How do I add minimize / maximize buttons to GNOME shell windows?

Question

Just installed Ubuntu 12.04, then I did

sudo apt-get install gnome-shell

and windows have only a close button, how can I enable minimize / maximize? The old gconf-editor doesn't seem to work cause it has the three buttons in the config.

Answer 1

You need gnome tweak tool.

Click the Download button to install with Ubuntu Software Center:

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Or you can install in Terminal:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool

Then open Advanced Settings to change the minimize and maximize buttons.

Answer 2

Install dconf-editor:

sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
dconf-editor

Then navigate to:

org.gnome.shell.overrides >> button-layout

and set value to:

close,minimize,maximize: **OR** :maximize, minimize,close

Note that you might also perform this from console:

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.overrides button-layout close,minimize,maximize: 

Answer 3

I had the same problem where my Ubuntu 12.04 windows only showed the close button. I realize that it is possible to right click on the menu bar to get the missing minimize and maximize functionality but I wanted the buttons back.

I was going to install Ubuntu Tweak but found the "Advanced Settings" application. I just went to the "Shell" tab and set "Arrangement of buttons on the titlebar" from "Close Only" to "All". This restored the missing buttons onto my windows.

I hope this alternate solution helps people with the same problem.

Answer 4

Install ubuntu tweak.Open ubuntu tweak and go to Tweaks>Window and set "off" in Close button only . But I didn't like this type of solution though I'm sharing this solution.

Answer 5

As an alternative to the buttons, you can still minimize/maximize windows by right-clicking on their titlebar and selecting the appropriate entry from the menu.

Answer 6

In Gnome tweak tool --> click on Shell in left column and then in right column for Arrangement of buttons in title bar select "all", instead of"close only".

Answer 7

I found this page when I was looking for an answer to this question. Thought some people would appreciate this information.

Here is the terminal command for those that are two lazy to open a link. Just wanted to give credit to the original contributor of this information.

gconftool -s /apps/metacity/general/button_layout -t string menu:minimize,maximize,close 

Answer 8

The dconf-tool editor solutions described by vanlong441 and by Todd Partridge worked for me. The only thing to add is you can change the side of the buttons on the window by moving the : in the string, and change the order of the buttons by moving their names around. (Useful for personal preference and also pranking).

Answer 9

This is very simple guys, just type the following command in the terminal, it worked for me:

gsettings set  org.gnome.shell.overrides button-layout ':minimize,maximize,close'