Ubuntu 11.10: Restore Window Buttons to the Right
Adjusting Window Button Placement in Ubuntu
Beginning with Ubuntu 10.04, a change was implemented that relocated the minimize, maximize, and close buttons to the left side of windows. Simultaneously, the system menu was removed. Prior to the release of version 11.10, several options existed for reverting to the traditional button arrangement.
Restoring Button Order in Older Ubuntu Versions
For Ubuntu versions 10.04, 10.10, and 11.04, users could utilize tools like Ubuntu Tweak or Gnome-Art Manager to reposition the window buttons. Alternatively, manual adjustments were possible through the Configuration Editor, also known as gconf-editor.
Mwbuttons: The Solution for Ubuntu 11.10 and Later
However, with the introduction of the Gnome 3 desktop environment in Ubuntu 11.10, the previously available methods became ineffective. The sole means of customizing button placement now involves a program called Mwbuttons (Metacity Window Buttons). This application grants control over both the availability and positioning of window buttons.
Installing Mwbuttons
To install Mwbuttons, it is crucial to download the Debian/Ubuntu DEB ALL file, rather than the tar.gz archive.
Navigate to the folder where the .deb file was saved, either through the desktop or the file manager (accessible from the Places menu). A double-click on the file will initiate the installation process.
The Ubuntu Software Center will launch, displaying the mwbuttons installation screen. Proceed by clicking the "Install" button.
Authentication is required to install software. Enter your password in the designated field within the Authenticate dialog box and then click "Authenticate".
The installation progress will be visually indicated in the space previously occupied by the Install button.
Upon completion of the installation, a "Installed" status accompanied by a check mark will be displayed. Close the Ubuntu Software Center by clicking the "X" button located on the window's title bar.
Launching and Configuring Mwbuttons
To initiate Mwbuttons, click the Dash home icon on the Unity desktop.
Type "mwbuttons" (without quotation marks) into the search box. You do not need to press Enter; results will appear dynamically as you type. Select the "Metacity Window Buttons" icon from the displayed results.
The Metacity Window Buttons window will appear, presenting eight drop-down lists. These lists allow you to define which buttons are visible and their order on all windows within Ubuntu.
To restore the close button to its conventional position, select the "X" button from the drop-down list located on the far right side of the Metacity Window Buttons window.
Note: The available buttons in each drop-down list, in order, are: system menu, maximize, minimize, and close. The maximize button functions as a toggle, maximizing or restoring the window with each click.
The following image illustrates the button arrangement we selected to revert to the standard placement.
Subsequently, any newly opened window will display the buttons in the positions you have specified.
Preset Styles and Maximized Window Behavior
You can also quickly apply preset styles, such as the one used in Karmic Koala (9.10). To do so, access the menu bar for Metacity Window Buttons from the top panel on the desktop and select "Karmic style" from the Settings menu. Options for Lucid Lynx (10.04) and even Mac OS X styles are also available. To revert to your custom arrangement, select "Restore style".
When a window is maximized on the Unity desktop in Ubuntu 11.10, the buttons temporarily return to the left side, appearing in the order: close, minimize, maximize. They also relocate to the top panel alongside the menu. Clicking the maximize button again will restore the buttons to your customized positions.