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This reference documents all keybindings configured in the i3 window manager. The modifier key is set to Super (Windows key).

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Configuration

  • Modifier Key: $mod = Super (Mod4)
  • Font: URWGothic-Book 11
  • Config File: ~/.config/i3/config

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Window Management

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Basic Window Operations

KeybindingAction
$mod+Shift+qKill focused window
$mod+Shift+SpaceToggle between tiling and floating mode
$mod+SpaceChange focus between tiling and floating windows
$mod+aFocus parent container

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Window Focus

KeybindingAction
$mod+jFocus left
$mod+kFocus down
$mod+lFocus up
$mod+semicolonFocus right
$mod+LeftFocus left
$mod+DownFocus down
$mod+UpFocus up
$mod+RightFocus right

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Move Windows

KeybindingAction
$mod+Shift+jMove window left
$mod+Shift+kMove window down
$mod+Shift+lMove window up
$mod+Shift+semicolonMove window right
$mod+Shift+LeftMove window left
$mod+Shift+DownMove window down
$mod+Shift+UpMove window up
$mod+Shift+RightMove window right

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Window Layouts

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Split & Layout

KeybindingAction
$mod+hSplit horizontally
$mod+vSplit vertically
$mod+sStacking layout
$mod+wTabbed layout
$mod+eToggle split layout

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Resize Mode

KeybindingAction
$mod+rEnter resize mode
In Resize Mode:
KeyAction
j / LeftShrink width by 10px
k / DownGrow height by 10px
l / UpShrink height by 10px
semicolon / RightGrow width by 10px
Return / Escape / $mod+rExit resize mode

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Quick Resize (1px increments)

KeybindingAction
$mod+Ctrl+RightShrink width by 1px
$mod+Ctrl+UpGrow height by 1px
$mod+Ctrl+DownShrink height by 1px
$mod+Ctrl+LeftGrow width by 1px

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Quick Resize (10px increments)

KeybindingAction
$mod+Ctrl+Shift+RightShrink width by 10px
$mod+Ctrl+Shift+UpGrow height by 10px
$mod+Ctrl+Shift+DownShrink height by 10px
$mod+Ctrl+Shift+LeftGrow width by 10px

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Workspaces

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Switch to Workspace

KeybindingWorkspace
$mod+1Workspace 1
$mod+2Workspace 2
$mod+3Workspace 3
$mod+4Workspace 4
$mod+5Workspace 5
$mod+6Workspace 6
$mod+7Workspace 7
$mod+8Workspace 8
$mod+9Workspace 9
$mod+0Workspace 10
$mod+mWorkspace 11 (Music)
$mod+cWorkspace 12 (Teams)
$mod+fWorkspace 13 (Frontend)
$mod+bWorkspace 14 (Backend)
$mod+xWorkspace 20 (Trash)

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Move Window to Workspace

KeybindingAction
$mod+Shift+1Move to workspace 1
$mod+Shift+2Move to workspace 2
$mod+Shift+3Move to workspace 3
$mod+Shift+4Move to workspace 4
$mod+Shift+5Move to workspace 5
$mod+Shift+6Move to workspace 6
$mod+Shift+7Move to workspace 7
$mod+Shift+8Move to workspace 8
$mod+Shift+9Move to workspace 9
$mod+Shift+0Move to workspace 10
$mod+Shift+mMove to workspace 11 (Music)
$mod+Shift+cMove to workspace 12 (Teams)
$mod+Shift+fMove to workspace 13 (Frontend)
$mod+Shift+bMove to workspace 14 (Backend)
$mod+Shift+xMove to workspace 20 (Trash)

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Multi-Monitor

KeybindingAction
$mod+Ctrl+greaterMove workspace to right monitor
$mod+Ctrl+lessMove workspace to left monitor
Monitor Configuration:
  • Monitor 0: DP-4
  • Monitor 1: HDMI-0

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Application Launchers

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Terminals

KeybindingAction
$mod+ReturnLaunch Kitty terminal
$mod+KP_EnterLaunch Kitty with ranger file manager
$mod+KP_AddLaunch Alacritty terminal

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Quick Launch Applications

KeybindingApplication
$mod+F1Firefox browser
$mod+F2Thunar file manager
$mod+F3Spotify

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Launchers & Menus

KeybindingAction
$mod+dOpen Rofi application launcher
$mod+TabOpen Rofi power menu
$mod+Shift+dOpen Rofi calculator

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Media Controls

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Audio Playback (Spotify)

KeybindingAction
$mod+InsertPlay/Pause Spotify
$mod+HomeNext track
$mod+EndPrevious track

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Volume Control

KeybindingAction
$mod+Prior (Page Up)Increase volume by 5%
$mod+Next (Page Down)Decrease volume by 5%
XF86AudioRaiseVolumeIncrease volume by 10%
XF86AudioLowerVolumeDecrease volume by 10%
XF86AudioMuteToggle mute
XF86AudioMicMuteToggle microphone mute

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Screenshots & Utilities

KeybindingAction
$mod+PrintLaunch Flameshot screenshot tool
$mod+Shift+PrintLaunch Gcolor2 color picker
$mod+Scroll_LockLock screen with i3lock (black screen)

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System Controls

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i3 Management

KeybindingAction
$mod+Shift+tReload i3 configuration
$mod+Shift+rRestart i3 (preserves layout)
$mod+Shift+eExit i3 (with confirmation dialog)

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Mouse Bindings

ActionBinding
Drag floating window$mod+Left Click

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Advanced Configuration

Specific workspaces are assigned to monitors:Monitor 0 (DP-4):
  • Workspace 1
  • Workspace 11 (Music)
  • Workspace 12 (Teams)
  • Workspace 13 (Frontend)
  • Workspace 14 (Backend)
Monitor 1 (HDMI-0):
  • Workspace 2-5
  • Workspace 10
  • Workspace 20 (Trash)
Special window behaviors:
# Floating windows
- Pop-up windows
- Task dialogs
- Plasma desktop
- System settings
- Pavucontrol
- Steam Friends List

# Border configuration
- All windows: 3px border
- Gaps: 8px inner, 0px outer
Applications launched on i3 startup:
- xss-lock (screen lock manager)
- nm-applet (NetworkManager)
- volumeicon (volume control)
- polybar (status bar)
- autotiling (automatic layout)
- dunst (notifications)
- picom (compositor)
Window border colors:
client.focused:          #ffffff (white)
client.focused_inactive: #5f676a (gray)
client.unfocused:        #222222 (dark gray)
client.urgent:           #FF8383 (red)
client.placeholder:      #0c0c0c (black)
client.background:       #ffffff (white)

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Quick Reference Card

Most Used Keybindings:
  • $mod+Return - Terminal
  • $mod+d - App launcher
  • $mod+Shift+q - Close window
  • $mod+1-9 - Switch workspaces
  • $mod+h/v - Split windows
  • $mod+Shift+r - Restart i3

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