If you configure the Ubuntu Linux application Dock (the launcher on the left side of your screen) to “auto-hide,” it will slide off the screen when not in use to give you more desktop space. To bring it back, you throw your mouse cursor against the left edge of the monitor.
However, the Ubuntu developers intentionally programmed a frustrating delay into this interaction. When your mouse hits the edge of the screen, the Dock forces you to wait for a fraction of a second before it begins its slow, sliding animation. This delay makes the operating system feel sluggish and unresponsive. You can safely bypass this artificial speed bump and force the Dock to appear instantly by editing the hidden GNOME configuration database.
How to Safely Bypass the Ubuntu Dock Autohide Delay
You must use the terminal to modify the hidden `gsettings` timing values.
- Open your Terminal application (Ctrl + Alt + T).
- First, we will completely eliminate the artificial “wait” delay before the animation starts. Copy and paste the following exact command and press Enter:
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock require-pressure-to-show false - Next, we will reduce the actual show-delay timer to absolute zero. Copy and paste this command and press Enter:
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock show-delay 0 - Finally, we will speed up the physical sliding animation itself. We will set the animation time to a lightning-fast 0.1 seconds. Copy and paste this command and press Enter:
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock animation-time 0.1
You do not need to restart your computer. Move your mouse to the left edge of your screen right now. The moment a single pixel of your mouse touches the border, the Dock will violently and instantly snap onto your screen without a millisecond of hesitation, making your Ubuntu desktop feel incredibly fast.