Ubuntu Panel Missing!

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When I logged into the machine today, I was shocked to see no panel appearing on the ubuntu desktop. I thought the computer has hung. But when I right clicked the desktop, I got the regular pop-up menu and was able to change desktop wallpapers.

Here is what I did to get the panel back. With the desktop without the panel and not remembering any of the shortcuts, it was quiet difficult.

First, I created a launcher for Terminal. Right Click on any area on the desktop and then choose ‘Create Launcher’. Choose any name and then in the command text box, type in

terminal

This should create a terminal launcher. That done, double click to open a terminal session. Enter the following command,

killall gnome-panel

Then right click on the desktop to create another launcher. This time in the command text box, type in

gnome-panel

This creates a gnome-panel launcher. Double click and viola! you have the Panel.

panel ubuntu

Comments

17 responses to “Ubuntu Panel Missing!”

June 17, 2010

ubuntu user

Many thanks!!!! Have been searching in vain for method to get my top menu back after losing both top and bottom menus. Ctl-Alt_F2 got me to a terminal but for some reason the googled similar commands to yours wouldn’t work from there. Your system worked beautifully. Only had to add the “shutdown” button to the menu to get back to exactly what my modified menu bar was before (lost the menu bar after deleting the chat/broadcast/ubuntu1 options in 10.0.4 lucid,which seemed to be tied into the shutdown button). Big smiles here!!

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June 17, 2010

Rajeshwaran S P

Great to hear that it helped!

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July 8, 2010

Thufir

Thanks.

Geez, I found people re-installing, suggestions to edit config files and reboot and other solutions out of whack with the problem!

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September 17, 2010

jdub

thanks so much

Reply
September 27, 2010

Arne

This post was helpful to me, thanks!

In my case I don’t actually need to start the panel. After I do “killall gnome-panel”, the panels show up automatically.

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September 27, 2010

Arne

forgot…
I use Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS

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September 27, 2010

Rajeshwaran S P

@Arne, @jdub: It’s good to hear that it helped.

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October 19, 2010

Peter F

This worked for me, Ubuntu 10.10.

Man, they really need to get on this disappearing panel problem.

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December 25, 2010

Elias

I could not get this to work. Nothing happens when I try to create a launcher. I can create folders and files, but not a launcher. I really need my upper and lower menu bar/panel!

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February 1, 2011

Jane

Try using gnome-terminal if you cant create launcher with terminal.

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February 12, 2011

petej40

I simply added xfce4-panel to my session and startup application autostart apps. just go to XFCE 4 Settings Manager>Session and Startup>open Aplication Autostart tab>click Add>Type xfce4-panel in each of the 3 boxes>click OK, and your panel should come back each time you start xfce. No Terminal Session Required

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March 8, 2011

yuli45com

thanks very much. you help me to find my panel.
do you know why the panel missing by self?

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March 10, 2011

walter cronkite

Thanks much for the advise, tried several other \solutions\ no joy..this one worked for me, ubuntu 10.? lts

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April 19, 2011

Darshan Rathi

Thanks man it was really helpful!!!

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April 30, 2011

ajay

Man I also lost my Panel in ubuntu 11.04..it happened when I was installing few application suddenly the software manager stopped to respond and when I restarted usinng Alt+Ctrl+Del….I lost my Panel ……let me try your solution…..hope it will work 4 me 2…….

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May 14, 2011

Halli

Thanks so much!

🙂

Reply
August 26, 2011

David Gove

This worked for me – in Pinguy.

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