ghostty default terminal on ubuntu

replace gnome-terminal with ghostty as the system default terminal emulator on ubuntu.

overview

ubuntu’s gnome desktop uses gnome-terminal as the default terminal emulator. replacing it with ghostty requires updating gnome’s default application settings and optionally configuring system-wide alternatives for complete integration.

this guide covers:

• gnome settings configuration for desktop integration
• system alternatives setup for command-line tools
• verification methods to confirm the change
• troubleshooting common issues

prerequisites

ensure ghostty is installed and accessible:

which ghostty

if not installed, follow the ubuntu build guide or install from official packages.

gnome desktop integration

update default terminal setting

the primary method uses gnome’s gsettings to configure the default terminal:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.default-applications.terminal exec 'ghostty'

this setting controls:

• ctrl+alt+t keyboard shortcut
• terminal launches from gnome shell activities
• application requests for terminal emulator
• right-click “open in terminal” from file manager

verify the change

confirm the setting was applied:

gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.default-applications.terminal exec

expected output: 'ghostty'

system alternatives (optional)

for complete system integration, update the alternatives system:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/x-terminal-emulator x-terminal-emulator /usr/local/bin/ghostty 50

this ensures:

• command-line tools that call x-terminal-emulator use ghostty
• system scripts request the correct terminal
• distribution packages integrate properly

check current alternatives

view available terminal emulators:

update-alternatives --display x-terminal-emulator

set ghostty as preferred

if multiple terminals are installed:

sudo update-alternatives --config x-terminal-emulator

select ghostty from the interactive menu.

immediate effects

changes take effect immediately:

• ctrl+alt+t opens ghostty
• gnome shell search launches ghostty for terminal queries
• file manager uses ghostty for “open in terminal”
• desktop shortcuts requesting terminal use ghostty

no logout or restart required.

verification methods

keyboard shortcut test

press ctrl+alt+t - ghostty should open instead of gnome-terminal.

application integration test

open file manager (nautilus), right-click a folder, select “open in terminal” - ghostty should launch.

command-line test

from an existing terminal:

x-terminal-emulator --version 2>/dev/null || echo "using default terminal"

settings verification

check both settings:

# gnome setting
gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.default-applications.terminal exec

# system alternatives
update-alternatives --display x-terminal-emulator

reverting changes

restore gnome-terminal

revert to the original terminal:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.default-applications.terminal exec 'gnome-terminal'

remove system alternatives

remove ghostty from alternatives (if added):

sudo update-alternatives --remove x-terminal-emulator /usr/local/bin/ghostty

troubleshooting

ghostty not found

if ghostty installation path differs:

# find ghostty location
which ghostty

# update setting with correct path
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.default-applications.terminal exec '/full/path/to/ghostty'

keyboard shortcut not working

check if custom keybindings override the default:

gsettings list-recursively | grep -i terminal

reset terminal shortcut:

gsettings reset org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys terminal

applications still use gnome-terminal

some applications hardcode gnome-terminal. check if they support:

• x-terminal-emulator (standard alternative)
• $TERMINAL environment variable
• configuration options for custom terminal

file manager integration issues

ensure nautilus uses system defaults:

# reset file manager settings
gsettings reset org.gnome.nautilus.preferences default-terminal

wayland vs x11 considerations

ghostty works on both wayland and x11. if experiencing issues:

# check current session
echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

# force specific backend if needed
GDK_BACKEND=wayland ghostty
GDK_BACKEND=x11 ghostty

advanced configuration

per-user vs system-wide

the gsettings method affects only the current user. for system-wide defaults:

# create system schema override
sudo mkdir -p /etc/dconf/db/local.d
sudo tee /etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-terminal <<EOF
[org/gnome/desktop/default-applications/terminal]
exec='ghostty'
EOF

# update system database
sudo dconf update

environment variable method

set terminal preference via environment:

# in ~/.bashrc or ~/.profile
export TERMINAL=ghostty

# for current session
export TERMINAL=ghostty

desktop file integration

ensure ghostty has proper desktop integration:

# verify desktop file exists
ls -la /usr/share/applications/*ghostty* ~/.local/share/applications/*ghostty*

# update desktop database
update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications/

related configuration

after setting ghostty as default:

1. customize ghostty using the configuration guide
2. optimize performance with gtk single-instance mode
3. configure themes for better integration with gnome
4. set up keybindings that complement gnome shortcuts

resources

• ghostty configuration guide
• ghostty ubuntu build guide
• gnome desktop applications documentation
• update-alternatives documentation
• gsettings documentation

next steps

1. verify ghostty is your default terminal with ctrl+alt+t
2. customize ghostty configuration for optimal experience
3. test integration with file manager and other applications
4. optimize ghostty settings for your workflow
5. explore advanced features like splits and shell integration