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A window is a movable view of an application. Learning five window actions is enough for most everyday work; workspaces are an optional way to organize the result when the screen becomes crowded.
Open Files and Settings so you have two safe windows to practice with.
Read the window controls
Ubuntu’s default title bar includes buttons for minimizing, maximizing, and closing. Their appearance or position can change with the application and desktop settings.
- Close removes the current window. Save unfinished work first.
- Minimize hides the window without closing it. Its application remains running.
- Maximize expands the window to use most of the available screen.
- Restore returns a maximized window to its earlier size.
Double-clicking a title bar also commonly toggles maximize and restore. If an application uses a custom header, its controls may look slightly different.
Move and resize without losing the window
To move a normal-sized window, drag its title bar. To resize it, drag an edge or corner.
If an edge will not move, the window may be maximized. Restore it first.
You can also use the keyboard. Alt + F7 starts moving the focused window, and Alt + F8 starts resizing it. Use arrow keys, then press Enter to keep the new position or Esc to cancel.
Place two windows side by side
Drag one window against the left screen edge and another against the right. On the tested Ubuntu desktop, each can occupy one side of the screen.
The documented keyboard alternatives are Super + Left Arrow and Super + Right Arrow. Ubuntu may call this tiling or a split view.
This is useful when copying information between two applications. It is not a permanent layout; restore or drag a window away from the edge to return it to a normal size.
Switch instead of minimizing everything
Press Super + Tab to open the current Ubuntu application switcher. Keep holding Super, press Tab until the intended application is highlighted, then release Super.
Many desktop environments and customized Ubuntu systems use Alt + Tab for a similar action. If the key you expect does not work, open Settings → Keyboard → View and Customize Shortcuts and inspect the current Switch applications binding. Shortcuts can be changed.
You can always press Super once and select a visible window in the Activities overview. That method also helps when you cannot remember a shortcut.
What a workspace is
A workspace is another area for grouping windows. It acts like an additional desktop surface, not another user account and not another computer.
For example, you could keep a browser and notes on one workspace while Files and Settings stay on another. The applications continue running when you switch away.
Open the Activities overview. The workspace selector shows workspaces already in use and, on the current dynamic setup, an empty one. Drag a window onto the empty workspace to use it.
To switch with the keyboard, use Super + Page Up or Super + Page Down. Some systems also support Ctrl + Alt + the left or right arrow.
Find a window that appears to be missing
What you may see: an application marker says a program is running, but no window is on the current screen.
Why this happens: the window may be minimized, behind another window, or on another workspace.
What to do next:
- Select the application’s Dock icon.
- Press
Superand inspect the overview. - Look through the workspace selector.
- Use the switcher to cycle through running applications.
Do not force-stop the application until you have checked those locations.
Common mistakes
Treating minimize as close. A minimized application still uses resources and may continue playing audio or processing work.
Closing a document to tidy the screen. Use minimize or a workspace when you want to keep it open.
Opening repeated windows because the first is elsewhere. Check the overview and other workspaces before opening another copy.
Assuming a shortcut is universal. Ubuntu settings, keyboard layouts, and other desktop environments can change bindings. Verify the action in Keyboard settings.
Practice
Knowledge check
Choose the right way to organize these windows.
You need a browser and notes side by side, while a music application should stay out of the way. Explain which windows you would tile, and whether you would minimize the music window or place it on another workspace.
What to learn next
Continue to Ubuntu Quick Settings, Notifications, and Power Controls before using suspend, restart, or shutdown.