Get Window Decorations Back on Linux Client

[ska352]

Zoom on Linux (Ubuntu)

Version 6.1.0.198

So, the new version (see above) finally brought the new look that was announced earlier with version 6.0.0 (4563). Yes, it looks more modern. 👍

But

It removes window decorations like the title bar and the borders. As someone who uses the title bar to see whether a window is "sticky" in a multi-desktop setup (sticky means, it moves around with me while I change desktop), this makes the Zoom app less efficient. In just one day, I had already so many occasions on which I left behind a Zoom window (keep in mind that the stickiness changes whenever someone stops sharing a screen) that I got very disappointed with the change.

I looked around in the settings to find something that would bring the window decorations back, but wasn't successful.

Does anyone have any pointers how to get window decorations back? Is it even possible? If not, is there any chance the Product Management at Zoom listens? (If I need to edit weird text files, that's fine. 25+ years Linux user here.)

[ska352 · Accepted solution]

Solution on KDE (only implemented just now; must stand the test of time):

* Open System Settings

* Go to Window Management -> Window Rules

* Match on "Window class (application)" with "Exact Match" on "zoom"

* "Match whole window class": "no"

* Add property "No titlebar and frame", set it to "No"

* I currently have set it to "force". Maybe a more relaxed setting can work, too.

[morgancoxuk]

I'd also like to know - i'm running plasma 5.27.x on kubuntu and the new titlebar is really fat and looks silly

[ska352]

Adding to this: If you run Zoom in dual monitor setup, all self-written controls like dragging the window and resizing it don't work on the second window. This is a strong regression. I only realized later because I usually drag and resize windows with a modifier key. Most people would use the window decorations for this, though.

[alanbur]

Yes, it's completely broken. I've logged a ticket and rolled back to the previous version, if you have a support account I suggest logging a ticket, the more people do the more likely it is to get fixed.

[ska352]

I think the resize/move issues were fixed in version 6.1.1 (443). I still keep my fix for the window decorations to be able to see the stickiness state of the windows. It makes them uglier, but I care more about function than form.

[pd3]

I have the same problem, it is hugely annoying.

[ska352 · Accepted solution]

Solution on KDE (only implemented just now; must stand the test of time):

* Open System Settings

* Go to Window Management -> Window Rules

* Match on "Window class (application)" with "Exact Match" on "zoom"

* "Match whole window class": "no"

* Add property "No titlebar and frame", set it to "No"

* I currently have set it to "force". Maybe a more relaxed setting can work, too.

[peter_skoda]

This is not usable for GNOME.

See https://community.zoom.com/t5/Zoom-Meetings/Useability-of-recent-Linux-Zoom-application-versions/td-...

[dualkei]

Thank you so much for this solution, I was also able to use it for other apps (e.g. Mattermost) that have recently adopted this annoying change.

[uiuxexpert]

Same here. Such bad experience in Ubuntu now. Pity the KDE fix doesn't work for Ubuntu. We really should be naming and shaming the designers who came up with this wonderful "improvement". Seriously Zoom folks, you have a buttload of other things you could be ruining before you ruin the title bar.

[d81]

I agree completely. Lobotomizing applications by not using the native window manager decorations is the most idiotic UI design decision I've seen in a long time. I encountered the same problem with Firefox and Chrome in Kubuntu 24.04, and I have no idea why some folks are doing that.

[confluency]

I just upgraded, and this is very irritating. I shouldn't have to jump through hoops to make my window sticky across workspaces. I have to find a different workaround on each of my desktops, since I don't use KDE on either.

Operating systems have window decorations for a reason. They're a standardised part of the UI. Please stop breaking basic usability for cosmetic reasons.

[nrettinghouse]

I'm on xfce4. I can't "windowshade", "push behind" or make a window "sticky" anymore.

[dz1]

I'm on Ubuntu Desktop and I can't even drag the window to a different location on my monitor. 

[confluency]

Good news for me and the three other people who still use Fluxbox: you can add this to your ~/.fluxbox/apps

[app] (name=zoom) (class=zoom)
    [Deco] {NORMAL}
[end]

... and reload config, to force all zoom windows to have normal decorations.

[lil_waffle]

This has been seriously bothering me since I last updated Zoom. I'm using GNOME v43.9 on Debian. Does anyone know whether it's possible to return the window decorations and special behaviors (always on top, always on visible workspace, and so on) to Zoom's windows on GNOME?

[cayhorstmann]

Using Openbox, so I have some control over lobotomized windows without title bars. But still, what a terrible user experience. There needs to be a setting to get native window decorations. Chrome provides that option (Use system title bar and borders), so why not Zoom?

[lil_waffle]

There's another thread here asking about GNOME window decorations.

[lil_waffle]

I recently learned that you can access the GNOME window commands by alt-right-clicking a window, and this works on Zoom's custom windows. It's not an ideal solution for me but it's a simple workaround.

[lil_waffle]

Someone in another thread directed me to Settings > Accessibility > Miscellaneous > Use system title bar and borders. I don't know how I missed that before. It's apparently in v6.1.11 and later.

[davidjhonlo]

Unfortunately, Zoom's latest update on Linux (6.1.0.198) seems to remove native window decorations by design, and there’s no built-in option to re-enable them. A potential workaround could be launching Zoom with the --class flag via terminal, which may allow some window managers (like GNOME or KDE) to handle the window more traditionally: bash Copy code zoom --class=zoom Alternatively, you could try forcing decorations through wmctrl or devilspie tools if you use a custom window manager. As for feedback, you can post your concern in the Zoom Community or open a feature request—they do listen to user input over time

[planet4589]

Can't find a working solution on  Mint running the MATE window manager, this is a really annoying change - any suggestions?

[uiuxexpert]

We have up and use slacks huddle. Not a great answer but it works

[cayhorstmann · Accepted solution]

Settings → Accessibility → Miscellaneous → Use system title bar and borders. Works with OpenBox and Zoom 6.3.5.

[ska352]

This is awesome. I just tested it: Deactivated the window rule, tested that the unwanted behavior shows, used the setting that's well hidden in Accessibility. Confirmed to work in Zoom 6.3.5 on a Ubuntu 24.04 on KDE Plasma.

This works! Thanks. 

[morgancoxuk]

That works (Kubuntu 24.04) - thanks

[boshea]

Thanks for this.  I dug around the settings looking for how to enable the title bar and couldn't find it, but didn't think to check in the Accessibility section.  It seems like a strange decision to make the default behavior to have no title bar, because this makes it impossible to move the window.

[computerkid]

I'd been digging around on this. Solved for me, and hopefully for you:

Settings->Accessibility->Miscellaneous: Checkbox for "Use system title bar and borders."

At present, I'm working with Version: 6.3.10 (7150)