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Getting Started

Welcome to Config-Sway! This guide will help you start using your new Sway window manager setup immediately.
If you haven’t installed Config-Sway yet, follow the Installation Guide first.

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Starting Sway

You can start Sway from a TTY or through a display manager.
1

Switch to a TTY

Press Ctrl+Alt+F2 (or F3, F4, etc.) to switch to a text terminal.
2

Log in

Enter your username and password.
3

Launch Sway

sway
Sway will start and you’ll see your desktop with Waybar at the top.
If you’re running NVIDIA graphics, you may experience issues with Wayland. AMD and Intel GPUs work best with Sway.

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From a Display Manager

If you use a display manager (GDM, SDDM, LightDM), select “Sway” from the session menu before logging in.

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Essential Keybindings

Config-Sway uses Super (Windows key) as the primary modifier, with Hyprland-style shortcuts.

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Opening Applications

Super + Enter        Open Kitty terminal

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Window Management

Super + H           Focus window to the left
Super + J           Focus window below
Super + K           Focus window above
Super + L           Focus window to the right

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Workspaces

Super + 1-9         Switch to workspace 1-9
Super + 0           Switch to workspace 10
Super + S           Switch to "magic" workspace

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System Menus

Super + Q           Open power menu (shutdown/reboot/lock/suspend/logout)

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Your First Session

Let’s walk through using Sway for the first time.
1

Open a terminal

Press Super + Enter to open Kitty, your terminal emulator.
Kitty is a GPU-accelerated terminal with excellent performance and features like ligatures and image support.
2

Launch applications

Press Super + D to open the Rofi application launcher. Type the name of an application and press Enter to launch it.Try launching Firefox: press Super + D, type “firefox”, and press Enter.
3

Navigate between windows

Use Super + H/J/K/L to move focus between open windows:
  • Super + H - Focus left
  • Super + L - Focus right
  • Super + K - Focus up
  • Super + J - Focus down
This follows Vim-style navigation keys.
4

Switch workspaces

Press Super + 2 to switch to workspace 2. Press Super + 1 to return to workspace 1.Workspaces help you organize windows by task or project.
5

Move windows between workspaces

Focus a window, then press Super + Shift + 2 to move it to workspace 2.Press Super + 2 to follow it to that workspace.

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Customizing Your Setup

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Switching Themes

Config-Sway includes a unified theme system that changes colors across Sway, Waybar, Kitty, and Rofi.
1

Open the theme switcher

Press Super + A to open the theme switcher menu.
2

Select a theme

Use arrow keys to navigate and Enter to select a theme.The theme applies immediately to:
  • Window borders and title bars (Sway)
  • Status bar colors (Waybar)
  • Terminal colors (Kitty)
  • Menu colors (Rofi)
  • Wallpaper
3

Verify the change

Your current theme is saved in ~/.config/themes/.current.Open a new terminal window to see the updated colors: Super + Enter

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Changing Wallpapers

Press Super + W to open the wallpaper switcher. Select an image from your wallpapers directory.
Wallpapers are stored in ~/.config/wallpapers/. Add your own images to this directory to use them.

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Window Layout Tips

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Floating Windows

By default, Sway tiles windows automatically. To make a window float:
  1. Focus the window
  2. Press Super + U to toggle floating mode
  3. Move floating windows with Super + Shift + H/J/K/L (50px) or Super + Alt + H/J/K/L (150px)
  4. Resize floating windows with Super + Ctrl + H/J/K/L

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Split Direction

Press Super + O to toggle between horizontal and vertical splits. New windows will tile in the current split direction.

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Fullscreen

Press Super + P to make the focused window fullscreen. Press it again to exit fullscreen.

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Using the Power Menu

Press Super + Q to open the power menu with these options:
  • Shutdown: Power off your computer
  • Reboot: Restart your computer
  • Lock: Lock your screen with swaylock
  • Suspend: Suspend to RAM (sleep mode)
  • Logout: Exit Sway and return to TTY/display manager

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Media Controls

Config-Sway includes multimedia key support: 
XF86AudioRaiseVolume    Increase volume by 5%
XF86AudioLowerVolume    Decrease volume by 5%
XF86AudioMute           Toggle mute
XF86AudioMicMute        Toggle microphone mute
These keys work automatically if your keyboard has dedicated media keys. On laptops, they’re usually accessed with the Fn key.

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Notifications

Config-Sway uses Mako for notifications.

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Notification Controls

  • Super + N - Dismiss all notifications
  • Super + Shift + N - Toggle Do Not Disturb mode
Notifications appear in the top-right corner of your screen.

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Mouse Gestures

You can also use your mouse with the Super key:
  • Super + Left Click - Drag to move window
  • Super + Middle Click - Drag to resize window
  • Super + Right Click - Toggle floating mode
  • Super + Scroll Up - Next workspace
  • Super + Scroll Down - Previous workspace

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Reloading Configuration

After editing configuration files: 
# Reload Sway config
Super + Shift + R
Or from a terminal: 
swaymsg reload
To restart Waybar: 
killall waybar
waybar &

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Getting Help

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View All Keybindings

All keybindings are defined in ~/.config/sway/config. Open it in your editor: 
nvim ~/.config/sway/config

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Check Sway Status

# View Sway IPC socket
swaymsg -t get_tree

# List outputs
swaymsg -t get_outputs

# List workspaces
swaymsg -t get_workspaces

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Debug Issues

journalctl --user -u sway -b

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Quick Reference Card

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Most Important Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Super + EnterOpen terminal
Super + DApplication launcher
Super + QPower menu
Super + CClose window
Super + ATheme switcher
Super + H/J/K/LNavigate windows
Super + 1-9Switch workspace
Super + Shift + 1-9Move window to workspace
Super + UToggle floating
Super + PToggle fullscreen

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Next Steps

Now that you’re familiar with the basics, explore more features:

Customization

Learn how to customize themes, configure Waybar, and personalize your setup.

Keybindings

View the complete keybinding reference with all shortcuts.

Troubleshooting

Solutions for common issues and problems.

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Tips for New Users

Coming from a desktop environment? Sway works differently:
  • There’s no traditional “minimize” - use workspaces instead
  • Windows tile automatically - use Super + U to float windows when needed
  • The status bar (Waybar) shows workspace indicators - click them to switch
  • Right-click the network icon in Waybar to manage WiFi connections
Remember to save your work! Unlike some desktop environments, closing the last window doesn’t prevent logout. Press Super + Q and select “Logout” when you’re ready to exit.

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Practice Exercise

Try this workflow to get comfortable with Sway:
1

Open multiple terminals

Press Super + Enter three times to open three terminal windows.Notice how they tile automatically.
2

Navigate between them

Use Super + H/J/K/L to move focus between terminals.
3

Move one to workspace 2

Focus one terminal and press Super + Shift + 2.Press Super + 2 to see it in workspace 2.
4

Switch back to workspace 1

Press Super + 1 to return.
5

Make a terminal floating

Focus a terminal and press Super + U.Move it with Super + Shift + H/J/K/L.Resize it with Super + Ctrl + H/J/K/L.
6

Close everything

Press Super + C on each window to close them.Or press Super + Q and select “Logout” to exit Sway.
Congratulations! You now know the fundamentals of using Config-Sway.

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