The Activities button is the search and app launcher in Ubuntu's top left corner, and you can disable it through Settings or by editing a configuration file

Ubuntu's Activities button sits in the top left corner of your screen and opens a search interface when you click it. Some people find it useful; others find it takes up space or gets in the way of their workflow. If you want to remove it, you have two straightforward routes: use Ubuntu's graphical settings, or edit a text file directly. Both take less than a minute.

Which route you choose depends on how comfortable you are opening files in a text editor. The Settings method is visual and reversible with a few clicks. The configuration file method is faster if you know your way around a terminal. Either way, you can turn the button back on whenever you want.

Key Takeaways

  • The Activities button opens Ubuntu's app search and overview; disabling it removes the button but does not remove the search function itself.
  • You can turn off the button through Settings > Appearance > Top Bar, which is the safest method if you are new to Ubuntu.
  • Advanced users can edit the file ~/.config/dconf/user or use the dconf command line tool to disable it permanently.
  • Disabling the Activities button does not break anything; you can re-enable it at any time using the same method.
  • You can still search for apps and files using the Super key (Windows key) even after the button is disabled.

Disable the Activities button through Settings

Open the Settings process. You can do this by clicking the system menu in the top right corner (the one with the power icon) and selecting Settings, or by pressing the Super key and typing "Settings".

Navigate to Appearance in the left sidebar. Look for the Top Bar section. You should see a toggle or option labeled "Activities Button" or "Show Activities Button". Click the toggle to turn it off. The button will disappear from your screen when ready.

If you do not see this option in your version of Ubuntu, your system may be using a different desktop environment or a newer version of GNOME that moved the setting. In that case, use the configuration file method below.

Disable the Activities button using the configuration file

Open a terminal. Press Ctrl+Alt+T, or open the Activities menu and search for "Terminal".

Type the following command and press Enter:

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-panel show-activities-button false

If you are using a standard GNOME desktop without extensions, use this command instead:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout "close,maximize,minimize:"

The Activities button will disappear when ready. To turn it back on, replace "false" with "true" in the first command, or restore the original button layout in the second command.

Re-enable the Activities button if you change your mind

If you disabled it through Settings, open Settings again, go to Appearance > Top Bar, and toggle the Activities Button back on.

If you used the terminal command, open a terminal and type:

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-panel show-activities-button true

Or for the standard GNOME version:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout "close,maximize,minimize:appmenu"

The button will reappear in the top left corner.

What you can still do without the Activities button

Disabling the button does not remove the search and app launcher function. You can still open the Activities overview by pressing the Super key (the Windows key on most keyboards). Type the name of an app or file, and Ubuntu will search for it the same way the Activities button would.

You can also use Alt+F2 to open the Run dialog, which lets you type a command or app name directly. Many Ubuntu users who disable the Activities button use the Super key as their primary way to launch apps anyway, so the button becomes redundant.

Why someone might want to disable the Activities button

The Activities button takes up a small amount of screen space in the top left corner. On a laptop with a small screen or a tiling window manager setup, that space might matter. Some people also find that clicking the button by accident when aiming for the window's close button is annoying, especially if they use keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse.

Others disable it straightforward because they prefer a cleaner-looking top bar. Ubuntu's design philosophy includes the Activities button as a visual anchor, but it is not required for the system to work. Removing it is a personal preference, not a necessary step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling the Activities button break anything?

No. The Activities button is a user interface element only. Disabling it does not affect any system functions, background processes, or your ability to search for apps and files. You can turn it back on at any time.

Can I still search for apps if I disable the Activities button?

Yes. Press the Super key (Windows key) to open the search interface, then type the app name. This works exactly the same way as clicking the Activities button, just without the button visible.

Which method is safer, Settings or the terminal command?

Both are equally safe. The Settings method is more visual and easier to reverse if you change your mind. The terminal method is faster if you are comfortable with the command line. Either way, you cannot damage your system by disabling the Activities button.

What if the Settings option does not appear on my system?

Your version of Ubuntu or your desktop environment may have moved or renamed the setting. Try the terminal command method instead. If neither works, your system may be using a custom desktop environment that does not have this option.

Does this work on all versions of Ubuntu?

The Settings method works on Ubuntu 20.04 and later with GNOME. Older versions or systems using different desktop environments (like Kubuntu or Xubuntu) may have different steps. The terminal command method is more universal and works across most GNOME-based Ubuntu versions.