How to apply Mac like 'labels' on nautilus?

  1. Install the gnome-color-chooserInstall gnome-color-chooser package.

  2. Open GNOME Color Chooser and switch to the Desktop tab.

  3. Check beautify icon labels (needed for icon label settings!) and then set your label text and background colors:

    enter image description here

  4. Click Apply.

    enter image description here


Post GNOME 3.26 (Tentatively):

Nautilus may get this feature as of GNOME 3.26: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/07/tags-tab-restore-features-coming-to-nautilus

Prior to GNOME 3.26:

This is not possible with Nautilus, but if you use Pantheon Files, you can add colours to your folders.

To install Pantheon Files:

NB:

This will only work on supported versions of Ubuntu.
Check the PPA details for which releases are available.

GUI Method

  • Add this PPA: ppa:elementary-os/daily
  • Refresh your sources.
  • Install Pantheon-Files from the Software Center
  • Optionally you can add the Dropbox and/or Ubuntu One plugins.

CLI Method

Run the following commands:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:elementary-os/daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install pantheon-files

If you use Dropbox or Ubuntu One, you can install the appropriate plugins:

sudo apt-get install pantheon-files-plugin-dropbox
sudo apt-get install pantheon-files-ubuntuone

Screenshot:

Pantheon Files


There are 2 options which resemble Mac OS very closely, both designed from similar code

  1. Marlin (runs as application, keeping Nautilus as default)
  2. Pantheon Files (can easily replace Nautilus)

Color Labels Example

Update This is a duplicate question.

UPDATE 2 I tried both Marlin and Pantheon Files (from other Stack Exchange contribution, see below). It seems that Pantheon files makes it easier to switch over from Nautilus. I am using Ubuntu 12.04 LTS.

It is called Marlin File Browser

Installation of Marlin

Option 1: Marlin with Dropbox / Ubuntu One support

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:elementary-os/daily

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install marlin marlin-plugin-dropbox marlin-plugin-ubuntuone

Option 2: what I have tested without dropbox/ubuntu one support

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:marlin-devs/marlin-daily

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install marlin

According to the website, it is rather new and might have issue. Check out this article with some nice pictures showing how similar it is to Mac OS X file and folder color labeling.

Also, see this article for how to install it on Ubuntu 12.04 or 11.10 or on Linux Mint.

Installation of Pantheon File Browser:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:elementary-os/daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install pantheon-files

For Dropbox or Ubuntu One support, add the plugins:

sudo apt-get install pantheon-files-plugin-dropbox
sudo apt-get install pantheon-files-ubuntuone

Tags:

Nautilus

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