You’ve set up the programs you need. Your windows are arranged just right. Then, something else demands your attention and you have to shut down. No worries. You can have Ubuntu remember all your running applications and restore them the next time you log in.

To have Ubuntu remember the applications you have running in your current session and restore them the next time you log in, you will use the dconf-editor. This tool replaces the gconf-editor available in previous versions of Ubuntu but is not available by default. To install the dconf-editor, see the instructions in this article.

NOTE: When we say to type something in this article and there are quotes around the text, DO NOT type the quotes, unless we specify otherwise.

Once the dconf-editor is installed, click the Dash button at the top of the Unity Launcher bar.

01_clicking_dash

Start typing “dconf editor” in the search box. When the “dconf Editor” item displays, click on the icon to start the tool.

02_starting_dconf_editor

In the “dconf Editor” window, click the right arrow next to “org” in the left pane to expand that branch of the tree.

03_clicking_org

Under “org”, click the right arrow next to “gnome.”

04_clicking_gnome

Under “gnome,” click “gnome-session.”.In the right pane, select the “auto-save-session” check box to turn on the option.

05_selecting_auto_save_session

Close the “dconf Editor” by clicking the “X” button in the upper-left corner of the window.

06_closing_dconf_editor

The next time you log out and log back in, all of your running applications will be restored.