If you’re running Hyprland on Arch Linux and want to improve your desktop aesthetics, installing a modern cursor theme is a great place to start. The Bibata Modern Ice cursor theme is sleek, professional, and pairs beautifully with modern desktop environments.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through two methods of installing Bibata Modern Ice: the manual method and using the graphical tool nwg-look.

What is Bibata Modern Ice?

Bibata is a popular cursor theme that offers several variants. The “Modern Ice” variant features a clean, light blue accent that looks fantastic on dark themes. It’s widely used in the Linux community and is the default cursor in many Hyprland configurations, including the popular ML4W dotfiles.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have:

• Arch Linux installed
• Hyprland up and running

Method 1: Manual Installation

This method gives you full control over the installation process.

Step 1: Download the Cursor Theme

First, download the latest release from the official repository:

wget https://github.com/ful1e5/Bibata_Cursor/releases/download/v2.0.7/Bibata-Modern-Ice.tar.xz

Step 2: Extract to Icons Directory

You can install the cursor theme either system-wide or for your user only.

For user-only installation (recommended):

mkdir -p ~/.local/share/icons
tar -xf Bibata-Modern-Ice.tar.xz -C ~/.local/share/icons/

For system-wide installation:

sudo tar -xf Bibata-Modern-Ice.tar.xz -C /usr/share/icons/

Step 3: Configure Hyprland

Edit your Hyprland configuration file:

nano ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf

Add or modify these environment variables:

env = XCURSOR_THEME,Bibata-Modern-Ice
env = XCURSOR_SIZE,24

You can adjust the size (24 is a good default, but try 32 or 36 if you have a high-DPI display).

Step 4: Configure GTK Applications

For GTK applications to use the new cursor, edit your GTK settings:

GTK 3:

nano ~/.config/gtk-3.0/settings.ini

Add or modify:

[Settings]
gtk-cursor-theme-name=Bibata-Modern-Ice
gtk-cursor-theme-size=24

GTK 4:

nano ~/.config/gtk-4.0/settings.ini

Add the same content as GTK 3.

Step 5: Apply Changes

Log out and log back in to see your new cursor theme in action!

Method 2: Using nwg-look (Easier)

nwg-look is a GTK settings editor designed specifically for Wayland compositors like Hyprland. It provides a graphical interface for changing themes, including cursors.

Step 1: Install nwg-look

nwg-look is available in the official Arch repositories:

sudo pacman -S nwg-look

Step 2: Install Bibata Cursors via AUR

Instead of manually downloading, use the AUR package:

yay -S bibata-cursor-theme-bin

This package includes all Bibata variants (Classic, Modern, Original, Ice, Amber).

Step 3: Launch nwg-look

Run the application:

nwg-look

Step 4: Select Your Cursor Theme

In the nwg-look interface:

1. Go to the Cursor tab
2. Find Bibata-Modern-Ice in the list
3. Select it
4. Adjust the cursor size if needed (24 is default)
5. Click Apply

Step 5: Configure Hyprland Environment Variables

Even when using nwg-look, you still need to set the Hyprland environment variables. Edit ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf:

env = XCURSOR_THEME,Bibata-Modern-Ice
env = XCURSOR_SIZE,24

Step 6: Apply Changes

Log out and log back in for the changes to take full effect.

Conclusion

Installing the Bibata Modern Ice cursor theme on Arch Linux with Hyprland is straightforward, whether you prefer the manual approach or a graphical tool like nwg-look. The end result is a polished, modern cursor that elevates your desktop experience.

My recommendation? Use nwg-look for convenience, but understand the manual process so you know what’s happening under the hood. Either way, don’t forget to log out and back in to see your changes!