Workspaces are a way of grouping windows on your desktop. GNOME Documentation Project gnome-doc-list@gnome.org What is a workspace, and how will it help me?

Workspace switcher button

Workspaces refer to the grouping of windows on your desktop. These virtual desktops increase the size of your working area. Workspaces are meant to reduce clutter and make the desktop easier to navigate.

Workspaces can be used to organize your work. For example, you could have all your communication windows, such as e-mail and your chat program, on one workspace, and the work you are doing on a different workspace. Your music manager could be on a third workspace.

Open the Launcher and click the workspace switcher icon near the bottom. By default, Ubuntu shows 4 workspaces, arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns. You can change the number of workspaces:

Change the number of workspaces

Go to the Dash and open the Terminal.

To change the number of rows, type the following command, changing the final number to the number you wish. Press Enter.

gsettings set org.compiz.core:/org/compiz/profiles/unity/plugins/core/ vsize 2

To change the number of columns, type the following command, changing the final number to the number you wish. Press Enter.

gsettings set org.compiz.core:/org/compiz/profiles/unity/plugins/core/ hsize 3