Linux Feature? What

Can someone please tell me what on earth this does? And how to use it? And also why? Have been trying to figure it out for a while now. Even more since I installed Dash to Dock.
Screenshot from 2026-07-19 18-09-35

This is the activities button where you can switch the workspaces. By default, there are setup two workspaces. The icon shows the position of the workspace , e.g. if you are on workspace 1 or 2.
When you are on the first desktop workspace, the bar is on the left position of the icon and the dot on the right side, and when you are on the second desktop workspace, the bar is on the right side and the dot on the left.

A workspace is as a new desktop. You can e.g. put some apps on workspace 1, and some on workspace 2, so you must not hide them when not all apps fit on one screen. At the activities button you can select the workspace you want to go to. You can also set up more than 2 workspaces (at settings >multitasking) and switch between them with keyboard shortcuts if you like. At settings > keyboard > shortcuts you can check what the default keyboard shortcuts are for windows and navigation.

4 Likes

Hi @countrywolf19 I have covered this part of Zorin in the Unofficial Manual. :wink:

Pages 29 to 30.

It is actually a Gnome feature. Gnome is the Desktop Environment that is the interface between a Zorin user and the Linux. Think of the desktop like a steering wheel, with GNU/Linux being the engine behind it.

2 Likes

Because @Forpli already explained to You what it is, I would give You a Tip how you can hide it if You wish. For this, You can install a Gnome Extension:

When you use the layouts 1-3 of Zorin appearance, you can disable the activities button in the normal panel settings at tab position. To hide it, click on "visible" for the activities button to set it to invisible.

That is not possible with layout 4 which you have enabled at the moment. There, you need the extension Ponce-De-Leon showed you, to hide the activities button.

1 Like

Well I think you are referring to the screenshot that I was showing. I do have my regular desktop look with the dock. As my current.

Also, the explaining of this was great. It is kinda cool I think. Thank you.

1 Like

@swarfendor437. So it is in the manual that you sent me. And I have saved. Given it is a 300 page plus. I haven't gotten around to it. I still haven't fixed my "added printer pop-ups" yet. But I will.

This was a neat tip. Since I have the Extension Manager. I searched for it. That made it easy. Simply install. And went away. But I do think the whole idea of being able to use that feature is pretty cool. Maybe later as I advance in Linux.

I don't use it, too. I don't even use the Possibility of Workspaces.

1 Like

I sure do. I use workspaces extensively, switching between them, on multiple monitors. They are space savers and sanity savers.
:wink:

2 Likes

When that suits You, fine. For me it doesn't fit the Way, I handle my Windows. But each People can handle it like it suits the Needs and personal Usage and Preference.

2 Likes

Ah. I read from @Aravisian switching from multiple monitors. I can maybe see this as a benefit. But for most one monitor would get confusing I would think.

1 Like

I prefer the fun of the cube:

That makes my head spinnnn. I have seen the term "cube" before. Didn't know what it was. But like I mentioned you in my "Chat about Zorin Topic" you have been around the Linux block, with knowledge. My topic " Zorin is Appealing".

1 Like

The 'cube' was part of a separate add-on, mainly started by an Ubuntu developer, but not limited to Ubuntu, and it was/is called Compiz. I have it running on my PCLOS Debian Plasma install.

However, having worked in the sphere of Accessibility, not a lot of attention was paid to the wonderful accessibility options available in Compiz, so I made a video avbout that too:

That is a bit long. I need to get outside and take care of my poultry. I have a nightly visitor now. Makes things even more troublesome. But I brought someone in to help.

1 Like

I wanted to have my own jab at explaining this stuff, And so I will!!
Okay, so yknow how you have Alt+Tab? Well, MacOS has this special thing called "mission control" Here's an image:

You can use mission control to see all your windows, And pick the one that you want to select. This feature that you asked about is exactly that!

But this isn't MacOS it's GNOME, And on GNOME, That is basically the start menu. You press SUPER (/ Windows key) and start typing to search for your apps and files no clicking or anything required just like on windows.

As you can see.... well, everything here is different, The settings thingy (called control centre on Mac) is on the top... and well, a lot of other things are different (but you obviously noticed that)

Simple note though!!: Please check out the app called "Zorin Appearence", It has very cool settings that you can use to make your computer a cube too! (and make Alt+Tab look sick as HELL!!!)

oh yeah btw Mission Control on GNOME is called Overview. Just so you know.

Been there. Have done a lot with it. Yes, very cool.
I have poke around on a Mac at a electronics store. Didn't know to much. Did that a few times. When I was gearing up to find something else other than windows. I know Mac was based off of Linux.

Honestly I didn't ever use a Mac, I also poked around ONCE on a Mac in a store, But instead of actually doing something I just kinda admired how flashy it looks lol

Also, MacOS is based on Unix, Not Linux. I get the confusion.
And also Linux is based on Unix too! lol

I did not know that. About Unix. The schools were forcing all us students to use Mac. I knew Linux comes from Unix.

1 Like