Note: this tutorial will work for most Linux distro, though the way to set the keyboard shortcut might differ.
The easiest way without any configuration
There is a hotkey assigned to the “Always on Top” function. For any window that you want to make float, all you have to do is press the “Alt + Space” combination to bring up the menu option, then press “T” to activate the “Always on Top” function.
This is the easiest way so far, and it works out of the box, regardless of the distro you are using. The bad thing is that it is a two-step process, and the placement of the shortcut keys might not be convenient for you.
Setting your custom keyboard shortcut
Another way is to set your own keyboard shortcut to quickly toggle the “Always on Top” function. For this to work, you will need to install wmctrl – a command line tool to interact with X Window Manager. To get started, install wmctrl with the following command: Once installed, go to “System Settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts”. On the left pane, select “Custom Shortcuts” and click the “+” button.
In the popup window, enter the following: Name: Toggle Always on Top Command: wmctrl -r :ACTIVE: -b toggle,above
Click “Apply.” Next, click on the “Disabled” field and add your own keyboard shortcut for this toggle. In this case, I have used the shortcut “Alt + Shift + A” to toggle the “Always on Top” option. That’s it.
Conclusion
The “Always on Top” function is very handy, and having a keyboard shortcut to toggle it can help improve your productivity. Try it out, and let us know if it works for you.
