How to Configure Custom Meters in htop on Ubuntu

This article provides a step-by-step method for customizing the system monitoring tool htop on Ubuntu. You will learn how to access the setup menu, select specific metrics, and arrange custom meters to display real-time data such as CPU usage, memory consumption, and network activity according to your preferences.

Install htop

If htop is not already installed on your Ubuntu system, open a terminal and run the following command to install it:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install htop

Launch htop

Start the application by typing the following command in your terminal:

htop

Access the Setup Menu

Once htop is running, press the F2 key on your keyboard. This opens the Setup menu where you can configure various aspects of the interface, including the meters displayed at the top of the screen.

Configure Custom Meters

Navigate to the “Meters” section using the arrow keys. You will see available meters on the left or bottom and active meters on the right or top columns.

1. Add a Meter: Highlight a metric from the available list and press Enter or F5 to add it to the active columns.
2. Remove a Meter: Highlight an active meter you wish to remove and press Delete or F6.
3. Move Meters: Use F5 and F6 to move meters between the left and right columns to organize your layout.
4. Change View: You can change the display mode of specific meters, such as switching from text to a graph or bar, by selecting the meter and pressing Enter until the desired view appears.

Save and Exit

After arranging your custom meters, press F10 or select “Done” to save your configuration and return to the main monitoring screen. Your changes will persist the next time you launch htop.