This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by giveitatry
If you’re using Ubuntu with the default GNOME desktop, you’ve probably experienced this:
You click a pinned app in the dock (for example Firefox), and instead of switching to your already open window… GNOME shows you thumbnails of all open windows.
This makes me crazy. I need additional click to switch the app.
I don’t want previews.
I just want it to switch to the next window.
Luckily, Ubuntu makes this easy to fix.
Why This Happens
Ubuntu uses a modified GNOME dock called Ubuntu Dock, which is based on Dash to Dock.
By default, clicking a pinned app:
- Shows window previews if multiple windows are open.
But we can change that behavior.
The Fix: Make Click Cycle Through Windows
Step 1 – Open Dock Settings
Run this command in Terminal:
gnome-extensions prefs ubuntu-dock@ubuntu.com
Step 2 – Change Click Behavior
- Go to the Behavior tab.
- Find Click action
- Change it to:
Cycle through windows
That’s it.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by giveitatry
giveitatry | Sciencx (2026-02-20T19:22:06+00:00) How GNOME drives me Crazy on Ubuntu. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2026/02/20/how-gnome-drives-me-crazy-on-ubuntu/
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