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Liam’s Desktop UX Brief: GNOME ships with a bare-bones Activities overview and no quick-access power menu. Kiwi Menu replaces the Activities button with a compact, macOS-inspired dropdown that puts session controls, recent files, and a Force Quit dialog one click away. I tested it on Ubuntu 26.04 with GNOME 50 and it completely changes how you interact with the top panel.
What Is Kiwi Menu and Why GNOME Users Need It
GNOME has always prioritized minimalism, but that philosophy comes with a tradeoff: there’s no built-in quick menu for power actions. If you want to restart, shut down, or force-quit a misbehaving app, you either dig into the system tray or memorize keyboard shortcuts. That gap is exactly what Kiwi Menu fills.
Why It Matters: GNOME’s minimalism is a design choice, not a missing feature. But every Linux user who switches from macOS misses the Apple menu. Kiwi Menu bridges that gap without requiring a desktop environment switch or a custom theme. If you’ve ever wished GNOME had a one-click restart button, this extension is why FOSSLinux exists.
Kiwi Menu is a GNOME Shell extension that replaces the Activities button in the top panel with a compact, macOS-style dropdown. It gives you one-click access to sleep, restart, shut down, lock, and log out. It shows your recent files with automatic section headers. It includes a Force Quit dialog that lists every running application with real-time CPU and memory usage. And it does all of this without bloating your desktop or conflicting with GNOME’s design language.
I’ve been running Kiwi Menu v1.6.4 on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (GNOME Shell 50.1) for the past week. The extension is actively maintained by Arnis Kemlers, with 54,000+ downloads on the GNOME Extensions website and three releases in the past seven days alone. This isn’t a stagnant project. It’s one of the fastest-evolving GNOME extensions I’ve tested this year.
Insight: Kiwi Menu reads ~/.local/share/recently-used.xbel for the Recent Items submenu and /etc/passwd to detect multiple user accounts. This is why the extension needs no background daemon. It hooks directly into GNOME Shell’s existing data sources, which means zero performance overhead and no privacy concerns. The extension never phones home, never caches data remotely, and never touches anything outside its own preferences schema.
The Kiwi Menu dropdown on Ubuntu 26.04 with GNOME 50. Clicking the kiwi bird icon in the top panel reveals macOS-style session controls, Recent Items, and a Force Quit shortcut.
Prerequisites for Installing Kiwi Menu
Before you install anything, verify your system meets the minimum requirements. Kiwi Menu supports GNOME Shell versions 45 through 50, which covers Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04, Fedora 40 through 44, Arch Linux with current GNOME packages, and most other distribution releases from the past two years. If you’re running anything older than GNOME 45, you’ll need to update first. If you are new to GNOME extensions, our guide to installing GNOME Shell extensions on Fedora covers the fundamentals that apply to any GNOME-based distribution.
Check your GNOME Shell version by opening a terminal and running:
fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ gnome-shell --version GNOME Shell 50.1
If the output shows GNOME Shell 45 or higher, you’re good to go. If it shows anything below 45, you’ll need to update your desktop environment before proceeding.
You also need one of two tools to install the extension: either the Extension Manager flatpak application, or the gnome-extensions command-line tool that ships with most GNOME-based distributions. I recommend Extension Manager for beginners because it provides a graphical interface for browsing and installing extensions. For this tutorial, I tested on a clean Ubuntu 26.04 LTS installation where neither tool was pre-installed, so I walk through setting up Extension Manager first.
Install Extension Manager on Ubuntu
Extension Manager is the modern replacement for the deprecated GNOME Tweaks extension installer. It is distributed as a flatpak through Flathub and works on any GNOME-based distribution. On Ubuntu 26.04, you need flatpak installed first. I verified this on a fresh VM with the following steps.
Install flatpak if it is not already present on your system:
fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y flatpak Hit:1 resolute InRelease Hit:2 resolute-updates InRelease Reading package lists... Done
Next, add the Flathub repository and install Extension Manager:
fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub \ fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ sudo flatpak install -y flathub org.gnome.Extensions Looking for matches. Required runtime for org.gnome.Extensions/x86_64/stable (runtime/org.gnome.Platform/x86_64/50) found in remote flathub Installing 1/4. 100% Installing 2/4. 100% Installing 3/4. 100% Installing 4/4. 100% Installation complete.
After installation, you can launch Extension Manager from your application grid or by running flatpak run org.gnome.Extensions from the terminal. The application provides a searchable catalog of every extension hosted on the GNOME Extensions website, including Kiwi Menu.
Install Kiwi Menu via Extension Manager
Open Extension Manager and search for “Kiwi Menu” in the search bar. You should see the extension listed with the kiwi bird icon, authored by Arnis Kemlers. Click the install button and confirm the installation when prompted. You can also install directly from the GNOME Extensions website if you have the browser extension installed.
Alternatively, if you prefer the command line, you can download the extension ZIP from the official GitHub repository and install it manually. I verified this method works on Ubuntu 26.04:
fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ cd /tmp && curl -sL -o kiwi-menu.zip \ ' fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ ls -la kiwi-menu.zip -rw-r--r-- 1 fosslinux fosslinux 156408 Jul 25 22:46 kiwi-menu.zip
The downloaded file should be approximately 156 KB. If you get a zero-byte file or a redirect page, your network or proxy may be blocking the GitHub download. Try using a different network or downloading the file on another machine and transferring it via USB.
Install the extension using the gnome-extensions CLI tool:
fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ gnome-extensions install kiwi-menu.zip fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ gnome-extensions list kiwimenu@kemma
The extension is now installed but not yet active. You need to enable it before it appears in your top panel.
Enable Kiwi Menu and Verify Installation
Enable the extension with the following command:
fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ gnome-extensions enable kiwimenu@kemma
After enabling, verify the extension is running by checking its status:
fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ gnome-extensions show kiwimenu@kemma Name: Kiwi Menu Version: 1.6.4 Enabled: Yes State: ACTIVE
The critical fields to check are “Enabled: Yes” and “State: ACTIVE”. If you see “State: ERROR” instead, the extension may conflict with another installed extension. Disable your other extensions one by one to identify the conflict.
You can also verify that the extension files are correctly installed in your local GNOME Shell extensions directory:
fosslinux@ubuntu:~$ ls ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/kiwimenu@kemma/ LICENSE app extension.js icons locale metadata.json prefs.css prefs.js schemas src stylesheet.css
The presence of metadata.json, extension.js, and stylesheet.css confirms the extension is properly installed. You should now see the Kiwi Menu icon (a small kiwi bird) in the top-left corner of your GNOME panel, replacing the default Activities button.
Extension Manager showing Kiwi Menu listed under User Extensions with the toggle switched on.
Pro Tip: If you installed Kiwi Menu via the command line, you can skip the Extension Manager entirely for future updates. Just download the latest ZIP from GitHub and run gnome-extensions install kiwi-menu.zip again. It overwrites the existing installation without removing your preferences. I update all my extensions this way because it is faster than opening the Extension Manager GUI.
Configure Kiwi Menu Settings
Kiwi Menu provides a full preferences dialog accessible through the Extension Manager or the gnome-extensions application. Open the preferences to customize the extension behavior.
The settings are organized into three groups: Menu, Panel, and Quick Settings.
Under the Menu group, you can change the panel icon from the default kiwi bird to any icon from the Material Symbols library. The App Store Command field lets you specify your distribution’s package manager GUI. On Ubuntu, the default is gnome-software. On Fedora, you might change it to gnome-software or dnfdragora. On Arch, pamac or octopi are common choices.
The Custom Menu Item feature lets you add one personalized entry to the dropdown. I configured mine to launch the terminal with a custom keyboard shortcut. You can set a label, command, icon, and keyboard shortcut for this entry through the preferences dialog.
Under the Panel group, you can hide the Activities button entirely (which Kiwi Menu already replaces) and toggle the visibility of system buttons. The Quick Settings group lets you hide the Lock Screen, Power, and Settings buttons from the GNOME quick settings panel if you prefer a cleaner look.
The Kiwi Menu preferences dialog with the Options tab active. The Menu Icon dropdown shows icon choices, and the Panel section provides toggles for hiding the Activities button and quick action buttons.
Set Up Keyboard Shortcuts
One of Kiwi Menu’s strongest features is its configurable keyboard shortcuts. By default, the Force Quit dialog is mapped to Alt+Super+Escape. Pressing this combination opens a macOS-style window that lists every running application with its current CPU and memory usage. You can select any application and force-quit it immediately.
I find this significantly faster than opening the GNOME System Monitor or using xkill. The Force Quit dialog gives you the same information as the System Monitor but in a focused, single-purpose window that does not clutter your workspace.
You can also enable macOS-style accelerator symbols in the preferences. When this option is active, keyboard shortcuts display using macOS notation (Command, Option, Control, Escape) instead of the standard GNOME notation (Super, Alt, Ctrl). This is purely cosmetic, but it reinforces the macOS aesthetic that Kiwi Menu is designed to evoke.
If you set up a custom menu item, you can assign a dedicated keyboard shortcut to it. I recommend choosing a combination that does not conflict with existing GNOME shortcuts. The preferences dialog includes a shortcut capture tool that detects conflicts automatically.
The Force Quit Applications dialog triggered by Alt+Super+Escape. Every running application is listed with real-time CPU and memory usage. Select an app and click Force Quit to terminate it.
Customize the Panel Appearance
Kiwi Menu replaces the Activities button with a compact icon, but you can take the visual cleanup further. In the preferences, enable the “Hide Activities Menu” option to remove the Activities label entirely. The Kiwi Menu icon becomes your sole entry point for the dropdown.
For a truly minimal panel, navigate to the Quick Settings section and toggle off the Lock Screen and Power buttons. This removes the default quick-action buttons from the system tray, leaving only the Kiwi Menu icon, the calendar, and the system indicators. The result is a clean, macOS-style top bar that does not scream “Linux” at every glance.
I tested this configuration on Ubuntu 26.04 with the default Yaru theme, and the visual result was clean. The Kiwi Menu icon blends naturally into the panel without looking out of place. For users running custom GTK themes, the icon adapts to the panel color scheme automatically because it uses the standard GNOME Shell panel icon styling.
Pair Kiwi Menu with Kiwi (is not Apple)
Kiwi Menu is part of a broader ecosystem of macOS-inspired GNOME extensions. The same developer, Arnis Kemlers, created a companion extension called “Kiwi (is not Apple)” that adds macOS-style window control buttons, Firefox and Thunderbird window theming, workspace behavior modifications, and panel blur effects.
While Kiwi Menu focuses on the session and power menu, Kiwi (is not Apple) transforms the entire window management experience. Together, they create a cohesive macOS-like workflow on GNOME without requiring a complete desktop environment switch.
Note that Kiwi (is not Apple) requires GNOME Shell 48 or higher, while Kiwi Menu works on GNOME 45 through 50. If you are running Ubuntu 24.04 (GNOME 46), you can use Kiwi Menu but not the companion extension. On Ubuntu 26.04 (GNOME 50), both extensions work together.
You can also pair Kiwi Menu with the popular blur-my-shell extension for a blurred panel effect that further enhances the macOS aesthetic. The combination of Kiwi Menu, Kiwi (is not Apple), and blur-my-shell gives GNOME a visual identity that rivals the polish of commercial desktop environments.
Kiwi Menu vs Other GNOME Quick Launchers
Kiwi Menu is not the only extension that modifies the GNOME top panel, but it occupies a unique niche. Here is how it compares to the most common alternatives.
ArcMenu is the most feature-rich application launcher for GNOME. It adds a full categorized app menu to the panel, similar to the Windows Start menu. However, ArcMenu is primarily an app launcher, not a session manager. It does not include the Force Quit dialog or the macOS-style power menu that Kiwi Menu provides. If you want quick access to your applications, ArcMenu is the better choice. If you want quick access to session controls and recent files, Kiwi Menu wins.
Dash to Dock transforms the GNOME Activities overview into a persistent dock, similar to the macOS Dock. It is excellent for application switching but does not provide the session management features that Kiwi Menu offers. We covered Dash to Dock setup in our Ubuntu guide. The two extensions serve different purposes and can even be used together.
The default GNOME Activities overview requires you to move your mouse to the top-left corner, click, and then navigate through the overview to find what you need. Kiwi Menu eliminates that friction entirely. One click on the panel icon gives you everything you need without leaving your current workspace.
Troubleshooting Kiwi Menu
Most Kiwi Menu issues fall into three categories: installation failures, extension conflicts, and display problems.
If the extension fails to install, verify that your GNOME Shell version is between 45 and 50. The gnome-extensions CLI tool will reject installations on unsupported versions. You can check with gnome-shell --version.
If Kiwi Menu shows “State: ERROR” after enabling, another extension is likely conflicting. Common offenders include Dash to Dock (when configured to hide the top panel), Custom Hot Corners, and older versions of AppIndicator. Disable your other extensions temporarily and re-enable them one at a time to identify the conflict.
If the Kiwi Menu icon does not appear in the panel after enabling, try logging out and back in. GNOME Shell loads extensions at login, and some extensions require a session restart to activate properly. You can also restart GNOME Shell on X11 by pressing Alt+F2, typing r, and pressing Enter. On Wayland, a full logout and login is required.
If the Force Quit dialog shows incorrect CPU or memory values, this is a known limitation of the GNOME process monitoring API. The values are sampled at the moment you open the dialog and do not update in real time. Close and reopen the dialog to refresh the data.
FAQ
Is Kiwi Menu free and open source?
Yes. Kiwi Menu is released under the GPL-3.0 license. The source code is available on GitHub at github.com/kem-a/kiwi-menu. You can audit the code, report issues, or contribute translations.
Does Kiwi Menu work on Wayland?
Yes. Kiwi Menu is a GNOME Shell extension and works on both X11 and Wayland sessions. On Ubuntu 26.04, which defaults to Wayland, I verified that all features including the Force Quit dialog and keyboard shortcuts work correctly.
Will Kiwi Menu slow down my desktop?
No. Kiwi Menu is a lightweight extension that adds minimal overhead. It does not run background processes or poll system resources. The Force Quit dialog reads process data only when you open it, not continuously.
Can I use Kiwi Menu on KDE Plasma?
No. Kiwi Menu is a GNOME Shell extension and only works with the GNOME desktop environment. KDE Plasma users should look at alternatives like Latte Dock or the default KDE application menu.
How do I uninstall Kiwi Menu?
Run gnome-extensions disable kiwimenu@kemma to deactivate it, then gnome-extensions uninstall kiwimenu@kemma to remove it completely. Alternatively, use Extension Manager to uninstall it through the graphical interface.
Does Kiwi Menu collect any data?
No. Kiwi Menu reads your ~/.local/share/recently-used.xbel file for the Recent Items submenu and /etc/passwd to detect multiple user accounts. It does not send any data externally, does not require network access, and does not create any remote connections.
Conclusion
Kiwi Menu solves a problem that GNOME has ignored for years: the lack of a quick-access session and power menu. After testing it on Ubuntu 26.04 with GNOME 50.1, I can confirm it works reliably, looks clean, and adds genuine productivity value. The Force Quit dialog alone is worth the installation. The Recent Items submenu and customizable keyboard shortcuts are bonuses that make the extension feel like a native part of the desktop.
If you are running GNOME 45 or higher, I recommend installing Kiwi Menu today. Pair it with Kiwi (is not Apple) and blur-my-shell for the complete macOS-inspired experience. The extension is free, open source, actively maintained, and backed by a developer who clearly understands what GNOME users want from their desktop.