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Asked: 2024-09-25T13:06:56+05:30 In:

How can I create a keyboard shortcut to make a window stay on top in Ubuntu?

I’ve been trying to figure out how to keep a specific window always on top in Ubuntu, and it’s been a bit of a struggle. I do a lot of multitasking – like writing, browsing the web, and sometimes watching tutorials all at once, and it gets tricky when I need one particular app to stay visible above the others.

I’ve heard there are ways to set up keyboard shortcuts for this, but honestly, I’m not the best with the terminal or custom shortcuts. I’ve tried looking into it, and there are a few methods out there, but they all seem a bit complicated for someone who just wants a simple solution.

One approach I found was to use a tool called “Devilspie” or “Devilspie2” to configure window behaviors, but I couldn’t wrap my head around the setup. I mean, do I really need to dive into scripts just to make a window stay on top? Is there a more straightforward GUI method?

Then there’s the option of using Compiz, but again, I’m a little lost. Should I just learn how to mess with Compiz settings, or is there a better way? If anyone has had success with this, I’d love to hear how you did it. What settings did you use?

Honestly, my ideal solution would be something I could assign to a simple keyboard shortcut. Like, if I could just press a combination of keys and have that window stick right there, that would make my life so much easier!

Also, I’ve noticed that some apps seem to have built-in options to keep windows on top, but not all of them do, so it would be amazing to have a universal shortcut that works across all my applications.

I really appreciate any tips or suggestions! If you’ve got a foolproof method for making a window stay on top in Ubuntu with a keyboard shortcut, I’m all ears. It would mean a lot to have this little feature for my workflow!

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    2 Answers

    1. To keep a specific window always on top in Ubuntu, one of the most user-friendly methods is to use a popular tool called wmctrl. First, you’ll need to install it if you haven’t done so already. You can do this by running the command sudo apt install wmctrl in your terminal. Once it’s installed, you can create a custom keyboard shortcut for it. Open the System Settings and navigate to the Keyboard section. Under ‘Shortcuts’, look for ‘Custom Shortcuts’ and add a new shortcut with the command wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -b add,above. You can assign a desired key combination, such as Ctrl + Alt + T, to toggle the selected window to stay above others.

      If wmctrl feels too technical, you can consider using the CompizConfig Settings Manager (CCSM). Install it by running sudo apt install compizconfig-settings-manager in the terminal. Once installed, open the CCSM, and find the Window Management section. Inside it, you can enable the Always on Top plugin. From there, you can configure it to use a keyboard shortcut that allows you to make any window remain above others with a simple key press. However, be cautious when using CCSM, as incorrect settings could affect your desktop environment. By using these tools, you can simplify your multitasking and enhance your workflow with just a few shortcuts.



    2. Keep Window Always on Top in Ubuntu

      Keeping a Window Always on Top in Ubuntu

      It sounds like you’re diving into some pretty common struggles with multitasking on Ubuntu! If you want to keep a specific window always visible, don’t worry, there are a few user-friendly ways to do it without getting too deep into the terminal or scripting.

      1. Using the Right-Click Menu

      For starters, many applications actually have a built-in option to keep the window on top. Just try right-clicking the title bar of the app you want to stick and look for something like “Always on Top” or “Keep Above Others.” This might do the trick without needing any extra tools!

      2. Install a Window Management Tool

      If you find that the app you’re using doesn’t have that option, you can consider installing a tool called Feature. It’s pretty straightforward and you won’t need to mess with the terminal that much.

              sudo apt install wmctrl

      With wmctrl, you can create a simple script and set a keyboard shortcut to run it. That script could look something like this:

              #!/bin/bash
        wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -b toggle,above

      This way, you can press a keyboard shortcut to toggle the “always on top” state of the currently active window!

      3. Setting Up a Keyboard Shortcut

      To set up a keyboard shortcut for this, go to your System Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts. Look for the option to add a custom shortcut:

      • Name: Always on Top
      • Command: path/to/your/script (after making it executable)
      • Shortcut: Choose your preferred key combination (like Ctrl + Alt + T)

      4. Compiz for Advanced Users

      As for Compiz, you might find it a bit overwhelming. If you feel like exploring it later, you can play with its “Window Management” settings, where you can enable “Sticky Windows.” But honestly, for now, the simpler methods are probably best!

      Final Thoughts

      This should help you out by setting a universal shortcut for keeping windows on top in Ubuntu. Let me know if you bump into any issues or need more help figuring things out!


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