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How to Run Multiple copies of program from Unity Launcher

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This stupid tip is written to those new to Ubuntu Unity or just who doesn’t know about it.

In Unity, sometimes we want to run another copy of one program from the launcher which is already running. But when click again on the shortcut it doesn’t start another copy, also there’s no option on right-click menu. Although some programs can start another copy from current running one but what if it doesn’t?

Actually, the mouse middle-key or middle-wheel was designed to do the job. Just middle-click on one icon to run another copy if one instance is already running.

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11 users responded in " How to Run Multiple copies of program from Unity Launcher "

Jon said, in June 22nd, 2011 at 9:54 am

Thank you! I don’t know why they hid this feature away. Right-click option would have been real nice.

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Werner said, in July 10th, 2011 at 8:11 pm

Thanks for this tip. You are a live saver – well, maybe not that dramatically. However, not being able to launch multiple copies of xterm really, really p…ed me off.
May I suggest you to write some kind of “Ubuntu’s Unity for Dummys”?

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Anthony said, in July 25th, 2011 at 9:50 pm

Thank you!

Seems obvious now that you’ve said it

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John said, in August 12th, 2011 at 6:32 pm

Don’t think the tip is stupid.
But this question is: what do you do when you don’t have a middle mouse button/scroll wheel (e.g. laptop touchpad)? How do you emulate a middle mouse button click?

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Amos Reply:
August 14th, 2011 at 4:23 pm

You should be able to emulate the middle mouse key by pressing both existing keys on the mouse. Maybe you’ll have to turn this option on if it doesn’t work.

And about this tip being stupid – it’s not.

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craig Reply:
February 1st, 2012 at 9:14 am

great tip. thanks.

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Helper said, in September 14th, 2011 at 4:01 am

Thx for this quick hint. Helped me!

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alan said, in October 5th, 2011 at 4:39 am

thanks. xD

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Ryan said, in October 18th, 2011 at 12:40 pm

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

The “Unity” side panel thing *REALLY* needs a right-click menu and some very basic customization options — such as the size, auto-hide-timeout, launching apps another time, screen placement of the launcher, etc.

I seriously still prefer the old gnome desktop. By far.

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