Ubuntu: How to switch window controls to the left (Gnome Shell)? (11 solutions!)
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The Question: Is there a way to the switch gnome-shell window buttons to the left? I've
gotten so used to them being on the left that them being on the right has
thrown me way off.
(gnome shell has them defaulted to the right corner)
Solutions Sample (Please watch the whole video to see all solutions, in order of how many people found them helpful):
== This solution helped 31 people ==
For 10.10
The more simple way to do that is: Alt+F2 -＞ gconf-editor
Navigate to apps -＞ metacity -＞ general, and double click on the entry:
button_layout, then enter close,minimize,maximize:. You can also use spacer at
some point to add a space.
For 11.04 and 11.10
Alt+F2 -＞ gconf-editor
Navigate to desktop -＞ gnome -＞ shell -＞ windows, and double click on the entry:
button_layout, then enter close,minimize,maximize:. You can also use spacer at
some point to add a space.
== This solution helped 12 people ==
If you have installed http://ubuntu-tweak.com/, go to Window Manager and change
the Place from left to right or vice versa. This will change all windows'
Titlebar button layout, not only gnome shell.
[alt text]
== This solution helped 5 people ==
Do what hrhnick said, except use this command instead:
gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/shell/windows/button_layout -t String
minimize,maximize,close:" where "minimize,maximize,close:
Then hit Alt+F2 and type
gnome-shell --replace
and hit enter
== This solution helped 4 people ==
The workspace window view of gnome shell uses the same button layout as the
window manager (albeit only for the close button). (http://
bazaar.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-branches/ubuntu/oneiric/gnome-shell/oneiric/view/
1.1.25/js/ui/workspace.js#L462)
If you set your close window buttons to the left using gconf, the close button
on the window preview in workspace view will also display on the left.
Using gconf-editor, change /desktop/gnome/shell/windows/button_layout to
close,minimize,maximize: and re-login to see the change.
== This solution helped 3 people ==
This command should work: gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/general/
button_layout --type string "menu:minimize,maximize,close" (Assuming you want
to move them from left to right, which is what I interpreted from your
question...assuming move from left to left was a typo :-) ).
== This solution helped 21 people ==
If you're using Gnome Shell and you want the window buttons on the left, use
this command:
dconf write /org/gnome/shell/overrides/button-layout "'close,minimize,maximize:
'"
Then restart the shell if needed: press Alt+F2, type r and press Enter.
== This solution helped 70 people ==
For Ubuntu 12.04 and newer
You will need dconf-editor, which is part of the dconf-tools package. Install
it first:
https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applicati...
Start dconf-editor:
Alt+F2 -＞ dconf-editor
Go to org -＞ gnome -＞ shell -＞ overrides -＞ button layout. Change it to
close,minimize,maximize:
No need to restart the shell.
Note: This also changes the cancel button in the overlay mode.
For 13.10 and higher
As per a few users, it may require a shell restart. Thank you all for pointing
that out.
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