First make a script gnome-terminal-cursor-shape.sh #!/bin/sh DEFAULTPROF=`dconf read /org/gnome/terminal/legacy/profiles:/default` DEFAULTPROF=`echo "$DEFAULTPROF" | sed -e "s/^'/:/" -e "s/'$//"` dconf write /org/gnome/terminal/legacy/profiles:/$DEFAULTPROF/cursor-shape "'$1'" Make it executable & put it in /usr/local/bin Next, add this to .vimrc if has("autocmd") au InsertEnter * \ if v:insertmode == 'i' | \ silent execute "!gnome-terminal-cursor-shape.sh ibeam" | \ elseif v:insertmode == 'r' | \ silent execute "!gnome-terminal-cursor-shape.sh underline" | \ endif au InsertLeave * silent execute "!gnome-terminal-cursor-shape.sh block" au VimLeave * silent execute "!gnome-terminal-cursor-shape.sh block" endif