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Gnome HowTo 6 🐧 HowTo GNOME 48 Dash Dock

6. How-To GNOME 48 Dash (Dock)

1. How to Add an Application to Your Dash Favorites

  1. Press the Super key (Windows key) to open the Activities Overview.
  2. Click the “Show Applications” icon (grid view) at the bottom or start typing the app name to search.
  3. Right-click the application icon and select “Pin to dash”.
  • Tip: You can also drag any icon from the grid or search results directly into the Dash.

2. How to Remove an Application from Your Dash Favorites

  1. Enter the Activities Overview.
  2. Right-click the icon in the Dash.
  3. Choose “Unpin”.
  • Alternative: Drag the icon out of the Dash and drop it anywhere in the main overview area.

3. How to Reorder Favorite Applications on the Dash

  1. Enter the Activities Overview.
  2. Click and hold any app icon in the Dash.
  3. Drag it to your desired position and release.

4. How to Launch a New Instance of an App (Middle Click)

  1. Enter the Activities Overview.
  2. Hover over any icon in the Dash.
  3. Press the middle mouse button (scroll wheel).
  • This opens a fresh window of the app even if one is already running.

5. How to Launch an App via Keyboard Shortcut

  1. Press Super + [Number Key] (e.g., Super+1 for the first app on the left).
  2. To open a new instance using the keyboard, press Super + Shift + [Number Key].

6. How to Switch Between Windows of the Same Application

  1. In the Activities Overview, click the icon of a running app.
  2. If multiple windows exist, GNOME will display a “Window Spread” showing all open windows for that app.
  3. Click the specific window you want to bring to the front.
  • Pro Tip: While using an app, press Super + ` (the key above Tab) to cycle through its windows instantly.

7. How to Close All Windows of an Application

  1. In the Activities Overview, right-click the running app’s icon in the Dash.
  2. Choose “Quit” or “Close All Windows” from the menu.

8. How to See Pending Notifications in the Dash

  1. Look for a subtle glow or a blue highlight on an icon in the Dash.
  2. This indicates the app has an unread notification or requires your attention.
  3. Click the icon to open the app and clear the alert.

9. How to Use Drag-and-Drop to Rearrange or Remove

  1. To Rearrange: Click and slide the icon horizontally within the Dash bar.
  2. To Remove: Drag the icon completely out of the Dash and release it over the desktop wallpaper area.

10. How to Make the Dash Always Visible (Using Extensions)

  1. Install the Extension Manager app from your software store.
  2. Search for and install “Dash to Dock”.
  3. Open the extension settings to disable “Autohide,” making the Dash permanent on your desktop.

11. How to Customize Dash Appearance (Using Extensions)

  1. Open the settings for Dash to Dock or Dash to Panel.
  2. Under the Appearance tab, you can adjust icon size, opacity, and background color.
  3. Use the Position settings to move the Dash to the top, left, or right of your screen.

12. How to Troubleshoot When an App Doesn’t Appear

  1. Ensure the app is correctly installed by checking the “Show Applications” grid.
  2. If the UI is glitching:
  • On Wayland (Default): Log out and log back in.
  • On X11 (Legacy): Press Alt + F2, type r, and press Enter.

13. How to Reset Dash Settings to Default

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. To reset just the favorite apps:
    dconf reset /org/gnome/shell/favorite-apps
  3. To reset all Dash and Shell customizations:
    dconf reset -f /org/gnome/shell/

14. How to Identify App States (Dots vs. Icons)

Check the small indicators (dots) under the icons:

  • No dot: App is a favorite but not running.
  • Single dot: App is running with one window.
  • Multiple dots: App has multiple windows open.
  • Glow/Highlight: App has a pending notification.

15. How to Manage Multiple Windows (Workspace View)

  1. In the Activities Overview, click an app with multiple windows to see the “App Spread.”
  2. You can drag one of these window previews to a different workspace at the top of the screen to organize your tasks.

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