Those pesky windows buttons (maximise, minimise and close) default to the left of the menu bar after a new Ubuntu installations, and it’s been happening since 10.04. Most people, like myself, are stuck in our ways and just want them back where they belong. It’s pretty easy to do this, just open up a terminal (ctrl+alt+t) and copy in the following:
gconftool -s /apps/metacity/general/button_layout -t string menu:minimize,maximize,close
Once you hit enter, you should see the buttons return to their rightful place on the right, also in the right order.
27 replies on “Ubuntu 12.04 – Moving The Windows Buttons Back To The Right.”
This didn’t work for me. Menu buttons are still on the left.
This is absolutely brilliant – worked like a charm!
That worked, thanks! I’ve been looking for a shortcut to do this for ages now
It half-worked for me. Sometimes it’s on the right; sometimes it’s on the left.
Excelente solución.
worked for me, thanks! I guess it was help a newb day!
The instruction above looks wrong–there are some repeat sections in it. This worked properly for me:
gconftool -s /apps/metacity/general/button_layout -t string menu:minimize,maximize,close
Worked a dream on Ubuntu 12.04 thanks mate. :)
Ubuntu 12.04 no longer has gconf-editor and has moved to dconf for storing their registry info.
You can:
# sudo apt-get install gconf-editor
Then:
# gconf-editor
Then, change the key at this location in the tree menu:
/apps/metacity/general
To look like this:
:minimize,maximize,close
This command work instantly. thanks
This solution no longer works with any of my 12.04 installs. I did find dconf and dconf-tools though. If you apt-get both of these and then run dconf-tools you can find the button settings under the expanded menus at org.gnome.shell.overrides. Here you can change ‘:close’ to ‘close:’.
The correct menu with dconf is org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences. Actually both methods work for making this change. Just remember to hit ENTER. I made the mistake of not hitting “enter” while in the field and thats why nothing changed. Without this your settings will save but never update.
Worked like a charm! Thanks!
I wish they’d switch it back to be the default!
So simple (in 12.04 + Gnome Classic) and it works
Thanks !
Thank You! I’ve spent hours over the last month looking for this fix!!! Thank you! Thank you! I can now minimize my windows in peace.
I’m using gnome-panel on 12.04, and the following worked instantly from a terminal window – no need to sudo
gconftool -s /apps/metacity/general/button_layout -t string menu:minimize,maximize,close
Thanks!
Thank you!!!
Almost magic! Thanks! Those buttons on the left side are annoying, at least!
+1 for use of dconf
thankss a lottttttt
Worked on the 2nd attempt. be sure to sudo.
thanks
For those using Ubuntu 13.04, you should be using dconf-editor (pre-installed), and look under:
org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences
From there, you can change button-layout to :minimize,maximize,close
thank you very much
I just switched from Windows to Ubuntu 12 and quite helpless with this issue!
Your solution worked. Many thanks!
Exellent, radi super… Exellent work great!!!
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