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F11 makes a window go full screen. Is there a shortcut that minimizes a window? I am using Arch Linux with Gnome Shell.

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2
  • It depends on your distribution. In Ubuntu there is preset keyboard short-cut, which I can't remember, because I changed it to Alt-F9, which is what it used to be, and which ties in with the other window controls. (I think it was something like Ctl-Sh-0.)
    – AFH
    Oct 1, 2016 at 13:59
  • 1
    What distribution and what window manager?
    – DavidPostill ♦
    Oct 1, 2016 at 14:57

6 Answers 6

Reset to default
76

Gnome Shell actually supports this. Super+H is the default key. If you want to change the key go to:

Settings -> Keyboard -> Windows -> Hide Window

Since this answer has gained some traction it is good to also know that:

  1. This works on MacOS as well.
  2. This does not work on Windows, however, you can achieve the same effect by using a tool like AutoHotkey.
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9
  • This one works like a charm in Ubuntu 17.10 (Gnome)
    – nipunasudha
    Nov 1, 2017 at 7:57
  • 1
    No problems in Fedora 28 either. Never thought to search for "Hide" rather than minimize though.
    – Steen Schütt
    Oct 31, 2018 at 12:14
  • works on Debian 9
    – Vass
    Aug 1, 2019 at 2:49
  • 2
    too bad the rest of the workd talks about minimize a window..... I had to look very hard to find this..... Thanks!! maybe because its a oneway without a toggle?
    – U.V.
    Oct 22, 2020 at 19:46
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    For the record, the same key also works on macOS.
    – Aventinus
    Apr 1, 2021 at 8:21
9

I know the OP didn't ask for it but for the sake of completeness, Super+D minimizes all windows (think of it as "show Desktop"). Ubuntu 19.04, Gnome 3.32.1.

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5
  • This also works on Windows 10. Amazing, I wasn't aware of this shortcut. Thank you.
    – Aventinus
    Jan 6, 2020 at 10:55
  • Super + D also restores all windows if hit again.
    – Héliton Martins
    Mar 24, 2021 at 16:47
  • Interestingly, this does not seem to work for me on RHEL 8.3 (Gnome 3.28.3). Super + H does "hide" the window, however.
    – Jason R Stevens CFA
    May 7, 2021 at 13:22
  • Does not work in GNOME on Debian 11. Bleh.
    – JonathanDavidArndt
    Sep 17, 2021 at 20:13
  • Gnome 44.1 doesn't detect the Super + D shortcut, in 'custom shortcuts' the combination doesn't return any conflicts with existing native hotkeys. Fedora 38.
    – user198350
    Jun 14 at 11:08
5

Using gsettings:

$ gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings minimize  
['<Super>h']

Set Super+Shift+H):

$ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings minimize "['<Super><Shift>h']"
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1
  • 1
    thank you!! I'm on popOS and "minimize" isn't in the Keyboard Shortcuts menu at all for some reason; this worked like a charm :)
    – jyn
    Feb 10 at 1:10
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On the GNOME desktop environment, you can use CTRL-ALT-D to minimise all and give focus to the desktop. You can also use ALT-F9 to minimise the current window. I think these are the same for Ubuntu/Unity.

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3
  • 3
    I'm on Gnome 3.24.3 on Fedora 26, CTRL-ALT-D does nothing.
    – That Brazilian Guy
    Oct 25, 2017 at 17:59
  • ALT-F9 was exactly what I wanted (minimize current window) (on Ubuntu 16.04 with MATE). Thanks!
    – Zertrin
    Aug 5, 2019 at 7:32
  • none of these work on openSUSE Tumbleweed on a Visual Studio Code window...
    – Eugenio Miró
    Dec 9, 2020 at 22:46
1

works in gnome
super+down(↓)
For minimizing the window size of an application
super+up(↑)
for maximizing the window size of an application
super+right(→)
for throughing application window to right side of monitor screen
super+left(←)
same as above

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1

This wasn't set as a default for my environment, but setting it in Gnome 43.3 went as follows:

  1. Open Settings. <Super> type Settings <Enter>
  2. Navigate to Keyboard. Left pane
  3. Select View and Customize Shortcuts. Bottom
  4. Use Search to find Hide all normal windows under Navigation.
  5. Set shortcut as desired. For example, I used Super + D.

Here's what my settings look like

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