Ubuntu 26.04 Replaces System Monitor and Totem with New Apps

posted by Rianne Schestowitz on Nov 27, 2025,
updated Dec 01, 2025

Quoting: Ubuntu 26.04 Replaces System Monitor and Totem with New Apps - OMG! Ubuntu —

Showtime is set supplant Totem as media player in Ubuntu 26.04’s expanded install, while Resources is to replace GNOME System Monitor as the default tool for process management and hardware usage monitoring.

This is the latest rejig to Ubuntu’s default desktop software set since the last long-term support release, following the addition of Papers (document viewer) in 25.04 and a switch to Ptyxis (terminal) and Loupe (image viewer) in 25.10.

According to Canonical’s Jean Baptiste Lallement, the swap is intended to provide “modern, consistent, and easy to use defaults that fit naturally into the rest of the desktop environment.”

Both new applications are built using GTK4/libadwaita, meaning they marry neatly with the rest of the Ubuntu desktop (well, better than their predecessors did).

Read on

Also:

• Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will throw out two old apps for more swanky alternatives - Neowin

  Canonical has announced that Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will switch out two longstanding applications with new picks. It said that the goal of the switch is to implement modern applications that are more consistent and easy to use, that fit in naturally with the rest of the desktop environment. The two applications being switched out are the Totem video player, which is being replaced by Showtime, and GNOME System Monitor, which is being replaced by Resources.

  Both of the new applications are built using GTK4 and libadwaita for seamless integration with the desktop. Showtime has an immersive user interface, and it's a GNOME Core App that is already replacing Totem upstream in GNOME 49. On the other hand, Resources is a community-made tool that is part of GNOME Circle. It is a simple but powerful monitor that displays hardware usage as well as listing and terminating graphical apps and processes. Canonical went with Resources over another alternative called Mission Center due to its superior accessibility support, making it a better fit for an LTS release.

More on these plans and a snapshot:

• Ubuntu 26.04 to Have Showtime Video Player & Resources System Monitor as Default

  The Ubuntu Desktop team announced the road-map for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS today, introducing two new default applications! As you may know, Ubuntu introduced some new default apps in recent releases, e.g., Security Center to manage snap app permissions, the container-focused Ptyxis terminal emulator, Papers document viewer, and Loupe image viewer.

• Ubuntu 26.04 Snapshot 1 is Available to Download

  The first Ubuntu 26.04 monthly snapshot is out, the first of 5 planned for the 'Resolute Raccoon' before next April's stable release. Fancy testing it? Details inside.

UbuntuHandbook:

• The First Snapshot of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Released! | UbuntuHandbook

  As you may know, Ubuntu 26.04 is the next Long Term Support (LTS) release with 5 years standard support until 2031, plus Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM) support until 2036, and security coverage (for paid customers) until 2041.

  Ubuntu 26.04 will use GNOME 50 as default desktop environment. According to Linux Kernel history release date, it will perhaps be powered by Kernel 6.20 (or 7.0).

How-To Geek:

• Ubuntu is replacing some legacy tools in 26.04 LTS

  Ubuntu is shaking up its default application lineup for the upcoming 26.04 Long Term Support (LTS) release. The developers will be swapping out the classic Totem video player and GNOME System Monitor for two new options called Showtime and Resources.

  Canonical’s Desktop team is moving applications toward a more modern, consistent look. Both new apps, Showtime and Resources, are built using GTK4 and libadwaita. This means they should integrate well and look far more consistent with the rest of the updated desktop environment. The older applications, while functional, definitely started showing their age when placed next to newer GNOME components.

  The team is also tracking the upstream GNOME cycle closely, so users can expect the latest improvements to land in GNOME 50. The video player swap is probably the least surprising move. Totem has been the default video player for Ubuntu since 2004.

And later:

• Ubuntu 26.04 LTS modernizes default applications

  Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will feature a revamped set of default applications. Canonical has confirmed that both the Totem video player and GNOME System Monitor will be replaced by more modern alternatives that better match the current GNOME environment.

  According to Canonical, the new versions of Ubuntu should form a more consistent and user-friendly whole, with applications that visually and functionally match the rest of the desktop platform.

  The switch means that Showtime will replace Totem, a media player already considered the upstream successor in GNOME 49. Showtime offers a more contemporary, immersive interface and uses GTK4 and libadwaita, which ensures uniform integration with other GNOME applications. Totem has been part of Ubuntu for years, but Canonical sees Showtime as a better fit for the average user in the upcoming LTS version.

Linuxiac:

• Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Roadmap Reveals GNOME 50, New Default Apps

  Ubuntu’s roadmap for the upcoming Ubuntu 26.04 LTS “Resolute Raccoon” (scheduled for release on April 23, 2026) has been published, revealing some interesting details.

  The release will ship with GNOME 50, which is scheduled to appear a month earlier on March 18. Two new default applications will be introduced: Showtime, replacing Totem as the video player, and Resources, replacing the current system monitor. Both are designed to provide a more modern and consistent GNOME-native experience.

  Wayland remains the default graphics session, and this cycle targets smoother performance and better reliability on a wider range of Nvidia hardware.