What a tiling window manager extension does, and why you might want one

A tiling window manager extension is a tool that automatically arranges your open windows into non-overlapping tiles on your screen — like dividing a wall into rectangular sections, each holding one window. Instead of dragging windows around by hand, the extension snaps them into place and resizes them to fit. Ubuntu comes with a regular window manager that lets windows float freely and overlap. An extension changes that behavior.

Most people use the default setup without thinking about it. But if you spend hours in a terminal, code editor, or spreadsheet, tiling can save time: you see more windows at once, you never lose a window behind another one, and you switch between layouts with a keyboard shortcut instead of hunting for a window. The trade-off is that tiling feels rigid at first — you lose the freedom to position a window exactly where you want it, and some programs (like video players or design tools) work better when they can be resized freely.

Key Takeaways

  • Ubuntu's default GNOME desktop supports tiling through an extension that you install from the GNOME Extensions website or through your package manager.
  • The most common tiling extension for Ubuntu is GNOME Tiling Assistant, which you can install in under five minutes without touching the terminal.
  • You need GNOME Shell Extensions enabled on your system, which most Ubuntu installations have by default, but you can verify in Settings.
  • After installation, you control tiling through keyboard shortcuts — usually Super (Windows key) plus arrow keys — and you can toggle tiling on or off for individual windows.

Check that GNOME Extensions are enabled on your system

Before you install a tiling extension, confirm that your Ubuntu system supports extensions at all. Open Settings (the gear icon in the top-right corner or search for it). Go to About on the left side. Look for the line that says GNOME Version — if you see a version number (like 42, 43, or 44), your system can run extensions.

Next, check that the Extensions app is installed. Search for Extensions in your Activities menu (top-left corner). If the Extensions app opens, you are ready. If it does not exist, open a terminal and type sudo apt install gnome-shell-extensions, then press Enter. This installs the Extensions app and the framework that lets extensions run.

Install GNOME Tiling Assistant from the web

The easiest route is to install directly from the GNOME Extensions website. Open a web browser and go to extensions.gnome.org. Search for Tiling Assistant. Click on the first result (it should say "Tiling Assistant" by Leleat). On that page, you will see a toggle switch in the top-right corner that says OFF. Click it to turn it ON.

Your browser will ask if you want to install the extension. Click Install. The page will refresh and the toggle will now say ON in blue. That means the extension is running. You may see a notification at the bottom of your screen saying the extension was installed. Close the browser tab — you are done with the website.

Verify the extension is working and learn the keyboard shortcuts

Open the Activities menu (top-left corner) and look at your desktop. You should see a small icon in the top-right corner of your screen — it looks like a grid or four squares. That is the Tiling Assistant indicator. If you do not see it, open the Extensions app, search for Tiling Assistant, and make sure the toggle next to it is turned on.

Now open two or three windows — a text editor, a web browser, a file manager, anything. Press and hold the Super key (the Windows key on most keyboards) and then press the Right arrow. One window should snap to the right half of the screen. Press Super + Left arrow and another window should snap to the left half. Press Super + Up arrow to make a window fill the top half, or Super + Down arrow for the bottom half. These are the core shortcuts.

To turn tiling off for a single window, right-click the window's title bar and look for an option like Tile Window or Untile Window. You can also press Super + Shift + Y to toggle tiling for the active window. This is useful when you want one window to float freely while others are tiled.

Customize keyboard shortcuts and tiling behavior

Open the Extensions app. Find Tiling Assistant in the list and click on it. A settings panel will open. Here you can change the keyboard shortcuts — for example, if you prefer Ctrl + Alt instead of Super, you can set that. You can also adjust how windows snap (whether they snap to half the screen, thirds, or quarters) and whether the extension shows visual guides when you are about to tile a window.

The default settings work for most people, so you do not need to change anything right away. Spend a few days using the default shortcuts, and only customize if you find yourself reaching for a different key combination.

Alternative: Install from the Ubuntu package manager

If the website method does not work or you prefer to use the terminal, you can install Tiling Assistant through Ubuntu's package manager. Open a terminal and type:

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-tiling-assistant

Press Enter and wait for the installation to finish. Then open the Extensions app, find Tiling Assistant, and toggle it on. The extension will start working when ready. This method is slower to type but gives you the same result as the website method.

Troubleshooting: Extension does not appear or does not work

If you installed the extension but it does not show up in the Extensions app, restart your system. GNOME sometimes needs a reboot to recognize a newly installed extension. After restarting, open the Extensions app again and look for Tiling Assistant.

If the extension is on but the keyboard shortcuts do not work, check that you are using the correct key combination. The Super key is the Windows key on most keyboards — if you are on a Mac, it is the Command key. Open the Extensions app, click Tiling Assistant, and look at the Keyboard Shortcuts section to see exactly which keys are mapped to which actions. You may have accidentally set a shortcut that conflicts with another program.

If windows are not snapping smoothly or are snapping to odd sizes, open the Tiling Assistant settings and look for an option called Snap information or Snap to Grid. Turning this on or off sometimes fixes snapping behavior. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the extension: open the Extensions app, click the menu icon next to Tiling Assistant, and select Remove. Then install it again using the website method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a tiling extension with Ubuntu's default GNOME desktop?

Yes. Ubuntu uses GNOME as its default desktop environment, and GNOME supports extensions. You do not need to install a different desktop or make major changes to your system. The extension works alongside everything else you already have.

Will a tiling extension slow down my computer?

No. Tiling extensions use very little memory or processing power. You may notice a tiny delay when you press a keyboard shortcut and a window snaps into place, but it is usually less than a tenth of a second. Most people do not notice any slowdown at all.

Can I turn tiling off for just one window?

Yes. Right-click the window's title bar and select the untile option, or press Super + Shift + Y while that window is active. The window will float freely while other windows remain tiled. You can toggle it back on the same way.

What if I want to go back to the regular window manager?

Open the Extensions app, find Tiling Assistant, and toggle it off. Your windows will when ready return to the default floating behavior. You can turn it back on anytime by toggling it on again in the Extensions app.

Do I need to use the terminal to install a tiling extension?

No. The website method (extensions.gnome.org) works entirely through your browser and does not require the terminal. The terminal method is an alternative if you prefer it or if the website method does not work for you.