The Activities button is a quick launcher in Ubuntu's top-left corner that you can disable in three ways

Ubuntu's Activities button opens a search and window overview when you click it. If you do not use it and want the space back, you can hide it entirely through the Settings app, disable it with a keyboard shortcut, or remove it using a GNOME extension. The method you choose depends on whether you want to keep the button but stop using it, or remove it from the screen altogether.

The simplest approach for most users is to turn off the Activities overview in Settings, which keeps the button visible but prevents it from opening anything. If you want the button gone from the screen, you will need to install the GNOME Tweaks tool or a third-party extension like Dash to Panel.

Key Takeaways

  • The Activities button can be disabled through Ubuntu Settings without installing any additional software.
  • Disabling Activities through Settings hides the overview but leaves the button in place; removing the button itself requires GNOME Tweaks or an extension.
  • Dash to Panel is a popular extension that replaces the top bar and removes the Activities button entirely.
  • If you disable Activities and later want it back, you can re-enable it in the same Settings menu.

Disable Activities through Ubuntu Settings

Open the Settings app by clicking the system menu in the top-right corner and selecting Settings. Navigate to the Keyboard section in the left sidebar, then scroll down to find the Activities overview shortcut. The default keyboard shortcut is the Super key (Windows key). Click on the shortcut and press Backspace to remove it, or press a different key combination if you want to reassign it instead of removing it entirely.

Once you remove the keyboard shortcut, clicking the Activities button will no longer open the overview. The button itself remains visible in the top-left corner, but it becomes inactive. This method is reversible — you can return to Settings and reassign the shortcut at any time if you change your mind.

Hide the Activities button with GNOME Tweaks

GNOME Tweaks is a tool built into Ubuntu that lets you customize the interface more deeply than the standard Settings app. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T and run the command sudo apt install gnome-tweaks. Once installed, open GNOME Tweaks from the application menu and navigate to the Top Bar section.

In the Top Bar settings, toggle off the Activities button switch. The button will disappear from the top-left corner immediately. Unlike disabling the shortcut, this method removes the button from the screen entirely rather than just making it inactive. You can toggle it back on in the same menu if you want to restore it later.

Remove the Activities button with Dash to Panel

Dash to Panel is a GNOME extension that replaces Ubuntu's top bar with a customizable panel similar to the taskbar in Windows. It automatically hides the Activities button and gives you more control over what appears in the top bar. To install it, open the terminal and run sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-dash-to-panel.

After installation, restart your system or log out and back in. Open GNOME Tweaks, go to Extensions, and toggle Dash to Panel on. The extension will take effect immediately, replacing the top bar with a new panel. You can right-click on the panel to access settings and customize which items appear, including the ability to move the panel to the bottom of the screen if you prefer.

Dash to Panel is more powerful than simply hiding the Activities button — it gives you a full taskbar replacement with window previews, application pinning, and other features. If you only want to remove the Activities button without changing the rest of the interface, GNOME Tweaks is a lighter option.

What happens to your keyboard shortcuts when you disable Activities

The Super key (Windows key) is the primary way most users trigger the Activities overview. When you remove the Activities shortcut from the keyboard settings, pressing the Super key alone will no longer open anything. However, other Super key combinations — like Super+Tab to switch windows or Super+A to open the application menu — may still work depending on what other shortcuts you have set.

If you want to use the Super key for something else after disabling Activities, you can assign it to a different action in the Keyboard section of Settings. For example, you could bind it to open a terminal, launch a specific application, or trigger a custom command. This gives you flexibility to repurpose the key rather than leaving it unused.

Reversing your changes if you want Activities back

If you disabled Activities through Settings, open Settings again, go to Keyboard, and click the Activities shortcut field. Press the Super key or your preferred key combination to reassign it. The Activities overview will work again immediately.

If you hid the button using GNOME Tweaks, open GNOME Tweaks, go to Top Bar, and toggle the Activities button back on. If you installed Dash to Panel, open GNOME Tweaks, go to Extensions, and toggle Dash to Panel off. Your original top bar will return. All of these changes are reversible with no permanent effect on your system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Activities affect other parts of Ubuntu?

No. Disabling the Activities button or overview does not change how your applications work, your files, or any other system functions. It only removes the quick launcher from the interface. Everything else operates normally.

Can I use Activities on a keyboard shortcut if I hide the button?

Yes. If you hide the button using GNOME Tweaks but keep the keyboard shortcut enabled in Settings, you can still open the Activities overview by pressing the Super key. The button is just not visible on the screen.

Is Dash to Panel safe to install?

Yes. Dash to Panel is a widely used, open-source GNOME extension maintained by active developers. It is available through Ubuntu's official package repositories, which means it has been reviewed for security. You can remove it at any time if you do not like it.

What if GNOME Tweaks does not show a Top Bar section?

This usually means you are running a version of Ubuntu that uses a different desktop environment, such as KDE Plasma or XFCE. Those environments have their own settings for the top panel. Check your system's main Settings app for a Panels or Top Bar option instead.

Can I move the Activities button to a different location?

The standard Ubuntu interface does not allow you to move the Activities button — it is locked to the top-left corner. If you want to customize the top bar layout, Dash to Panel or similar extensions can give you that control, but hiding or disabling the button is simpler if you just want it gone.