Translations by Joel Pickett

Set the <link xref="sound-volume">volume</link>, configure sound <link xref="media">settings</link>, and control media players like <app>Rhythmbox</app>.

To maximize a window along a side of the screen, grab the titlebar and drag it to the left or right side until half of the screen is highlighted. Using the keyboard, hold down <key>Ctrl</key> and <key><link xref="windows-key">Super</link></key> and press the <key>Left</key> or <key>Right</key> key.

To restore a window to its unmaximized size, drag it away from the edges of the screen. If the window is fully maximized, you can double-click the titlebar to restore it. You can also use the keyboard shortcut <keyseq><key>Ctrl</key> <key><link xref="windows-key">Super</link></key> <key>↓</key></keyseq>.

The Super key serves a special function in <em>Unity</em>. If you press the Super key, the Dash is displayed. If you press <em>and hold</em> the Super key, an overlay showing many of Unity's keyboard shortcuts appears until you release the Super key.

The Super key can help you do even more than that, though. To learn about more uses for the <em>Super</em> key, see the <link xref="shell-keyboard-shortcuts">keyboard shortcuts</link> page.

What is the "Super" key?

This key can usually be found on the bottom-left of your keyboard, next to the <key>Alt</key> key, and usually has a window/squares icon on it. It is sometimes called the Windows key, logo key, or system key.

<keyseq><key>Ctrl</key><key xref="windows-key">Super</key><key>D</key></keyseq>

<keyseq><key xref="windows-key">Super</key><key>W</key></keyseq>

<keyseq><key xref="windows-key">Super</key><key>S</key></keyseq>

When you boot back into your installation, click your name in the menu bar. Open <gui>My Account</gui> and reset your password.

Get rid of the keyring

If you insert a DVD into your computer and it doesn't play, you may not have the right DVD <em>codecs</em> installed, or the DVD might be from a different <em>region</em>.

In summary, admin privileges allow you to change important parts of your system when needed, but prevent you from doing it accidentally.

DVDs have a <em>region code</em>, which tells you in which region of the world they are allowed to be played. If the region of your computer's DVD player doesn't match the region of the DVD you are trying to play, you won't be able to play the DVD. For example, if you have a Region 1 DVD player, you will only be allowed to play DVDs from North America.

DVDs are also <em>copy-protected</em> using a system called CSS. This prevents you from copying DVDs, but it also prevents you from playing them unless you have <link xref="video-dvd-restricted">extra software</link> to handle the copy protection.

In order to play DVDs, you need to have the right <em>codecs</em> installed. A codec is a piece of software that allows applications to read a video or audio format. If you try to play a DVD and don't have the right codecs installed, the Movie Player should tell you about this and offer to install them for you.

It is often possible to change the region used by your DVD player, but it can only be done a few times before it locks into one region permanently. To change the DVD region of your computer's DVD player, use <link href="apt:regionset">regionset</link>.

Disable the scrollbars

Sometimes you need to use these applications, so you may be able to temporarily get admin privileges to allow you to make the changes. If an application needs admin privileges, it will ask for your password. For example, if you want to install some new software, the software installer (package manager) will ask for your admin password so it can add the new application to the system. Once it has finished, your admin privileges will be taken away again.

You can disable the new scrollbars if you prefer the traditional style:

Setting your theme to <link xref="a11y-contrast">High Contrast</link> will also disable the overlay scrollbars.

<link xref="shell-exit">Log out</link> and log back in for the change to take effect.

<link xref="mouse-middleclick"/> on the <gui>thumb slider</gui> to move the screen's position without needing to drag or scroll page by page. This is especially useful in long documents.

Type the following command and press <key>Enter</key>:

As well as the files that <em>you</em> create, your computer has a number of files which are needed by the system for it to work properly. If these important <em>system files</em> are changed improperly they can cause various things to break, so they are protected from changes by default. Certain applications also modify important parts of the system, and so are also protected.

If you change your mind and want to re-enable the scrollbars, run this command:

Use the scrollbars

What are overlay scrollbars?

Some apps like Firefox and LibreOffice don't support the new scrollbars yet.

Ways to use the scrollbars:

Click the top half of the <gui>thumb slider</gui> to scroll one page up. Click the bottom half to scroll one page down.

Drag the <gui>thumb slider</gui> up or down to move the screen's position exactly where you want it.

The overlay scrollbar appears as a thin orange strip at the edge of a scrollable area. The position of the scrollbar corresponds with your screen's position in the scrollable content. The strip length corresponds with the content length; the shorter the strip, the longer the content.

Move your mouse pointer over any point on the scrollable edge of the content to reveal the <gui>thumb slider</gui>.

Overlay scrollbars are the thin orange strips on long documents.

Click <gui>Appearance</gui>.

Use the HUD

Tap <key>Alt</key> to open the HUD.

Start typing.

The <gui>Launcher</gui> appears automatically when you log in to your desktop, and gives you quick access to the applications you use most often.

The HUD keeps track of your search history and adjusts the search results to be even more useful the more you use it.

What is the HUD?

Use the HUD to search menus of the apps you use.

Some apps like <link href="apt:gimp">Gimp</link> or <link href="apt:inkscape">Inkscape</link> have hundreds of menu items. If you're using apps like these, you may remember the name of a menu option, but you might not remember how to find it in the menus.

Check your laptop battery's charging status. This menu is hidden if a battery isn't detected.

Send or receive files by <link xref="bluetooth">Bluetooth</link>. This menu is hidden if a supported Bluetooth device isn't detected.

Some keyboards have keys that let you control the volume. They normally look like stylized speakers with waves coming out of them. They are often near the "F" keys at the top. On laptop keyboards, they are usually on the "F" keys. Hold down the <key>Fn</key> key on your keyboard to use them.

Some applications have volume controls in their main windows. If your application has one of these, use that to change the volume. Otherwise, click the <gui>sound menu</gui> on the <gui>menu bar</gui> and click <gui>Sound Settings</gui>. Go to the <gui>Applications</gui> tab and change the volume of the application there.

Click the <gui>sound menu</gui> on the menu bar (it looks like a speaker) and make sure that the sound is not muted or turned down.