57

In 10.10 that I was using before 12.04, you could use Alt+F9 to minimize a window to the task bar.

In 12.04 Meta+Ctrl+↑/↓ maximizes and unmaximizes a window.
If you have a numeric keypad you can use Ctrl+Alt+0 to minimize to launcher.

On my netbook I don't have a numeric keypad and the normal numbers do not work with the above shortcut. How can I minimize windows with a keyboard shortcut?

Byte Commander
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uzi3k
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  • ALT+F9 works for me in MATE. But I wish they added shortcut labels to the right click menu on the window title. – neverMind9 Nov 06 '18 at 21:15

4 Answers4

56

I prefer the default bindings instead of needing customised ones:

  • Alt+Space then pressing N to Minimize
  • Alt+Space then pressing X to Maximize/Un-maximize

This also happens to be the default in Microsoft Windows.

Unfortunately it's different for GNOME Shell. There you press:

tomodachi
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    alt-space, x to maximize – RobotHumans Apr 18 '12 at 23:06
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    There is [a bug report on gnome-shell](https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=733297) (v3.14+, previously i twas handled by gtk) about this problem. Instead we have Super+(Up/Down) to Maximize/Unmaximize. – Pablo Bianchi May 14 '17 at 18:06
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    Super+H can minimize the window on GNOME. – ICE Apr 14 '19 at 17:15
  • Super+ brings up the window in the dash or minimizes it if it is already open. This is enough if you just want to minimize your currently open window. – Nash Jun 11 '19 at 13:40
  • When we do alt+space in Ubuntu 18.04 it opens the menu but the usual keys don't work (for minimizing, maximizing, moving, etc). – Daniel May 26 '20 at 11:46
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    In GNOME 42 this takes a screenshot now. :( Need to rewire my brain to use Super+H. – Christopher Markieta Jul 05 '22 at 20:00
46

Launch keyboard:
enter image description here
Shortcuts, windows, minimize window, click at the right of the bar as indicated
enter image description here
It will toggle to new accelerator. Just press CTL + ALT + 0 not the numpad zero.

Do note that the numpad zero shortcut will no longer work after you do this. Shortcuts now make a distinction between numpad numbers and across the top numbers, although it isn't noted as 'numpad0' in the keyboard wizard.

RobotHumans
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9

If your keyboard has 'windows' key, also known as 'Super' in Ubuntu, you can minimize, maximize, left-restore or right-restore using the key combinations:

  • Ctrl + Super + Up arrow = Maximize or Restore (toggles)
  • Ctrl + Super + Down arrow = Restore then Minimize
  • Ctrl + Super + Left arrow = Restore to left
  • Ctrl + Super + Right arrow = Restore to right
Tshilidzi Mudau
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Nidhin David
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7

If you wish to continue to use Alt+F9 then you can. For unity* just set to it in system settings > keyboard > shortcuts > windows as seen in the screenshot in aking1012's answer

For gnome-shell you need to set in gsettings, either graphically in dconf-editor as in screen or thru gsettings

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings minimize "['<Alt>F9']"

enter image description here

snoop
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doug
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