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December 5th, 2011, 20:01 GMT · By

How to Move Ubuntu Window Buttons To Right Side

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The following tutorial will teach all Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, Ubuntu 10.10, Ubuntu 11.04 and Ubuntu 11.10 users how to move the window buttons to the right side.

At the request of many of our readers, we've created the following tutorial to teach them how to easily move the window buttons from left to right side in the Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx), Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat), Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) and Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) operating systems.

For Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, Ubuntu 10.10 and Ubuntu 11.04 it was possible to move the buttons to right side with many methods, including Ubuntu Tweak and Gnome-Art Manager, or manually from GConf Editor.

However, because the switch to the GNOME 3 desktop environment, starting with Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) the above mentioned methods are obsolete. The only viable method at this time is through a little software called Metacity Window Buttons.

Created by developer Pablo Seminario, Metacity Window Buttons (or Mwbuttons for short) is small tool to easily configure the position and availability of the buttons on the Metacity window.

Step 1 - Download and install Metacity Window Buttons

No matter what Ubuntu operating system you are running, download the Metacity Window Buttons (the .deb file) from Softpedia, here, and place it on your desktop.

Once the download is over, double click the .deb file, wait for Ubuntu Software Center to start and install the package...

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When you will be asked for your password, type it in and wait for the installation to finish...

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Close Ubuntu Software Center when it's done.

Step 2 - Move the window buttons to right side!

Metacity Window Buttons is now fully installed in your Ubuntu machine and can be started from the Applications -> Accessories menu or searched in the Unity Dash.

Once the application is started you can immediately and instantly change the position of the window buttons by manually selecting which buttons to place on the right side and which on the left side, or by going to the Setttings -> Karmic Style preset option.

Voila! The window buttons are now on the right side. Enjoy and don't hesitate to comment below if you have problems with the tutorial.
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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: fate on 05 Dec 2011, 20:08 UTC reply to this comment

i got used with them in the left side so i kinda love them now


Comment #2 by: RIPGnome3 on 05 Dec 2011, 20:46 UTC reply to this comment

To move Ubuntu Window Buttons to the right side and be more usable and functional i will tell you how.

Step 1) Download Debian Netinstall CD

Step 2) Install XFCE4. - Aka The Gnome 3 Unity killer!.

Step 3) Enjoy a working desktop environment with no bloat no junk and have total control of it!.


Comment #3 by: FastKC on 05 Dec 2011, 22:11 UTC reply to this comment

I use Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.14 / 0.6.0 Beta:

http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Administration/Ubuntu-Tweak-30276.shtml


Comment #4 by: nf3 on 06 Dec 2011, 10:26 UTC reply to this comment

I prefer the left Side


Comment #5 by: DoofusOfDeath on 06 Dec 2011, 16:11 UTC reply to this comment

It worked great. Thanks! I use with Windows and Linux, so I really appreciate having the buttons in the same place on both OS's.


Comment #6 by: ubu1 on 07 Dec 2011, 09:00 UTC reply to this comment

Fantastic - just what I was looking for, solved it in 5 minutes - thanks.


Comment #7 by: JIMFROM PA on 07 Dec 2011, 19:56 UTC reply to this comment

I have moved the buttons to the right under Ubuntu 11.10 with Gnome 3.0. You have to install gconf edit. From there it exactly like Ubuntu 11.04. Navigate to apps, metacity, general, button layout, and change.


Comment #8 by: HaddadR on 07 Dec 2011, 21:37 UTC reply to this comment

very useful , thank's


Comment #9 by: Erfquake on 11 Dec 2011, 20:22 UTC reply to this comment

Am so glad someone made a utility to do this! Maybe a lefty would like the buttons on the left side, but I personally dont. That new Gnome interface is some * for sure!


Comment #10 by: None on 19 Dec 2011, 22:29 UTC reply to this comment

Another method by Terminal

gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/metacity/general/button_layout "menu:minimize,maximize,close"

Comment #10.1 by: Smee on 04 Jan 2012, 18:04 GMT

Genius comment from "None" (gconftool-2 terminal method)

no downloading anything... copy, paste into Terminal, press enter, done.


Comment #11 by: Cosmin on 20 Dec 2011, 10:33 UTC reply to this comment

Can we have a tutorial where you show us how to move Windows buttons to the left side? :)
I think the buttons are much more accessible in the left side than in the right side!


Comment #12 by: kiliya on 15 Jan 2012, 14:15 UTC reply to this comment

Awesome app, simple and effective. No restart! Perfect! Using Ubuntu 11.10.


Comment #13 by: chris on 25 Jan 2012, 18:48 UTC reply to this comment

Thanks - works for me!


Comment #14 by: Pushkaraj on 26 Mar 2012, 17:38 UTC reply to this comment

Thanks ! This is my first tutorial and help on Ubuntu!
It was very helpful to read your tutorial.
can you please also just mention that we should install ".deb" file ? I am a totally new user to Ubuntu and I was confused a bit about which one to install.
the .tar.gz file does not open Ubuntu Software Center. :) I know there might be other methods of opening that file but as a totally new user this is my feedback.


Comment #15 by: jim from pa on 29 Apr 2012, 19:29 UTC reply to this comment

This was great for Ubuntu 11.10, but no longer works for 12.04.


Comment #16 by: lehnerus2000 on 01 May 2012, 13:46 UTC reply to this comment

Doesn't work in Ubuntu 12.04 64-bit.
Can it still be done?


Comment #17 by: Niki on 06 May 2012, 11:40 UTC reply to this comment

So, this is not working anymore.
I'm novice no Ubuntu.
The above .deb gives an error for compatibility.

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