'll leave this issue open in case someone needs help with a similar problem.
AZUREAS avatar
cn flag
@heynnema Tried both, re-installing gnome-shell broke even some more things, like some apps just vanishing and/or being unusable...I think it's time for a fresh install again.
AZUREAS avatar
cn flag
@vanadium Oh and by the way, I'll use normal Ubuntu 20.04, but I'll use [Ubuntu Studio Installer](https://ubuntustudio.org/ubuntu-studio-installer) on it.
heynnema avatar
ru flag
@AZUREAS Yes, start from scratch. Fresh reinstall. DON'T install so many gnome-shell extensions... only 5-6 extensions max please.
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