Install the Auto Move Windows extension
To install the Auto Move Windows extension, toggle the on-off switch on the extensions page.
When prompted, click install.
Configure using the GNOME Tweak Tool
To configure this extension, install GNOME Tweak Tool. In Ubuntu, you can install via the Ubuntu Software Center, or using the command: If you use Fedora, this is a simple as opening up a terminal and typing: Open the GNOME Tweal Tool and navigate to “Shell Extensions.” Look for the Auto Move Windows extension, confirm that it is on, and click on the configuration icon visible below:
When the GNOME shell extension preferences window opens, click on the “Add rule” button in the bottom left.
You are now looking at a list of your installed applications. Select the application you wish to automatically open on a specific workspace, then select the desired workspace in the field underneath. In the screenshot below, I have chosen Rhythmbox to open up on workspace #4 when launched.
Configure using the command line
This one command performs the same task displayed above: Replace APPLICATION with the name of your chosen application. You can find the exact name of applications by navigating to “/usr/share/applications/“. Then, replace WORKSPACE with the number of the workspace you want the application to utilize. Below, I am again setting Rhythmbox to open on workspace #4 when launched. If you want to set multiple applications via the command line, simply separate them with commas. Below I am also designating Firefox to open in workspace #2.
Configure using dconf-editor
First, install dconf-editor. Fedora users can return to their terminals and input: Once the application is open, navigate to “org -> gnome -> shell -> extensions -> auto-move-windows”. Next to “application-list” the code is the same as before. In the screenshot below, you will see Rhythmbox and Firefox set to workspaces #4 and #2.
You’re done!
Your applications now open automatically on your choice of workspaces in GNOME when launched. If you want to move these windows around, feel free. They are not bound to any particular workspace, but they will return to their designated workspace if they are closed and re-opened later. The Auto Move Windows extension also sets your minimum number of available workspaces to whatever your highest designated workspace is. Since I have set Rhythmbox to workspace #4, the shell now always displays a minimum of four workspaces in GNOME.
If I try to go past four workspaces, the shell will automatically create a fifth workspace as usual. This extension therefore strikes a nice balance between having a designated number of workspaces and having the number of workspaces dynamically increase as needed.
