How to Enable or Disable Animations in Ubuntu

Turn on or off desktop animations on Ubuntu Linux

You can disable animations in Ubuntu from the main Settings app ⚙️, using the accessibility options. Turning off these visual effects makes older computers feel faster and more responsive. Keeping them on makes windows fade and slide smoothly as you open and close them.

Any user can do it. You don’t need an administrator password.

Open the Settings ⚙️ app and find the animation switch in the Accessibility section:

1. Open the Settings app from the Activities overview or the application menu.
2. Look at the menu on the left side of the Settings ⚙️ window. You may need to scroll down to see every entry.
3. Click Accessibility. The panel on the right now shows the accessibility options.
4. Find the Seeing section. In current Ubuntu releases, the “Enable Animations” toggle is in this section.

The exact layout can differ slightly between Ubuntu releases. If you don’t see the toggle right away, scroll the Accessibility panel or open the Seeing section. Newer releases may also word the label a little differently.

Now set the animation switch the way you want it:

1. Find the switch labeled Enable Animations.
2. Turn the switch On if you want the visual effects, such as windows fading and sliding.
3. Turn the switch Off if you want to remove them for a faster feel.
4. Open a window, then close or minimize it. With animations off, it should appear and disappear instantly instead of fading or sliding.

The change applies immediately, so you can close Settings when you're done. To undo it, go back to the same place and flip the switch the other way.

Advanced: Managing specific animations

The Settings switch is all or nothing. If you want finer control, you can manage specific animations in Ubuntu by installing the Extensions app or by using dconf-editor. These tools let you turn off individual visual effects, such as workspace switching fades or window minimizing transitions, without disabling every animation on your desktop.

The Extensions app manages GNOME Shell extensions, which are small add-ons that change how the desktop looks and behaves. Install it from the Ubuntu software center, or from your package manager. Which animation changes you can make depends on the extensions you install, so check what each one does before you turn it on.

For power users, the dconf-editor %%LNK1%% tool offers deep control. It is a graphical editor for the settings database that GNOME uses. Install it from the Ubuntu software center first. Then navigate to the GNOME interface settings to adjust individual animation speeds or behaviors.

Before you change a value, write down its original setting. That way you can put it back if something looks wrong. If you are unsure about a setting, leave it alone and use the simple Enable Animations switch instead.

Conclusion

Changing your animation settings is a simple way to make Ubuntu feel exactly how you want it, whether you prefer a flashy desktop or a faster, no-frills interface. Start with the Enable Animations switch in Settings. Only move on to extensions or dconf-editor if you need to adjust individual effects.