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I would like to maximize windows vertically by double clicking on the horizontal boarder like in Windows. Is there a way to get this behavior in Gnome Shell?

Thanks in Advance

Edit: I forgot to mention that I mean double click.

Like in this Video

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  • I am unsure what you mean, but: Double-clicking the top window bar in Gnome will maximize the window. However, I am not sure if what you actually want is to resize the window, or want the maximize button back on the top bar? Could you please explain further.
    – asgerbj
    Apr 16, 2014 at 12:38
  • I do not mean the Titlebar, but the border of the Window. By clicking and dragging the border you can change the window size. That position is meant.
    – DesertF0x
    Apr 16, 2014 at 19:07

4 Answers 4

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TL;DR There is no way to use the border of a window. You can only use the title bar. Open a terminal an use this command:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences action-double-click-titlebar toggle-maximize-vertically

Check the settings with:

gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences action-double-click-titlebar

Or you can try the other options:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences action-double-click-titlebar OPTION

OPTION – Current valid options are 'toggle-shade', which will shade/unshade the window, 'toggle-maximize' which will maximize/unmaximize the window, 'toggle-maximize-horizontally' and 'toggle-maximize-vertically' which will 'minimize' which will minimize the window, 'shade' which will roll the window up, 'menu' which will display the window menu, 'lower' which will put the window behind all the others, and 'none' which will not do anything.

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  • Best answer. I wish I could upvote twice! ;-)
    – Fabby
    Aug 29, 2015 at 21:30
  • @Fabby Than you should give me at least one upvote :P ;)
    – A.B.
    Sep 2, 2015 at 16:09
  • Oops!!! Forgot! ;-)
    – Fabby
    Sep 2, 2015 at 22:03
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    Please keep in mind that due to the following bug, apps with a "Gnome" titlebar (the broad one) won't maximize vertically or horizontally, but always fully: bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-shell/+bug/1698083
    – DMT
    Mar 29, 2018 at 16:27
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Not for the border, but for the titlebar. gnome-tweak-tool will let you do this:

https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/gnome-tweak-tool/

For example:

Windows > Titlebar Actions > Middle-Click > select [Toggle Maximize Vertically]

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  • 2
    Does this only work on some applications? It seems to never work for me. A middle click always fully maximizes. Feb 18, 2020 at 23:39
  • The above setting works only with windows that use "native window borders", not with any application that uses CSD (Client Side Decorations). In addition, the maximize vertically is always broken if you use Wayland instead of Xorg to run your display. This cannot be easily fixed because maximize vertically used to be window manager operation and Wayland requires apps to manage their own windows but Wayland protocol doesn't support the concept of maximize vertically. The only way to get this fixed is to first fix the protocol and then all CSD apps. Sep 13, 2022 at 15:51
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Here's an alternate approach: If you middle click the square (orange x, grey -, grey square)

enter image description here

then the window will maximize vertically. I've done that a few times on accident. Glad to finally figure out what random key stroke caused that.

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  • From my point of view, this is the best method/answer. Also, doing it in this manner I don't lose windows minimizing capability middle clicking title bar.
    – dgonzalez
    Jun 24, 2019 at 8:04
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    However, not all windows respect this behavior (IntelliJ, Phpstorm and other Java apps for example)
    – dgonzalez
    Jun 24, 2019 at 8:10
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I use a keyboard shortcut.

Go to Settings, Keyboard, Shortcuts, Windows. Then change 'Maximize window vertically'. I use Ctrl+.

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  • I tried this, but the window is still being maximized fully (not only vertically). 15.04 Jul 22, 2015 at 20:19
  • worked for me on centos7 Feb 18, 2020 at 16:30
  • Works on Ubuntu 19.10.
    – ali14
    Mar 3, 2020 at 20:33

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