How to Hide the Top Menu Bar (Panel) in Ubuntu Linux

Unlike Windows or macOS, the default Ubuntu Linux desktop environment (GNOME) features a solid black panel permanently anchored to the top of your screen. This Top Bar houses your clock, system tray, and activity launcher.

If you are working on a small laptop screen, this permanent bar wastes valuable vertical real estate. Unfortunately, there is no native “auto-hide” toggle switch in the standard Ubuntu Settings app. To make the Top Bar hide itself intelligently, you must install an official GNOME Shell Extension.

How to Install the Extension Manager

To safely modify the GNOME desktop, you first need to install the official Extension Manager application from the Ubuntu repositories.

1. Open the Ubuntu Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
2. Run the following command to install the manager: sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-manager
3. Once installed, press your Super/Windows key and search for Extension Manager to launch the app.

How to Install the ‘Hide Top Bar’ Extension

With the Extension Manager open, you can now browse and install community-created tweaks directly from the application.

1. Click the Browse tab at the top of the Extension Manager window.
2. In the search box, type exactly: Hide Top Bar.
3. Look for the extension specifically named “Hide Top Bar” (usually created by the developer tuxor1337) and click the blue Install button next to it.
4. Confirm the installation prompt.

Configuring the Auto-Hide Behaviour

The moment the extension is installed, it becomes active. The Top Bar will immediately vanish if a window touches the top edge of your screen, freeing up your vertical space.

You can customise exactly how the bar behaves:

1. Click back to the Installed tab at the top of the Extension Manager.
2. Find “Hide Top Bar” in your list of extensions and click the small gear icon (Settings) next to it.
3. In the settings menu, you can choose whether the bar only hides when a window touches it (intellihide), or if it remains hidden permanently until you push your mouse cursor against the top edge of the screen to summon it.

This simple extension gives Ubuntu the same distraction-free, full-screen capability found natively in other operating systems.