What the workspace indicator is and why you might disable it
The workspace indicator is a small display in Ubuntu's top panel that shows which virtual workspace you are currently using — usually a number like "1" or "2", or a grid of squares. Ubuntu creates multiple workspaces by default to let you organize open windows across separate screens without cluttering a single view. The indicator sits in the top-right corner of your screen and updates as you switch between workspaces.
Most people leave it alone, but if you do not use multiple workspaces or find the indicator visually distracting, you can remove it from the panel entirely. This does not delete your workspaces or change how they work — it only hides the display that tells you which one you are on.
Key Takeaways
- The workspace indicator is a small display in the top panel showing which virtual workspace is active, and removing it does not affect your workspaces themselves.
- You can disable the indicator through Settings by opening Displays, scrolling to the Workspaces section, and toggling the setting off.
- If you cannot find the setting in Displays, use the GNOME Tweaks tool as an alternative method to turn off the indicator.
- After disabling the indicator, you can still switch between workspaces using keyboard shortcuts like Super+Page Down or Super+Page Up.
- Turning off the indicator is reversible — you can re-enable it at any time by returning to the same settings.
Disable the indicator through Settings
The simplest way to remove the workspace indicator is through Ubuntu's built-in Settings process. Open the Activities menu by pressing the Super key (Windows key) or clicking Activities in the top-left corner. Type "Settings" and press Enter to open the Settings window.
Once Settings is open, look for the Displays option in the left sidebar. Click it. Scroll down in the main panel until you see a section labeled Workspaces. You should see a toggle switch next to "Workspaces" or "Show Workspace Indicator" — the exact wording varies slightly between Ubuntu versions. Click the toggle to turn it off. The indicator will disappear from your top panel when ready.
If you do not see a Workspaces section in Displays, your Ubuntu version may store this setting elsewhere. Move to the next section for an alternative method.
Use GNOME Tweaks if the setting is not in Displays
Older or newer versions of Ubuntu sometimes move settings between locations. If you cannot find the workspace indicator toggle in Settings, use GNOME Tweaks instead. Open Activities, type "Tweaks", and press Enter. If Tweaks is not installed, open the Terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T and type sudo apt install gnome-tweaks, then press Enter and type your password when prompted.
Once Tweaks is open, click the Workspaces tab in the left sidebar. Look for a toggle labeled "Workspaces" or "Show Workspace Indicator" and turn it off. Close Tweaks. The indicator should now be gone from your top panel. This method works on Ubuntu versions where the setting has moved out of the main Settings process.
Switch between workspaces without the indicator
After disabling the indicator, you lose the visual reminder of which workspace you are on, but switching between them still works the same way. The most common keyboard shortcut is Super+Page Down to move to the next workspace and Super+Page Up to move to the previous one. You can also use Super+Home to jump to a specific workspace number, though this varies by Ubuntu version.
If you want to see which workspace you are on without the indicator, press the Super key alone to open the Activities overview. The workspace grid appears on the left side, showing all your open windows organized by workspace. Click any workspace to jump to it, or close Activities by pressing Escape to return to your current view.
Re-enable the indicator if you change your mind
Disabling the indicator is completely reversible. If you decide you want it back, open Settings again, navigate to Displays, find the Workspaces section, and toggle the switch back on. The indicator will reappear in your top panel within seconds. You can turn it on and off as many times as you need without affecting your workspaces or any open windows.
The same process applies if you used GNOME Tweaks to disable it — straightforward open Tweaks again, go to the Workspaces tab, and toggle the setting back on. Either method will restore the indicator to your panel.
Troubleshooting if the indicator does not disappear
If you toggled the setting off but the indicator is still visible, try logging out and back in. Press the power icon in the top-right corner, select your username, and click "Log Out". Log back in with your password. This forces Ubuntu to reload your panel settings and usually resolves the issue.
If the indicator still appears after logging out, check that you toggled the correct setting. Some Ubuntu versions have separate toggles for "Workspaces" and "Show Workspace Indicator" — make sure both are off. If you used GNOME Tweaks, also check Settings to see if a conflicting toggle is on there. Restarting your computer instead of just logging out can also help if the panel settings are stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling the indicator turn off my workspaces?
No. Disabling the indicator only hides the display in your top panel. Your workspaces continue to work exactly as before, and you can still switch between them using keyboard shortcuts or the Activities overview.
What keyboard shortcut switches workspaces if I cannot see the indicator?
The standard shortcut is Super+Page Down to move forward and Super+Page Up to move backward. You can also press Super alone to open Activities and see all workspaces in a grid on the left side, then click the one you want.
Can I turn the indicator back on later?
Yes. Open Settings, go to Displays, find Workspaces, and toggle the switch back on. The indicator reappears when ready. You can switch it on and off as many times as you want without any permanent changes.
Why is the workspace indicator still showing after I toggled it off?
Try logging out and back in to reload your panel settings. If it still appears, check that you toggled the setting in the right place — some Ubuntu versions have the toggle in Displays, others in GNOME Tweaks, and a few have it in both locations.
Can I customize the indicator instead of removing it completely?
The built-in Settings do not offer customization options for the indicator's appearance or position. Your only choices are to show it or hide it. If you want more control, you can install third-party extensions through GNOME Extensions, but that is beyond the scope of basic Ubuntu configuration.