You can add an application folder to the GNOME Dash by right-clicking on it in the applications screen and selecting "Pin to Dash."
The GNOME Dash serves as a central hub for quick access to your favorite applications and active windows. While individual applications are commonly pinned, you can significantly enhance your workflow by adding entire application folders to the Dash. This feature allows for superior organization, letting you access groups of related apps with a single click, thereby minimizing the need to repeatedly navigate through the full applications grid.
Step-by-Step Guide: Pinning an Application Folder to the GNOME Dash
To effectively utilize this feature, ensure that the "Pin App Folders to Dash" functionality is active on your GNOME desktop. This capability is typically available by default in modern GNOME versions or can be enabled via specific GNOME extensions.
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Open the Activities Overview:
- Press the
Superkey (often the Windows key) on your keyboard, or click the "Activities" button usually found in the top-left corner of your screen. This will open the Activities Overview, showing your open windows and the Dash.
- Press the
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Access the Applications Screen:
- Within the Activities Overview, locate and click the "Applications" icon. This icon typically looks like a grid of dots or nine squares and is usually situated at the bottom of the Dash. This action will display all your installed applications, often categorized into folders such as "Utilities," "Office," or "Sound & Video."
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Locate the Desired Application Folder:
- Browse through the displayed applications until you find the specific application folder you intend to pin to your Dash. This could be a pre-defined system folder or a custom folder you've created to organize your apps.
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Pin to Dash:
- Right-click on the chosen application folder icon.
- A context menu will appear. From this menu, select the option clearly labeled "Pin to Dash" (or a similar phrase like "Add to Favorites").
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Confirm Pinning:
- The application folder will be instantly added to your Dash.
- To verify, hover your mouse cursor over the newly added folder icon in the Dash. Its name will be displayed, confirming that the correct folder has been pinned.
Practical Insights and Benefits
Pinning application folders to your Dash offers several advantages for enhancing your GNOME desktop experience:
- Improved Organization: For users with a large number of applications, grouping them into folders and pinning these folders significantly declutters the Dash and the applications screen.
- Enhanced Accessibility: Keep your most frequently used categories of applications — like your development tools, communication apps, or multimedia suite — just a single click away, drastically reducing the time spent searching.
- Dynamic Access: Clicking on a pinned application folder in the Dash will open a pop-up or expand the folder, revealing all the applications contained within it. You can then launch the specific app you need.
- Customization Options: While this guide focuses on pinning application folders, general Dash customization, such as reordering items or adjusting their size, can often be managed through GNOME Tweak Tools or various GNOME Extensions.
| Action | Outcome | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Right-click on Application Folder | Context menu appears | Access pinning and other options |
| Select "Pin to Dash" | Folder icon instantly appears in the Dash | Quick access to grouped applications |
| Hover over the newly pinned folder | Folder name is displayed | Confirm the correct folder is pinned and named |
For more information on navigating and customizing your GNOME desktop, consider exploring the official resources:
