By default, the Ubuntu desktop features a launcher dock on the left side of the screen. In standard installations, this dock extends from the very top of the screen (just under the top bar) all the way down to the bottom corner, acting as a solid, unbroken panel.
If you have a large monitor, this design can feel bulky and waste visual space. Many users prefer a floating dock that only takes up as much space as the icons require, similar to the macOS dock at the bottom of an Apple screen.
Fortunately, you can disable this full-length “Panel Mode” with a single toggle in the default Ubuntu settings. No third-party extensions or terminal commands are required.
How to Disable Panel Mode in Ubuntu
This setting is built directly into the GNOME desktop environment used by modern Ubuntu releases.
- Click on the system menu in the top-right corner of your screen (where the battery, volume, and network icons are located).
- Click on Settings (the gear icon) from the drop-down menu.
- In the left-hand sidebar of the Settings window, click on Appearance.
- Look for the section labelled Dock.
- Find the toggle switch for Panel mode and turn it Off.
The moment you disable this toggle, the dock will immediately detach from the corners of your screen. It will shrink down to perfectly wrap around your application icons, leaving empty space on either end.
Additional Dock Customisations
While you are in the Appearance menu, you can further customise the dock to match your preferences:
- Position on screen: Change the drop-down menu from “Left” to “Bottom” to create a true macOS-style experience.
- Icon size: Use the slider to shrink the icons, making the floating dock even more compact.
- Auto-hide the Dock: Toggle this on if you want the dock to disappear completely when an application window touches it, giving you 100% of your screen real estate for your work.