Is it possible to have a different background for each workspace?

Question

I normally use 4 different workspaces for different things, and they are always the same. Can I make a different background image for each one of them?

I would like an answer that works for GNOME 3 desktop environment, Unity and the Classic desktop environment.

This question has multiple answers covering different Ubuntu versions:

ændrük · Answer 1 · 2012-11-07T01:14:15.307

33

Ubuntu 10.04

You can get the Wallpaper plugin for Compiz by installing compiz-fusion-plugins-extra (sudo apt-get install compiz-fusion-plugins-extra). It will show up under the Utility category in CompizConfig Settings Manager.

Before you can use it, you'll have to configure Nautilus to not draw the desktop. Run gconf-editor and uncheck the setting /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop. This will make all of your desktop icons disappear, and there is no solution to this drawback at this time.

To configure the Wallpaper plugin, add images to the list of backgrounds. They will be assigned to workspaces in the order they are listed, and you don't have to have the exact right number:

CompizConfig

The result:

Expo

edited Nov 07 '12 at 01:14

answered Sep 21 '10 at 13:08

ændrük

76,794

This is great! I don't use desktop icons to begin with - so this is quite a sufficient solution! – Marco Ceppi Sep 21 '10 at 14:10
4

Sucks we can't keep the desktop icons (http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/93/) – Olivier Lalonde Sep 22 '10 at 15:50
1

I once had working patches to make nautilus draw a transparent desktop when in a compositing environment so we could get desktop icons and wallpaper specific icons. Unfortunately they were never accepted and modern nautilus needs more changes I haven't dug in to to get the same job done. – Travis Watkins Dec 09 '10 at 03:10
2

I don't see the setting in 12.04. – Colin Harrington May 10 '12 at 21:31
2

For 12.04 read this: http://askubuntu.com/questions/116741/how-to-hide-all-desktop-icons-in-12-04 – Dave Aug 13 '12 at 18:06
On what version of Ubuntu will this work? I'm interested in 12.04, but others might want another version. – Alvar Oct 23 '12 at 21:02
@ændrük will this work on 12.04? or what is it meant for? – Alvar Nov 06 '12 at 23:50
@Alvar I originally wrote this for Ubuntu 10.04 in response to this question. It looks like there is now a similar answer pertaining to Ubuntu 12.04 that accounts for the new configuration system introduced in that release. – ændrük Nov 07 '12 at 01:24
@ændrük Sorry for off-topic but ... Where can i found these awesome wallpapers ? – bux Sep 29 '14 at 08:02
@bux Those are watercolor paintings by David S. Goodsell and a wallpaper by Souhail Moumit. – ændrük Sep 29 '14 at 17:16

score 31 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

31

12.04

enter image description here

how-to

Launch dconf-editor (install dconf-tools if required)

enter image description here

Navigate to org - gnome - desktop - background

Now the very strange bit - by default the show-desktop-icons is unticked. Click it to tick it and click it again to untick it.

Now install some extra software:

compizconfig-settings-manager

compiz-fusion-plugins-extra

Launch the Dash and search for ccsm

Filter to wallpaper - enable the wallpaper plugin and add New wallpaper as shown.

enter image description here

Notes:

during testing, when I enabled wallpaper the desktop froze solid. I had no choice but to do a hard-reset via the power button.
remember this important bit of information:
- Log out and back in again to show new wallpapers

What are some of the issues with CCSM and why would I want to avoid it?

If you prefer not to risk ccsm then you can use gconf-editor (you can install it by running sudo apt-get install gconf-editor).

gconf-editor

enter image description here

Add the two plugins as shown.

enter image description here

Add a comma-separated list with the full-paths to your wallpaper as shown.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

Community

1

answered Jul 03 '12 at 20:46

fossfreedom

172,746

3

"During testing, when I enabled wallpaper the desktop froze solid. I had no choice but to do a hard-reset via the power button" ... which perfectly illustrates the issues with using ccsm! – Ryan McClure Jul 03 '12 at 20:50
For me, this only works with the wallpapers provided in /usr/share/wallpapers. Doesn't work with wallpapers off the web, just shows black screen. Any idea on how to fix? – countunique Jun 12 '13 at 14:56
The wallpapers have to be on a permanantly mounted drive, so that the wallpaper plugin can fetch it as soon as the user logs in. Refer to Ubuntu Wiki's Automatically Mount Partitions page – Rohan 'HEXcube' Villoth Mar 05 '14 at 18:31
1

The "Show Desktop Icons" was already ticked for me, still no desktop icons while using workspaces. – srcspider Aug 26 '14 at 07:45

score 22 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

22

Ubuntu 13.04, 13.10 and 14.04

enter image description here

How to

Launch dconf-editor (install dconf-tools if required)

enter image description here

Navigate to org - gnome - desktop - background

Now the very strange bit - by default the show-desktop-icons is unticked. Click it to tick it and click it again to untick it.

Now install some extra software: compizconfig-settings-manager

Ensure you have the following package installed: compiz-plugins

Launch the Dash and search for ccsm

Filter to wallpaper - enable the wallpaper plugin and add New wallpaper as shown.

enter image description here

What are some of the issues with CCSM and why would I want to avoid it?

Finally - enable the use of workspaces in your System Settings (Cog Wheel menu option)

Note: the 12.04 answer described using the gsettings editor as an alternative to ccsm. The equivalent for 14.04 is dconf-editor.
It is not possible (at least not easily) due to compiz using relocatable schemas. The 'wallpaper' option under 'org.compiz.profiles.unity.plugins' will only appear when you have added a wallpaper via ccsm.

edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

Community

1

answered Aug 18 '13 at 18:40

fossfreedom

172,746

2

This didn't work on Ubuntu 14.10... Any solution? – Ionică Bizău Jan 18 '15 at 17:32
How would this work if you had a program such as Variety which changes the desktop background? Would it change it independently for each workspace? – Kalamalka Kid Feb 23 '16 at 03:14
Hmmm... am I missing something? No one has been interested in this since 14.xx?? I'm using 17.10 and I cannot find the ccsm-plugins-xxx to install. In ccsm, I have a "wall" setting but no "wallpaper" setting? Is there someone who could update this thread with a 17.10 solution? – TheGeeko61 Nov 26 '17 at 08:26

score 15 · Answer 4 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

11.10

You will need compizconfig-settings-manager and compiz-plugins-extra
First see: What are some of the issues with CCSM and why would I want to avoid it?

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-extra
Press Alt+F2 key combination and type gconf-editor in “Run a command” box.

In next window, navigate to “apps/nautilus/appearances” and un-check “show_dekstop” in right. enter image description here

Open Compiz and search Wallpaper plugin
Click “New” to choose a wallpaper for your first workspace.

enter image description here

Browse to select an image.

Repeat this step for all your workspaces. Once done, enable the wallpaper plugin.

For those who don't have "show_desktop" in Configuration Editor-

Install gnome-tweak-tool, enter in terminal-
sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool
Key Alt+F2 and enter gnome-tweak-tool and hit enter.
Click on ▸ Desktop ▸ Have file manager handle the desktop ▸ switch to Off

picture of gnome-tweak-tool dialog box

4.Proceed with the above instructions for changing compiz settings.

It seems this approach makes Docky not work, and one can't see files and folders on the Desktop. (I'm using Gnome-Classic on 12.04). Is there an option and solution to having this feature without losing Desktop functionality, or accessories like Docky? — Questioner, Jul 04 '12 at 14:24

score 8 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 06 '12 at 07:57

8

Ubuntu 12.10

This is not currently possible. Due to bug #1020830, the necessary Compiz plugin is not available.

answered Nov 06 '12 at 07:57

ændrük

76,794

This bug has been fixed acording to launchpad This bug was fixed in the package compiz - 1:0.9.9~daily13.01.14-0ubuntu1. Is it possible now? – Alvar Jun 01 '13 at 23:19

karel · Answer 6 · 2021-09-14T07:59:36.280

7

Ubuntu 17.10 and later

Install the Walkpaper GNOME Shell Extension from Ubuntu Software. Set a different wallpaper for each workspace by having the wallpaper switch on workspace change. After installing Walkpaper click the Extension Settings button in the Walkpaper screen in Ubuntu Software to open a Walkpaper window. In the Walkpaper window you can change the settings for each workspace by double-clicking on the current wallpaper and browsing to a new wallpaper image.

Walkpaper gives an error in GNOME Shell 3.30 on loading – global.screen is undefined. A simple user workaround is to run gedit ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/walkpaper*/extension.js and find and replace all occurrences of global.screen with global.workspace_manager. Restart gnome-shell with setsid gnome-shell --replace and press the Enter key before closing the terminal, and it should work.

edited Sep 14 '21 at 07:59

answered Nov 02 '18 at 07:04

karel

114,770

1

A simpler way to restart GNOME Shell is to hit ALT-F2, and enter "r" into the box that appears. "r" means restart. – heynnema Dec 04 '18 at 15:01
I like this solution, but I would like to have different wallpaper settings for each workspace. Is that possible? – Kewal Shah Dec 16 '18 at 11:02
When you change the settings for one workspace that also changes the settings for all the other workspaces, except for the wallpaper itself which can be different wallpapers for different workspaces. – karel Dec 16 '18 at 11:15

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Jun 01 '12 at 16:23

2

Install Compiz Settings Manager:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
Press Atl + F2 and run:

gconf-editor
Navigate to apps > nautilus > preferences and uncheck show_dekstop.
Next, open the Compiz Setting Manager and go to the Wallpaper plugin.
Click “New” to choose a wallpaper for your first workspace.
Browse to select an image.
Repeat the steps for all your workspaces. Once done, enable the wallpaper plugin.
Unity’s theme will look weird after enabling the plugin. Restarting the computer will fix it.

Source: http://joesteiger.com/2011/07/18/enable-different-wallpapers-for-each-workspace-in-unity-ubuntu-11-04/

Hope this helps,

Leinardo

answered Jun 01 '12 at 16:23

godismyjudge95

649

2

In 12.04, there is no "show_desktop" in apps > nautilus unfortunately. – Benjamin Jun 27 '12 at 09:55
2

Having problems with following steps in Ubuntu 12.04. 1>gconf-editor doesnt have an option of show desktop in preferences in nautilus. 2> In compiz cant get any wallpaper plugin Any suggestions? – Srijan Jun 25 '12 at 23:30
In later versions this option is available via (Gnome) Tweak Tool under "Desktop > Have file manager handle the desktop". – artm Mar 18 '13 at 08:05
Yahtzee! In 12.04 The above instructions worked very well, What I can add is, if you are having trouble finding the show desktop setting. Try this- Click Application Menu, Then System Tools, Find Preferences, Then click on Preferences, And look for advanced settings. After you click Advanced Setting. Once in advanced setting. You will the desktop icon and you can make your adjustment there.. – Jan 20 '15 at 07:31

score 1 · Answer 8 · edited Apr 21 '13 at 17:03

1

Ubuntu 11.04

I know this is possible with compiz. Do you have/use compiz? if so (install and) open compizconfig-settings-manager and look under the wallpaper plugin.

If I recall, adding multiple wallpapers would set them in order (ie. the first image selected goes to workspace one, the second image goes to workspace two). You might need to muck about in the settings to get compiz to render your wallpaper.

Open the Terminal and type this command:

 sudo apt-get install compiz compiz-core compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-plugins

Then navigate to :

system -> preferences -> compizconfig in settings manager.

Type "wallpaper" in the search, click the wallpaper plugin, enable it on the left, select your wall papers.

I believe you may need to change more settings in the gnome compatibility options or something like that, but I can't recall exactly.

edited Apr 21 '13 at 17:03

Suhaib

4,110

answered Nov 06 '11 at 09:16

Finn

334

Please list the commands necessary and list all the software that I need if I have a fresh install of 11.04. – Alvar Nov 06 '11 at 09:18
always assume that I don't have extra software installed. – Alvar Nov 06 '11 at 09:18
right, sorry. Uh, fresh from 11.04? sudo apt-get install compiz compiz-core compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-plugins should do it for installation, then navigate to system -> preferences -> compizconfig settings manager. type "wallpaper" in the search, click the wallpaper plugin, enable it on the left, select your wall papers. I believe you may need to change more settings up in the gnome compatibility options or something, i don't recall exactly and don't have anything i can test it on – Finn Nov 06 '11 at 09:23
3

add it in your answer and improve the horrible formatting. – Alvar Dec 03 '11 at 12:28

Is it possible to have a different background for each workspace?

8 Answers8

Ubuntu 10.04

12.04

how-to

compizconfig-settings-manager

compiz-fusion-plugins-extra

gconf-editor

Ubuntu 13.04, 13.10 and 14.04

How to

11.10

Ubuntu 12.10

Ubuntu 17.10 and later

Ubuntu 11.04

Linked

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