Table of Contents
Why Workspaces and Window Management Matter
Workspaces and window management help you stay organized when many applications are open. Instead of piling all windows on one screen, you can:
- Group related tasks on different “desktops” (workspaces)
- Quickly move between tasks without minimizing everything
- Control where and how windows appear
Most Linux desktop environments (GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, etc.) offer similar concepts, but the exact shortcuts and visuals differ. This chapter focuses on the shared ideas and common patterns.
Core Concepts
Workspaces (Virtual Desktops)
A workspace (often called “virtual desktop”) is like having multiple screens stacked side by side, even if you have only one physical monitor.
Typical uses:
- Workspace 1: Web browser, notes
- Workspace 2: Code editor, terminal
- Workspace 3: Email, chat
Key actions you’ll typically have:
- Switch to another workspace
- Move a window to another workspace
- Open new windows directly on a chosen workspace
On many systems:
- You can add/remove workspaces dynamically.
- Workspaces may be shown in an “overview” or “pager” on a panel.
Windows and Their States
Windows can have different “states” that affect how they behave:
- Normal (tiled or floating)
- Maximized (fills the screen, but title bar visible)
- Minimized (hidden from the desktop, accessible from taskbar/dock)
- Fullscreen (completely fills the screen, no title bar, often video/games)
- Tiled (arranged to share space with others in a neat grid)
You’ll generally manage states through:
- Title bar buttons
- Right-click menus
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Drag-and-drop actions
Common Window Operations
These operations exist in every major desktop, though exact shortcuts differ.
Moving and Resizing Windows
Basic actions:
- Move: Drag the title bar with the mouse.
- Resize: Drag from an edge or corner.
Common keyboard-related behaviors (may require pressing a modifier like Alt or Super):
- Hold a modifier and drag a window to move it without grabbing the title bar.
- Hold a modifier and drag an edge/corner to resize.
Check your environment’s “Keyboard” or “Window Management” settings to see the exact combination.
Minimize, Maximize, Close
These are usually represented by three buttons on the title bar:
- Minimize: hides the window from the desktop, keeps it running
- Maximize / Restore: toggles full-size window on the current monitor
- Close: exits the application window (sometimes quits the app entirely)
On some desktops, you can:
- Double-click the title bar to toggle maximize/restore.
- Middle-click or right-click the title bar for additional options.
Fullscreen Mode
Fullscreen mode is often controlled by the application, especially for:
- Web browsers
- Video players
- Games
- Presentations
Commonly toggled with:
F11in browsers and many apps- A fullscreen button within the app’s interface
Fullscreen hides most desktop elements (panels, title bars) and focuses on one window.
Using Workspaces Effectively
Viewing and Switching Workspaces
There are two main ways to move between workspaces:
1. Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Typical patterns:
- Switch to the next workspace:
Ctrl+Alt+Right(or similar) - Switch to the previous workspace:
Ctrl+Alt+Left - Switch to workspace 1, 2, 3, …:
Ctrl+Alt+ number keys, orSuper+ number keys (varies by environment)
Actual combinations are desktop-specific; look under “Keyboard” → “Shortcuts” → “Navigation” or “Workspaces” in system settings.
2. Using the Mouse
Common approaches:
- Overview mode: A gesture, hot corner, or key (often the
Super/Windows key) shows all windows and workspaces. - Workspace switcher / pager: A panel widget showing mini-previews; click another workspace to switch.
- Touchpad gestures (in some desktops): Three- or four-finger swipe to move between workspaces or open the overview.
Moving Windows Between Workspaces
To keep related tasks grouped, you’ll often move windows between workspaces:
Typical methods:
- Drag and drop the window in the overview view from one workspace to another.
- Right-click the window’s title bar → “Move to Workspace X” or “Move to Another Workspace”.
- Use a keyboard shortcut like:
- Move window to next workspace
- Move window to previous workspace
Many desktops also let you:
- Keep a window on all workspaces (useful for music players, sticky notes, or system monitors).
This option is often labeled “Always on Visible Workspace” or “Show on All Desktops”.
Arranging Workspaces by Activity
Some simple organization ideas:
- Work vs Personal:
- Workspace 1: Work browser tabs, office documents
- Workspace 2: Terminals, IDE/code editor
- Workspace 3: Personal browsing, email, chats
- By project:
- Workspace 1: Project A (editor + terminals)
- Workspace 2: Project B
- Workspace 3: Documentation and references
- By app type:
- Workspace 1: Communication (email, chat)
- Workspace 2: Media (music, video)
- Workspace 3: Miscellaneous / experiments
Start simple; two or three workspaces are usually enough for beginners.
Tiling, Snapping, and Side-by-Side Layouts
Even without a full tiling window manager, modern desktops provide:
Edge Snapping
Typically:
- Drag a window to the left edge → it snaps to the left half of the screen.
- Drag to the right edge → right half of the screen.
- Drag to the top edge → maximizes the window.
- Drag to a corner → snaps to that quarter (in some environments).
This is handy for:
- Comparing two documents side by side
- Having a browser on one side and editor/terminal on the other
Often there are keyboard shortcuts mirroring these actions (e.g., Super + Left to snap left).
Tiling-Like Behavior
Some desktops have more advanced “tiling” features:
- Automatic placement of new windows alongside existing ones
- Built-in layouts (split screen, 3-column layouts, etc.)
- Keyboard-driven tiling (move windows to “tiles” with shortcuts)
These are a middle ground between traditional floating windows and full tiling window managers. Explore your desktop’s “Window Management” or “Tiling” settings to see what’s available.
Multi-Monitor and Workspaces
If you have more than one physical monitor, understand how workspaces interact with them. Common modes:
- Per-monitor workspaces: Each monitor has its own set of workspaces.
- Shared workspaces: All monitors change together when you switch workspace.
In your display settings, you’ll usually find options to:
- Choose the primary display (where panels, main menu, etc. live).
- Configure how workspaces behave across monitors (if the desktop supports it).
Window management still works the same:
- Drag windows between monitors.
- Snap and tile on each monitor.
- Move windows between workspaces and/or displays as needed.
Customizing Window and Workspace Behavior
Most desktops provide a dedicated configuration area for these features. Look for sections named:
- “Windows”
- “Window Management”
- “Workspaces”
- “Navigation”
- “Keyboard Shortcuts”
Common things you can customize:
- Number of workspaces (fixed number, or dynamic)
- Keyboard shortcuts for:
- Switching workspaces
- Moving windows between workspaces
- Tiling/snap actions
- Focus behavior (e.g., click-to-focus vs focus-follows-mouse)
- Whether windows should show on all workspaces
If you find yourself repeating the same actions often (like snapping windows or switching to a specific workspace), it’s worth learning or adjusting the shortcuts so they’re comfortable.
Practical Exercise Ideas
To build habits:
- Create a basic layout
- Put a browser on workspace 1.
- Put your editor or document viewer on workspace 2.
- Put a terminal or chat app on workspace 3.
- Practice switching
- Use keyboard shortcuts to move between workspaces several times.
- Try the overview mode and click between them.
- Move windows
- Move a window from workspace 1 to 2 using:
- Drag-and-drop in the overview, and
- Right-click on the title bar → “Move to workspace…”.
- Use snapping
- On one workspace, snap a browser to the left and a document/terminal to the right.
- Practice rearranging them with mouse and keyboard shortcuts.
After a short time, this will feel natural, and you’ll be able to manage many applications without your desktop feeling cluttered.