How to ungroup windows on Unity task switcher?

Question

I'm playing with ubuntu 12.04, precise pangolin, and there's an issue I can't see how to solve.

If I have three instances of, let's say, Firefox, in the switcher appears a single Firefox icon, I have to wait something like a second for it to open so that I can finally choose the one I'm looking for

I tried with compiz-settings and the unity plugin but couldn't find an option to ungroup Windows.

aking1012, riateche, thanks a lot for your answers, I as already aware of that, I'm just trying to avoid the hover or the alt-down stuff and just get back to thre previous behaviour — opensas, Apr 21 '12 at 19:39
not a problem, i just don't think it's going to happen. it's a feature not a bug — RobotHumans, Apr 21 '12 at 21:03
if you want to work between two open firefox, for example, it's kind of annoying, can't it be configured? — opensas, Apr 21 '12 at 22:52
your other question is another way of asking this one, if you're working with multiple desktops(like I am) and you have multiple windows for an application open(like I do) then alt-tab immediately opens the most recently focused window for a given application. it's starting to sound like complaining — RobotHumans, Apr 22 '12 at 01:14
I would call it a "feature request" rather than a complain, they are allowed, aren't them? ;-) For the time I've configured the old static application switcher from compiz, but sometimes some windows just don't appear, I just couldn't figure out when they are not showing... thanks for all your answers! — opensas, Apr 28 '12 at 14:31
See also How to get previous behaviour of alt-tab task switcher in 11.10 - seems like this is a a dup. — nealmcb, Apr 30 '12 at 16:10
on ubuntu 18.04 with Gnome go to setting > keyboard > double click on Switch Windows and assign Alt + tab keys. click confirm and set. — Ehsan Ehsani, Mar 03 '20 at 00:23

score 197 · Answer 1 · edited Oct 28 '14 at 18:36

197

You can also press alt + ` (the key above Tab) to switch between instances of the current application.

edited Oct 28 '14 at 18:36

David Foerster

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answered Apr 27 '12 at 16:01

glindste

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I like this because I can do it with one hand. – Jay Bazuzi May 01 '12 at 05:38
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@JayBazuzi http://images.wikia.com/vampirediaries/images/1/11/If_you_know_what_I_mean_.png :P – Cedric Reichenbach Jul 16 '13 at 09:54
5

yes, this works but it doesn't ungroup. an ungrouped switcher recognises that just because a file is in the same application doesn't mean that it relates to the same task eg task 1 = (PDF1, Writer doc 1), task 2 = (PDF2, gedit, Writer doc 2). The application grouping just gets in the way of this. – jdpipe Jul 25 '16 at 01:01
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This is the next best thing I've found without downloading any other packages. – Kenmore Mar 14 '17 at 21:57
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This is the best solution without changing any Ubuntu settings or adding packages. However, if you want a single key combo solution, please see this answer instead: https://askubuntu.com/a/996121/870682 – iND Sep 12 '18 at 12:42
This is the perfect answer for my needs! With a german keyboard, it is alt+^. – Hinrich Oct 05 '18 at 11:21
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I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Alt+Esc when that actually cycles through all windows while this one just cycles in that same group of windows. – shriek Mar 09 '19 at 20:31
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This doesn't answer the question at all. – None Aug 12 '19 at 11:14
You can also use Alt+F6 to switch directly between windows of the current application. (Ubuntu 18.04 LTS) – ChrisFreeman Oct 23 '19 at 02:28
@shriek: is this a Gnome Shell only shortcut? I'm using Unity on 18.04, and Alt+ESC does not worl – MestreLion Sep 20 '20 at 06:17

score 64 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 15 '18 at 11:11

64

Open Settings > Keyboard > Navigation > Switch Windows > Your_Key-Combo > Done! I am using Ubuntu 17.10. Its that simple

answered Jan 15 '18 at 11:11

nwillo

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Tested with 18.04, I replaced the Alt + Tab... it works! – 4ndt3s Jul 25 '18 at 09:33
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This is the best solution for a permanent, single key combo solution, which may or may not be what the OP wanted. Note that if you do decide to go back to the default method of application switching, simply disable the "Switch Windows" key combo, then the "Switch Application" key combo will be reactivated. – iND Sep 12 '18 at 12:40
This also works in the GNOME window manager in Ubuntu 18.04. If you're looking for the Windows style alt-tab, this is it. – Arye Eidelman Sep 24 '19 at 23:45
There is no "Switch Windows" in the Navigation group, and I'm in 18.04 too, but using Unity. Any workarounds? – MestreLion Sep 20 '20 at 06:30
Works also on Ubuntu 20.04. This should be the accepted answer! Thanks! – Wizard79 Sep 15 '21 at 10:02

score 24 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 21 '12 at 14:40

24

Press down arrow while holding alt+tab to view list of windows for current application.

answered Apr 21 '12 at 14:40

Riateche

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That works but it's pretty cumbersome. I've never had this annoying task switching problem in Windows. – Dan Dascalescu Jun 25 '16 at 21:13
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You can also just Alt-Tab to the one with multiple and wait for 3 seconds and it will ungroup them and then you can Alt-Tab through them. Neither of these are ideal solutions, though. – Kenmore Mar 14 '17 at 21:55

score 22 · Answer 4 · edited Nov 19 '13 at 09:22

To get all windows expanded from the beginning in a single list while switching with ALT-TAB I've gone to CompizConfig -> Windows Management -> Static Application Switcher (enabled this): Dialog popped up, I selected to solve the conflicts, in any of the question pop ups I've hit the most rightest button to deactivate the conflicting button. Thats all.

(To get back to Unity behaviour, goto CompizConfig -> Desktop -> Unity Plugin -> Switcher (tab) -> reset all settings with the x buttons at the right)

EDIT: You have to have the compiz-plugins package installed in order to access the Static Application Switcher plugin.

The static switcher looks crappy, but this works. Also, C4L's answer is clearer. — Dan Dascalescu, Jun 25 '16 at 21:19

score 22 · Answer 5 · edited Sep 04 '17 at 10:46

22

This question is a bit old, but Unity has still the same problem. The solution is hidden in the Compiz Plugins:

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

Start ccsm (the Compiz Config Settings Manager) and find

Desktop ► Ubuntu Unity Plugin ► Switcher (tab)

Disable the key combinations for next and previous windows Alt+Tab and Shift+Alt+Tab, by editing the key and deleting its contents.

Next, pick a different application switcher. Best for the purpose seems to be the "Static Application Switcher". You can find it by going back and performing a search (with the Filter).

Enable its key combinations for next and previous windows by clicking on Disabled. Then you will be asked and you can input Alt+Tab and Shift+Alt+Tab.

Close sscm and now you have one icon for each open window in the application switcher, no annoying grouping anymore.

edited Sep 04 '17 at 10:46

aalaap

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answered Jun 10 '16 at 18:23

C14L

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How is this answer conceptually different from Hartmut's? – Dan Dascalescu Jun 25 '16 at 21:20
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This is the better answer, as it says that next/prev windows have different combos and therefore need to be changed. – Albus Dumbledore Jan 18 '17 at 22:05
Just a note: I assumed ccsm had to be run as root, but this is in fact NOT the case. Run ccsm as your regular user account. – Alex Jan 27 '17 at 17:22

maaw · Answer 6 · 2018-01-17T17:16:07.067

8

As of Ubuntu 16, you can also press Start + W, which will bring this: It's faster than alt+tab task switcher and doesn't group windows.

edited Jan 17 '18 at 17:16

answered Jan 17 '18 at 13:57

maaw

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Sadly this doesn't seem to work now, perhaps since the removal of Unity. – mwfearnley Jun 17 '20 at 12:07
Haven't tried it in a while, but the Ubuntu maintainers can't make up their minds on one UI - they keep changing it. I don't know where they are now, but I heard they dropped Unity (thankfully). So YMMV. – maaw Jun 17 '20 at 17:20
@mwfearnley: you can still install Unity in Ubuntu 18.04+ – MestreLion Sep 20 '20 at 06:27

score 4 · Answer 7 · edited Jun 16 '20 at 19:11

4

I find Alt+Esc useful in such cases. (Ubuntu 18.04.)

edited Jun 16 '20 at 19:11

Eliah Kagan

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answered Jun 16 '20 at 10:22

Ohad Cohen

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score 4 · Answer 8 · answered Sep 26 '17 at 06:37

4

If using Gnome Desktop, you can use extension name: Alternatetab

answered Sep 26 '17 at 06:37

NothingCtrl

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Doesn't work any more, sadly: https://blogs.gnome.org/fmuellner/2018/10/11/the-future-of-alternatetab-and-why-you-need-not-worry/ – scruss Aug 03 '19 at 08:11

pec · Answer 9 · 2018-02-06T19:22:28.027

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I found a simple and beautiful solution that works on Ubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark). Follow this tutorial and alt-tab will switch between all windows (no app grouping). It also changes the visual appearance of the switcher. Now all you open windows will display in a 3d carousel.

The tutorial basically makes you install the GNOME Shell Extension on your browser and from there an you can install apps that will manage alt-tabbing. The one I choose is: coverflow-alt-tab

edited Feb 06 '18 at 19:22

answered Feb 06 '18 at 15:19

pec

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Summary: install this package and a plugin for chrome, firefox or opera. Go here to turn on the alt-tab extension. If you want to configure it, GNOME Tweaks – dwurf May 04 '18 at 04:20

score 0 · Answer 10 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

0

Just hover during alt-tab. It will expand the group windows with previews of each window.

I was informed for one of my questions that "feature requests" are "wishlist bugs". This is how I responded.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

Community

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answered Apr 21 '12 at 14:52

RobotHumans

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thanks for the tip, but in this question I found that for feature request / wishlist bug, there was this site http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/, I've just registred and I'm waiting for the email... – opensas Apr 28 '12 at 15:43

Sam Emalas · Answer 11 · 2020-09-12T15:49:34.043

For people looking at a modern solution.

I was looking for another problem, and found an extension that fixes the grouping window problem as well. Works on 18.04 LTS

Install 'Dash to Panel', as instructed here

Launch 'Ubuntu Software' which is built in Ubuntu 18.04.
Install 'Dash to Panel' shell extension from 'Add-ons' -> 'Shell Extensions'. Scroll down to find the 'Dash to Panel' extension and install it.
Press 'Extension Settings', find the settings button of the 'Dash to Panel' in the menu.
Open the configuration settings of 'Dash to Panel' and find the 'Position and Style' tab. On this tab you would find the 'Clock Location' configuration. Change this to 'Right of status menu'.

Ubuntu 18.04 does not use the Unity desktop, which is the topic of the question. — Kurankat, Sep 14 '20 at 02:22

score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Oct 04 '20 at 13:57

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With isolate workspace from dconf editor, as discussed here, now I can ungroup windows of same app!

answered Oct 04 '20 at 13:57

Nam G VU

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score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Mar 07 '24 at 05:37

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To switch just between windows without bringing into focus the entire group disable Enhanced Tiling

answered Mar 07 '24 at 05:37

user1602

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How to ungroup windows on Unity task switcher?

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