Export dconf settings by reading .config/dconf of another user

sancho.s ReinstateMonicaCellio

3/21/24, 5:18 PM

Is there a way to export dconf settings by reading some .config/dconf/ tree from another user (say, user2), instead of the current user1?

I have a problem whereby I cannot log into a Gnome session with user2, and I found the culprit is something in its .config/dconf/. Evidently, I cannot export settings for user2 since I cannot login (unless logging in via terminal and exporting ensures a proper result). To be able to login again, I apply the solution here whereby user2 homedir is backed up into user2bkp. Then to debug the problem, I mean to log in with user1, export all settings in /home/user2bkp/.config/dconf/, and try finding the culprit with a gradual incorporation of customizations and settings into the recreated /home/user2/.config/dconf/. (Note: It is very tedious since I have to continuously log out and log in).

In addition to this question, I would need to find out all settings that were changed from the default, but that's another issue.

The root problem is described in Gnome shell does not work with one user, but it works with a newly created one.

Related:

1 + 2

gnome

gsettings

dconf

steeldriver

3/21/24, 7:56 PM

You should be able to run `gsettings list-recursively` or `dconf dump /` as another user via `dbus-launch` - see for example [How to run gsettings for another user Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS](https://askubuntu.com/questions/1134453/how-to-run-gsettings-for-another-user-ubuntu-18-04-2-lts) or [How to fetch the proxy configuration of the root and other users with GSettings cmd](https://askubuntu.com/questions/1271830/how-to-fetch-the-proxy-configuration-of-the-root-and-other-users-with-gsettings)

sancho.s ReinstateMonicaCellio

3/22/24, 2:50 PM

@steeldriver - That is an exact answer for the question. But the question I posted did not represent exactly my objective (my bad!). Directory `/home/user2/.config/dconf/` would not correspond to any user, but it would be a backup from my (`user1`) broken state, prior to recreating a clean home dir for me. I guess the answers would then not apply. So I would rather post a separate question, instead of altering this one.

Score:1

Ubuntu

vanadium

3/22/24, 2:45 PM

You can switch the terminal to another user account using sudo, then export the dconf setting to a text file as indicated in the answer you referred to

+ 2

sancho.s ReinstateMonicaCellio

3/22/24, 2:52 PM

This is an exact answer for the question. But the question I posted did not represent exactly my objective (my bad!). Directory `/home/user2/.config/dconf/` would not correspond to any user, but it would be a backup from my (`user1`) broken state, prior to recreating a clean home dir for me. I guess the answers would then not apply. So I would rather post a separate question, instead of altering this one.

vanadium

3/23/24, 8:07 AM

Then indeed accept this answer and add a question for this specific case, Of course, it would not be difficult to add "user2" as an account and then apply this approach.

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EN: Export dconf settings by reading .config/dconf of another user

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