How to Clone User Configuration and GNOME Extensions in Kali Linux (Debian-Based)

By hari, 21 February, 2025

If you've already set up a user with all configurations and GNOME extensions in Kali Linux and want to create a new user with the same setup, follow this step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Create a New User

To create a new user (newuser), run:

sudo adduser newuser

Set the password and fill in details when prompted.

Add the new user to necessary groups (check the groups of your existing user with groups olduser):

sudo usermod -aG sudo newuser

Step 2: Copy Configuration Files

To replicate the same environment, copy the configuration files from olduser to newuser:

sudo cp -r /home/olduser/.* /home/newuser/
sudo cp -r /home/olduser/.config /home/newuser/
sudo cp -r /home/olduser/.local /home/newuser/

Change ownership to the new user:

sudo chown -R newuser:newuser /home/newuser

Step 3: Copy GNOME Extensions and Settings

GNOME extensions and settings are stored in:

  • ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/
  • ~/.config/dconf/ (stores GNOME settings)

Copy them:

sudo cp -r /home/olduser/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions /home/newuser/.local/share/gnome-shell/
sudo cp -r /home/olduser/.config/dconf /home/newuser/.config/

Change ownership:

sudo chown -R newuser:newuser /home/newuser/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions
sudo chown -R newuser:newuser /home/newuser/.config/dconf

Alternatively, export GNOME settings from olduser:

sudo -u olduser dbus-launch gsettings list-recursively > gnome-settings-backup.txt

Import them for newuser:

sudo chown newuser:newuser gnome-settings-backup.txt
sudo -u newuser dbus-launch --exit-with-session bash -c 'while read -r schema key value; do gsettings set "$schema" "$key" "$value"; done < gnome-settings-backup.txt'

Step 4: Set Default Shell

If olduser used zsh, set it for newuser:

sudo chsh -s $(which zsh) newuser

Step 5: Test the New User

Switch to the new user and test:

su - newuser

Or log out and log in as newuser to verify.

Step 6: Restart GNOME Shell

If settings don’t apply immediately, restart GNOME Shell:

gnome-shell --replace &

Or reboot:

reboot

With these steps, your new user will have the same configurations and GNOME extensions as the old user. 🚀

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