Workspace Alignment/Sizing Issue with Multiple Monitors
Affected version
- Arch Linux 5.11.15-arch1-2
- Gnome Shell 40.1
- XOrg and Wayland
Bug summary
With multiple monitors (particularly noticeable with 2+ identical monitors), Overview is not aligned/same size between them, creating a jarring and unpolished experience. This is especially a problem since the secondary monitor overview shows more of the neighboring workspaces off to the side. This extra little sliver often shows windows from other workspaces very close to the windows in the current workspace. This makes it easy to mix up where your windows are and aren't, or even get confused about where your windows are/what workspace you are in. Overall, these small things add up to create a thorough confusing, unpleasant, and inconsistent experience.
Steps to reproduce
- Open overview with multiple monitors (ideally 2+ of same size and resolution, next to each other).
- For extra confusion add windows to the workspace on the left, and add some to the current workspace on the left monitor
- For even MORE confusion, try to scroll through workspaces filled with windows without getting confused or lost
What happened
The Overviews on the two monitors were not aligned and/or the same size. This also made the neighboring workspace previews on the sides vastly different sizes creating an inconsistent and confusing experience.
What did you expect to happen
I expected the Overviews to be the same size/aligned, or at the very least for the workspace previews on the side to be the same size.
Relevant logs, screenshots, screencasts etc.
Below is a screenshot demonstrating this issue.
It is very easy to get mixed up and accidentally grab a window poking out from the workspace on the left on the second monitor. The sizing is also very inconsistent, with so much extra space there is no reason I can think of not to match the overview size on the second monitor to the primary one.
I think the easiest and best solution would be to increase the size of the workspace on the secondary monitor to match that on the primary monitor. This would have the side effect of decreasing the size of the workspace preview to match the primary monitor as well, making the UI consistent polished and productive.