How to Change htop Color Scheme on Ubuntu Linux

This article provides a quick guide on customizing the visual appearance of htop on Ubuntu. It covers accessing the built-in setup menu, selecting different color themes, and saving your preferences to make system monitoring easier on the eyes.

Install and Launch htop

If you have not installed htop yet, open your terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install htop

Once installed, launch the application by typing:

htop

Access the Setup Menu

While htop is running, press the F2 key on your keyboard. This opens the Setup configuration menu. You can also press Shift + S depending on your terminal configuration, but F2 is the default.

Navigate to Colors

Inside the Setup menu, use the arrow keys to navigate. Select the Colors option from the list on the left side and press Enter. This will open the color configuration screen.

Select a Color Scheme

You will see a list of available color schemes such as Default, Black Night, Black on White, and Light. Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight a scheme. The preview window at the top will update immediately to show how the new theme looks.

Save and Exit

Once you have selected your preferred color scheme, press F10 to save and exit the Setup menu. You will return to the main htop interface with your new colors applied. To quit htop completely, press F10 or q.

Manual Configuration File

For advanced users, color settings are stored in the configuration file located at ~/.config/htop/htoprc. You can edit this file directly with a text editor to fine-tune specific color codes, but using the built-in menu is recommended for most users.