How to change the number of available desktops

Default, Ubuntu comes with 4 desktops, but this is sometimes inconvenient, either because can be excessive (and a waste of resources) Or, quite the opposite, because it is very limited according to our needs. Let's see how to determine the number of available desktops, via Compiz or Gnome.

Through Compiz

If you have Compiz installed, the easiest way is by going to System> Preferences> CompizConfig Options Manager. Once there, select the button General Options and navigate to the last tab, called Desk Size. Finally, from there you can configure the horizontal and vertical size of your desktop, which is just a strange way to tell how many desktops you want to use. Horizontal desktops will be available via Ctrl + Alt + Left and Right arrows; vertical desktops, via Ctrl + Alt + Up and Down arrows. Yes, very intuitive. 😛

Through Gnome

In case you don't have Compiz, you can edit the number of desktops through an applet for the Gnome panel. That applet is the one that shows you the active desktop and the rest of the available desktops. It comes by default in the vast majority of Gnome distros but, in case you have deleted it or cannot find it, you can always add it by doing right click on Gnome panel> Add to panel. Then select the applet Work area changer.

Once the applet is added, right click on it and choose the option Preferences. A window will appear that will allow us to precisely establish the number of horizontal and vertical desks.