When you change workspace, your apps are left on previous workspace. To return to that workspace, you should click on the workspace indicator or use Ctrl+Alt+Arrow key combination.
You also say that you can't open any apps. Can you please run "gnome- panel --replace" in the terminal, trigger this bug and paste here the terminal output? ** Changed in: gnome-panel (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1310976 Title: LTS 14.04 after change desktop - cant control system To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-panel/+bug/1310976/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs