Open Applications Menu with Windows Key on Ubuntu

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Ubuntu Applications Menu

If you are a new Ubuntu user like me, then you may be missing the feature of opening the Applications menu with Windows Key on Ubuntu, like you could on Windows. However there’s a little tweak available that gives you this functionality.

All you got to do is, open terminal window and enter the following command in it:

gconftool-2 --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/panel_main_menu --type string "Super_L"

Now if you press the ‘left’ Windows key, it will open the applications menu, however, pressing it again won’t close it. That’s a limitation, but you could use the ‘Esc‘ key for that. Another limitation of this tweak is that both Windows key won’t open the Applications menu.

So, if you wish to use the right Win key, simply replace Super_L with Super_R.

You can also set this key from configuration editor. To launch configuration editor, press Alt+F2 and type in ‘gconf-editor.’

Then navigate to : apps >metacity >global_keybindings and find ‘panel_main_menu’ in the right-side pane.

Edit the key and enter in ‘Super_L,’ and save it. You can use “Super_R‘ as well.