Kubuntu: Making Windows Open Where You Want Them

If you’re like me you run two monitors most of the time. I personally use nVidia’s TwinView since it allows me to add and remove desktops without restarting X.

This setup works great for me, and on every distro I’ve ever used I had no issues with which monitor new windows would open on. Except for Kubuntu. See, I want new windows to open on the monitor where the mouse pointer is. That’s where my focus is, and so that’s where the new window I just requested should come up. By default that’s how KDE behaves. The Kubuntu folks messed with this and their new windows open on the monitor with the active window (if there is one).

To correct this simply open the “System Settings” applet, click “Window Behavior” in the “Look & Feel” section, then check the “Active mouse screen” checkbox.