If you install Ubuntu Linux on a modern laptop, you will likely notice a frustrating quirk on the very first screen. When you arrive at the GNOME Display Manager (GDM3) login screen to select your user account, gently tapping the trackpad to click does absolutely nothing. You are forced to physically press down hard on the trackpad until it physically clicks to select your name and enter your password.
While “Tap to Click” is enabled by default once you actually log into the Ubuntu desktop, the GDM3 login screen runs as a completely separate, isolated system user (named gdm) for security reasons. The settings for this isolated user do not inherit your personal desktop preferences. You must use a terminal command to explicitly enable the tap-to-click feature for the login screen’s user account.
How to Enable Tap to Click on the Ubuntu Login Screen
You must execute a command that modifies the specific dconf database belonging to the GDM user.
- Log into your Ubuntu desktop normally.
- Open your Terminal application (Ctrl + Alt + T).
- Carefully copy and paste the following exact command:
sudo -u gdm dbus-launch gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.touchpad tap-to-click true - Press Enter. You will be prompted to enter your administrator (sudo) password. Type it and press Enter.
- The command will execute silently and return you to the prompt.
To verify the change, click the system menu in the top right corner, select Power Off / Log Out, and choose Log Out. When you return to the GDM3 login screen, you can now simply tap your trackpad lightly to select your user profile and focus the password field, matching the behavior you expect from your main desktop session.