Fix GNOME Extension Compatibility with Dconf Editor

TL;DR

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Some GNOME Shell extensions stop working after a GNOME update due to version checks.
You can bypass this by enabling disable-extension-version-validation using Dconf Editor.

Introduction

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Dconf Editor is a graphical viewer and editor for applications’ internal settings. It allows you to modify configuration options not exposed through the standard user interface.

While it’s a powerful tool, improper use might break certain applications or system behaviors — so use it cautiously and only when you understand what a setting does.

Dconf Editor interacts with settings via two layers:

• The GSettings API, part of the GLib library, used by most GNOME applications.
• The dconf backend library, which is the default backend for GSettings, also supporting older applications or specific use cases.

Steps to Fix Extension Compatibility

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1. Install Dconf Editor (if not already installed):

   Debian based (Debian, Ubuntu, … etc)

   sudo apt install dconf-editor
   

   RHEL based (RedHat, Fedora, … etc)

   sudo dnf install dconf-editor
   

2. Open Dconf Editor via the application menu.

3. Navigate to the key:

   /org/gnome/shell/disable-extension-version-validation
   

4. Enable disable-extension-version-validation by toggling it ON.

   

5. Restart GNOME Shell:

   • On Xorg: Press Alt + F2, type r, and press Enter.
   • On Wayland: Log out and log back in.

Notes

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• Bypassing version validation might cause compatibility issues or unstable behavior with extensions not intended for your GNOME version.
• Only use this method for trusted extensions you’ve tested.

References

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• GNOME Wiki – Dconf Editor
• GNOME Apps – Dconf Editor