---
title: "Tiling Shell"
category: "Desktop and system"
tagline: "The GNOME extension behind CoreDesktop's flexible tiling, driven from the keyboard."
source: "extension"
package: "tilingshell@ferrarodomenico.com"
website: "https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/7065/tiling-shell/"
code: "https://github.com/domferr/tilingshell"
---

## What it is

Tiling Shell is a GNOME Shell extension that arranges windows into layouts: columns, halves or any grid of tiles you draw yourself. New windows can fill the next free tile automatically, you can drag a window into a tile while holding <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>, and you switch layouts from an icon in the top bar. Unlike a tiling window manager, it adds to GNOME rather than replacing it, so the rest of the desktop works as usual.

## Why it's here

- **Made for wide screens.** Three columns put an ultrawide monitor to good use, and simpler layouts suit a laptop.
- **Keyboard control.** <kbd>Super</kbd> and the arrow keys move windows between tiles.
- **Your own layouts.** Draw new ones in the layout editor, with no config files.

## On CoreDesktop

CoreDesktop installs Tiling Shell from extensions.gnome.org with gext, turns it on, and loads its settings from `gnome/gnome-settings.dconf`: new windows tile automatically, window borders are off, and there are three layouts, three columns, two halves and one full-screen tile. Hold <kbd>Super</kbd> and use the arrow keys to move windows between tiles. See [tiling](/system/#tiling) on the System page.

To change the layout, use the tiling icon in the top right of your screen. `update` keeps the extension current and reapplies CoreDesktop's settings only when CoreDesktop changes them.