Tell me more ×
Ask Ubuntu is a question and answer site for Ubuntu users and developers. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 85 down vote favorite
21

This has been an issue for me with Unity since its release.
I'd like to make the the launcher auto-hide. Especially on Netbooks, where screens are small, the launcher is quite wide, making it difficult to properly display some websites and other apps. How can I configure the auto-hide behavior?

share|improve this question

6 Answers

up vote 57 down vote accepted

11.04 & 11.10

The Unity launcher has an auto-hide option that is enabled by default. Lee's answer has the details. It has a few options:

  • Never - The launcher will never hide.
  • Autohide - The launcher will hide automatically based on time.
  • Dodge Windows - The launcher will hide when a window would overlay it.
  • Dodge Active Window - The launcher will hide only when an active window would overlay it.

This question has information on how to configure the different modes of Unity:

share|improve this answer
up vote 32 down vote

11.04 & 11.10

You can disable the autohide feature of the Unity launcher by following these simple steps:

WARNING: CCSM is an advanced tool and using it may break your Unity. To avoid this, follow the steps exactly as mentioned here

  • Install the CompizConfig Settings Manager package via the Ubuntu Software Centre

Installing the Compiz settings manager

  • Once installed, open the settings manager and scroll down until you see the 'Ubuntu Unity Plugin' which is located in the Desktop category.

The Compiz settings manager

  • Set 'Hide Launcher' to 'Never'.

Changing the Launcher autohide settings

  • The settings will have automatically applied and the launcher will now be locked in place.
share|improve this answer
The Compiz Config Settings Manager can break things See the answer of jackocnr to learn how to do this with standard gnome means. – cfi Mar 17 '12 at 15:23
This question was obviously answered before the launcher changes made in Unity. – Lee Jarratt Mar 27 '12 at 11:22
up vote 26 down vote

12.04 and later - Unity

The Unity Launcher auto-hide option is now a System Setting - Appearance option: By default, auto-hide is switched off - in previous versions of Ubuntu these behaviour was reverse.

enter image description here

From the Behaviour tab you have the option to switch-on autohiding of the Launcher and using the slide-bar to control the responsiveness to the reveal of the launcher.

enter image description here

You can use the Reveal Location radio-buttons to indicate where you need to position your mouse to reveal the launcher.

The option to switch on autohiding and controlling the hotspot location (left edge/top left corner) is on the Behaviour tab.

Unlike previous versions of Ubuntu, the dodge windows option has been removed due to User testing that showed that this form of autohiding caused confusion.

12.04 & Unity-2D

The Unity-2D Launcher delay is now a System Setting - Appearance option:

enter image description here

From the Behaviour tab you have the option to switch-on autohiding of the Launcher and by clicking the Low/High buttons to control the responsiveness to the reveal of the launcher.

enter image description here

You can use the Reveal Location radio-buttons to indicate where you need to position your mouse to reveal the launcher.

By default the auto-hide nature is toggled off meaning the launcher is permanently visible.

Linked Question:

share|improve this answer
up vote 16 down vote

With Compiz Config (ccsm) installed, go to the Ubuntu Unity Plugin, now you will see a drop-down menu next to the words Hide Launcher, click on the drop down menu and select Never and that is it, Unity launcher will no longer hide.

share|improve this answer
Well, it always shows the launcher now, but windows get maximised behind it. Can that be fixed? – Bart van Heukelom Apr 28 '11 at 14:45
1  
Oh, and on dual monitors, windows on the secondary screen maximise very strangely (full height, 20 px wide, on the edge) – Bart van Heukelom Apr 28 '11 at 14:56
I've "fixed" both issues by picking the left monitor as the primary, instead of the right, which it apparently can't handle very well. – Bart van Heukelom Apr 29 '11 at 9:12
@Bart van Heukelom, how do you make a monitor primary? – James McMahon Sep 23 '11 at 15:43
@James McMahon With the Nvidia config tool – Bart van Heukelom Sep 24 '11 at 22:21
show 3 more comments
up vote 14 down vote

If you don't have Compiz Config installed, you can still do this very easily. Launch gconf-editor by hitting Alt+F2 and then typing it and hitting Enter.
Navigate to /apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options and then set launcher_hide_mode to 0.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

You'd have to edit the source & rebuild unity. Haven't checked this in some time, (natty), bit I believe it;s defined in unity/plugins/unityshell/src/LauncherHideMachine.cpp, possibly here (this is from unity-5.2 source

_hide_delay_timeout_length = 750;

share|improve this answer

protected by Community♦ Nov 13 '11 at 15:35

This question is protected to prevent "thanks!", "me too!", or spam answers by new users. To answer it, you must have earned at least 10 reputation on this site.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.