Your computer’s workspace organization can dramatically improve your workflow efficiency in Linux Mint. In this guide, you will learn how to configure linux mint workspaces to boost your productivity and keep your desktop clutter-free.
Workspaces let you group related tasks—like coding, browsing, or email—into separate virtual desktops. Instead of juggling dozens of windows on one screen, you can switch between workspaces with a keystroke. This makes multitasking smoother and reduces mental overload.
Linux Mint comes with a default workspace setup, but it’s highly customizable. You can add or remove workspaces, change switching shortcuts, and even enable a workspace switcher applet. Let’s walk through every step so you can tailor workspaces to your needs.
How To Configure Linux Mint Workspaces
Before diving into advanced settings, it’s helpful to understand the basics. Linux Mint uses the Cinnamon desktop environment by default, which includes a built-in workspace manager. You can access workspace settings through System Settings or by right-clicking the panel.
The default configuration usually gives you four workspaces arranged in a grid. You can switch between them using Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys. But you might want more workspaces, a different layout, or custom keyboard shortcuts. Here’s how to do it.
Accessing Workspace Settings
Open the main menu and type “Workspaces” in the search bar. Click on the “Workspaces” icon under Preferences. Alternatively, navigate to Menu > System Settings > Workspaces. This opens the configuration panel where you can adjust most settings.
If you prefer a quicker route, right-click on an empty area of the taskbar (panel) and select “Workspace preferences.” This opens the same window. The panel also shows a workspace switcher by default, which you can click to jump between workspaces.
Adding Or Removing Workspaces
In the Workspaces settings window, you’ll see a slider labeled “Number of workspaces.” Drag it to set how many workspaces you want—anywhere from 1 to 36. For most users, 4 to 6 workspaces strike a good balance.
You can also add workspaces on the fly using the workspace switcher applet. Click the applet icon (usually shows “1” or “2”) and click the “+” button. To remove a workspace, move all windows out of it first, then click the “X” button next to its name in the applet.
Note that removing a workspace doesn’t delete your open windows—they move to the nearest workspace. This prevents data loss but can be confusing if you’re not paying attention.
Changing Workspace Layout
By default, workspaces are arranged in a grid (2×2 if you have four). You can change this to a single row or column. In Workspaces settings, look for “Workspace layout” and choose between “Grid,” “Horizontal,” or “Vertical.”
A horizontal layout is great for widescreen monitors—you can swipe left and right. Vertical workspaces work well if you prefer up-and-down navigation. The grid layout gives you both directions but requires more mental mapping.
If you use multiple monitors, workspaces span all screens by default. This means switching workspaces moves all monitors together. Some users prefer independent workspaces per monitor, but Linux Mint doesn’t support that natively—you’d need third-party tools.
Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to navigate workspaces. To change them, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Navigation. Scroll down to “Workspace” section.
Here you can set shortcuts for:
- Switch to workspace 1, 2, 3, etc.
- Move window to workspace 1, 2, 3, etc.
- Switch to workspace left/right/up/down
- Move window one workspace to the left/right/up/down
To change a shortcut, click on it, then press the new key combination. I recommend using Super (Windows key) + number for switching workspaces, and Super+Shift+number to move windows. This leaves Ctrl+Alt free for other tasks.
If you find the default Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys conflict with other apps, you can reassign them. For example, some browsers use Ctrl+Tab for tab switching—avoid overlapping.
Using The Workspace Switcher Applet
The workspace switcher applet sits in your panel and shows a visual preview of all workspaces. You can click on any preview to jump there. To customize it, right-click the applet and select “Configure.”
Options include:
- Show workspace names
- Show window thumbnails (small previews of open windows)
- Use mouse wheel to switch workspaces
- Set the number of rows in the preview
I recommend enabling window thumbnails—they help you find the right workspace at a glance. If your panel is crowded, you can reduce the preview size in the applet settings.
You can also add multiple workspace switchers (e.g., one on each monitor) if you have a multi-monitor setup. Just right-click the panel, select “Add applet,” and search for “Workspace switcher.”
Enabling Hot Corners And Edge Switches
Hot corners let you switch workspaces by moving your mouse to a screen corner. This is a hands-free alternative to keyboard shortcuts. To enable them, go to System Settings > Hot Corners.
Click on a corner (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right) and choose an action like “Switch to workspace left” or “Show all workspaces.” You can also set a delay to prevent accidental triggers.
Edge switches work similarly—move your mouse to the screen edge to switch workspaces. This is available in the same settings panel under “Edge behavior.” I find this less reliable than hot corners because it can interfere with window snapping.
Managing Windows Across Workspaces
Once you have multiple workspaces, you’ll want to move windows between them. The easiest way is to drag a window’s title bar to the edge of the screen—it will slide to the adjacent workspace. You can also right-click the title bar and select “Move to workspace” > choose a workspace.
For keyboard lovers, use Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys to move the active window to the next workspace. This is faster than dragging, especially with many windows open.
If you want a window to appear on all workspaces (like a sticky note or music player), right-click its title bar and select “Always on visible workspace.” This pins it to every workspace—handy for reference tools.
Using Workspace Names And Icons
Naming your workspaces can help you remember what’s where. In the workspace switcher applet, right-click a workspace name (e.g., “Workspace 1”) and select “Rename.” Type something like “Browser” or “Code” and press Enter.
You can also assign custom icons to workspaces. This requires editing a configuration file manually. Open a terminal and run:
gsettings set org.cinnamon.desktop.wm.preferences workspace-names "['Work', 'Play', 'Email', 'Music']"
Replace the names in brackets with your own. Icons aren’t supported natively, but you can use emoji in names if your system supports it.
Workspace Behavior Tweaks
In Workspaces settings, you’ll find a few more options:
- “Workspace wrapping” – when you reach the last workspace, switching further wraps around to the first. Disable this if you prefer a hard stop.
- “Only use workspaces on primary monitor” – if you have multiple monitors, this keeps workspaces only on your main screen. The second monitor stays static.
- “Dynamic workspaces” – automatically creates new workspaces when you need them, and removes empty ones. This is useful if you don’t want a fixed number.
Dynamic workspaces can be confusing at first because workspaces appear and disappear. I prefer a fixed number (like 4) for predictability, but try both to see what fits.
Workspace Shortcuts For Power Users
If you’re comfortable with the terminal, you can create custom scripts for workspace actions. For example, to switch to workspace 3 instantly:
wmctrl -s 3
Install wmctrl first with sudo apt install wmctrl. You can bind this script to a keyboard shortcut using System Settings > Keyboard > Custom Shortcuts.
Another trick: use gsettings to change workspace settings on the fly. For instance, to set 6 workspaces:
gsettings set org.cinnamon.desktop.wm.preferences num-workspaces 6
This is handy for scripting workspace configurations per task.
Common Issues And Fixes
Sometimes workspace switching stops working after an update. Try restarting Cinnamon by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Esc. If that fails, log out and back in.
If the workspace switcher applet disappears, right-click the panel and select “Add applet” > “Workspace switcher” > Add. You can also reset panel settings via System Settings > Panel > Restore default layout.
Another issue: windows getting “stuck” on a workspace. Right-click the window’s title bar and select “Move to workspace” > choose a workspace. If that doesn’t work, use wmctrl -r "Window Title" -t 2 in the terminal (replace “Window Title” and workspace number).
Integrating Workspaces With Other Features
Workspaces work well with Linux Mint’s “Expo” view (similar to macOS Mission Control). Press Super+W to see all workspaces at once. You can drag windows between them here.
You can also combine workspaces with virtual desktops from other apps like KDE’s activities, but Cinnamon workspaces are simpler and more integrated.
If you use tiling window managers like i3, workspaces behave differently—each workspace is a separate “tag.” But within Cinnamon, workspaces are purely virtual desktops.
Backing Up Your Workspace Configuration
Once you’ve set up workspaces perfectly, back up your settings. In the terminal, run:
dconf dump /org/cinnamon/ > cinnamon-workspace-backup.txt
To restore later, use dconf load /org/cinnamon/ < cinnamon-workspace-backup.txt. This saves all Cinnamon settings, not just workspaces, so be careful.
Alternatively, copy the file ~/.cinnamon/configs/ to a safe location. This folder contains all your Cinnamon applet configurations, including workspace switcher settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I increase the number of workspaces in Linux Mint?
Open System Settings > Workspaces, then drag the "Number of workspaces" slider to your desired count (up to 36). You can also use the workspace switcher applet's "+" button to add one at a time.
Can I have different wallpapers for each workspace?
No, Linux Mint's Cinnamon desktop doesn't support per-workspace wallpapers natively. You can use third-party tools like Variety or manually set wallpapers via scripts, but it's not built-in.
Why are my workspaces not switching with keyboard shortcuts?
Check if another application is overriding the shortcut. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Navigation and verify the workspace shortcuts are assigned. If they're blank, set them manually. Also ensure "Workspace wrapping" isn't causing confusion.
How do I move a window to a different workspace using the keyboard?
Press Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Arrow key (left/right/up/down) to move the active window to the adjacent workspace. For a specific workspace, use Shift+Super+Number (e.g., Shift+Super+3 moves to workspace 3).
Can I disable workspaces entirely in Linux Mint?
Yes, set the number of workspaces to 1 in System Settings > Workspaces. This effectively disables workspace switching. You can also remove the workspace switcher applet from the panel.
Configuring workspaces in Linux Mint is straightforward once you know where the settings are. Start with the default four workspaces, then adjust the number, layout, and shortcuts to match your workflow. Use the workspace switcher applet for visual navigation, and hot corners for hands-free switching.
Remember to name your workspaces for clarity—it takes ten seconds but saves minutes daily. If you run into issues, the terminal commands and backup tips above will help you recover quickly.
With a well-tuned workspace setup, you'll wonder how you ever managed with just one desktop. Try it for a week, and you'll likely never go back. Happy multitasking!