How to Auto-Hide the Top Panel in Ubuntu 18.04/19.10

Last updated: April 8, 2022

gnome shell

This simple tutorial shows how to auto-hide the top bar in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.10 with the default Gnome desktop.

It’s easy to enable auto-hide the dock (left panel) feature as Ubuntu offers an option in the system settings utility. To run any maximized application window in full-screen like a video player does, you can also make the Gnome top bar auto-hide.

This can be done by a Gnome Shell extension called ‘Hide Top Bar’.

Open Ubuntu Software, search for and install hide top bar gnome shell extension.

UPDATE: For Ubuntu 20.04, install the extension by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal and run command:

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-autohidetopbar

Once installed, launch the extension settings either from Ubuntu Software in the install page, or by going to Gnome Tweaks -> Extensions.

Enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove the extension, simply run command:

sudo apt remove gnome-shell-extension-autohidetopbar

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9 responses to How to Auto-Hide the Top Panel in Ubuntu 18.04/19.10

  1. Hello.
    I tried install this extention but didn’t work.
    Secondly i installed “Hide Top Panel” shell extension and it was work.
    I think the two are working together.
    Thanks…

  2. Thank you very much! It works! have a nice day!!!! :-)

  3. so good!

  4. Saad Alluhaidan April 23, 2020 at 9:49 pm

    Great
    Thank you.

  5. Useless for Ubuntu 20

  6. the extension is not available in store. [ ubuntu 20.04 ]

  7. Not working for Ubuntu 20.
    the comannd line installation is working. But nothing after that. no result/option available in software center with “Hide Top Panel”

  8. It works just fine in 20.04 but please mind to install the gnome tweaks first. Than use
    sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-autohidetopbar and open the extension over the gnome tweaks menu.

  9. how to undo: sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-autohidetopbar, it did not work for me and I want to remove it?
    Thanks