There are two locations where you can define the button’s location: dconf and gconf.
The dconf-method works for most of Gnome Shell and Unity. However, e.g. Chrome is using the “old” gconf-setting.
dconf
Install and run dconf-editor
.
Go to org
→ gnome
→ desktop
→ wm
→ preferences
and find the setting button-layout
. The default value is: appmenu:close
. To just add the minimise/maximise buttons (e.g. in Gnome Shell), change it to: appmenu:minimize,maximize,close
.
To just move the close button to the left, use: close,appmenu:
. (The :
separates the buttons on the left and those on the right.)
You can also mix it up, e.g. close,appmenu:minimize,maximize
.
gconf
Install and run gconf-editor
.
Go to apps
→ metacity
→ general
and find button_layout
. Here, the default value is :minimize,maximize,close
.
To get everything to the left, use close,minimize,maximize:
.