i3 Window Manager Configuration This guide covers the complete i3 window manager configuration, including keybindings, workspace management, window rules, and visual customization.
Overview The i3 configuration is based on i3-gaps with enhanced tiling capabilities, custom workspaces, and integration with other components like Polybar and Picom.
Configuration file: ~/.config/i3/configBasic Settings
The Super key (Windows key) is used as the primary modifier:
Mod4 is the Super/Windows key. Use Mod1 for Alt key if preferred.
font xft:URWGothic-Book 11
set $monitor0 DP-4 set $monitor1 HDMI-0 Essential Keybindings Window Management Keybinding Action $mod+Shift+qKill focused window $mod+Shift+spaceToggle floating/tiling $mod+spaceChange focus between tiling/floating $mod+aFocus parent container
Focus Navigation # Vim-style focus bindsym $mod +j focus left bindsym $mod +k focus down bindsym $mod +l focus up bindsym $mod +semicolon focus right # Arrow keys bindsym $mod +Left focus left bindsym $mod +Down focus down bindsym $mod +Up focus up bindsym $mod +Right focus right
Moving Windows bindsym $mod +Shift+j move left bindsym $mod +Shift+k move down bindsym $mod +Shift+l move up bindsym $mod +Shift+semicolon move right # Arrow keys work too bindsym $mod +Shift+Left move left bindsym $mod +Shift+Down move down bindsym $mod +Shift+Up move up bindsym $mod +Shift+Right move right
Application Launchers
Terminal and System Applications
# Terminals bindsym $mod +Return exec kitty bindsym $mod +KP_Enter exec kitty ranger bindsym $mod +KP_Add exec alacritty # Application launcher bindsym $mod +d exec --no-startup-id rofi -show drun # Power menu bindsym $mod +Tab exec --no-startup-id $HOME /dotfiles/.config/rofi/powermenu.sh # Calculator bindsym $mod +Shift+d exec --no-startup-id rofi -show calc -modi calc -no-show-match -no-sort
Quick Application Shortcuts
bindsym $mod +F1 exec firefox bindsym $mod +F2 exec thunar bindsym $mod +F3 exec spotify
Layout Management Split Orientation bindsym $mod +h split h # Horizontal split bindsym $mod +v split v # Vertical split
Container Layouts bindsym $mod +s layout stacking bindsym $mod +w layout tabbed bindsym $mod +e layout toggle split
Window Resizing Quick Resize (1 pixel) bindsym $mod +Ctrl+Right resize shrink width 1 px or 1 ppt bindsym $mod +Ctrl+Up resize grow height 1 px or 1 ppt bindsym $mod +Ctrl+Down resize shrink height 1 px or 1 ppt bindsym $mod +Ctrl+Left resize grow width 1 px or 1 ppt
Fast Resize (10 pixels) bindsym $mod +Ctrl+Shift+Right resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym $mod +Ctrl+Shift+Up resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym $mod +Ctrl+Shift+Down resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym $mod +Ctrl+Shift+Left resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt
Resize Mode bindsym $mod +r mode "resize" mode "resize" { bindsym j resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym k resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym l resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym semicolon resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym Left resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym Down resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym Up resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym Right resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt bindsym Return mode "default" bindsym Escape mode "default" bindsym $mod +r mode "default" }
Workspace Configuration Workspace Definitions set $ws1 1 set $ws2 2 set $ws3 3 set $ws4 4 set $ws5 5 set $ws6 6 set $ws7 7 set $ws8 8 set $ws9 9 set $ws10 10 set $wsmusic 11 set $wsteams 12 set $wsfront 13 set $wsback 14 set $wstrsh 20
Switch to Workspace bindsym $mod +1 workspace $ws1 bindsym $mod +2 workspace $ws2 # ... (1-9, 0 for workspaces 1-10) bindsym $mod +m workspace $wsmusic bindsym $mod +c workspace $wsteams bindsym $mod +f workspace $wsfront bindsym $mod +b workspace $wsback bindsym $mod +x workspace $wstrsh
Move Containers to Workspace bindsym $mod +Shift+1 move container to workspace $ws1 bindsym $mod +Shift+2 move container to workspace $ws2 # ... (same pattern for all workspaces)
Multi-Monitor Setup Workspaces are assigned to specific monitors. Adjust monitor names based on your setup:
workspace $ws1 output $monitor0 workspace $ws2 output $monitor1 workspace $wsmusic output $monitor0 workspace $wsteams output $monitor0 # ...
Move Workspaces Between Monitors bindsym $mod +Ctrl+greater move workspace to output right bindsym $mod +Ctrl+less move workspace to output left
Audio Controls
bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +10% bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -10% bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle bindsym XF86AudioMicMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-source-mute @DEFAULT_SOURCE@ toggle # Alternative controls bindsym $mod +Prior exec --no-startup-id amixer set Master -q 5%+ bindsym $mod +Next exec --no-startup-id amixer set Master -q 5%-
bindsym $mod +Insert exec playerctl -p spotify play-pause bindsym $mod +Home exec playerctl -p spotify next bindsym $mod +End exec playerctl -p spotify previous
i3 System Controls bindsym $mod +Shift+t reload # Reload configuration bindsym $mod +Shift+r restart # Restart i3 in-place bindsym $mod +Shift+e exec "i3-nagbar -t warning -m 'Exit i3?' -B 'Yes' 'i3-msg exit'"
Visual Customization i3-gaps Configuration for_window [class= "^.*" ] border pixel 3 gaps inner 8 gaps outer 0
Color Scheme # class border backgr. text indicator child_border client.focused #ffffff #ffffff #ffffff #ffffff #ffffff client.focused_inactive #333333 #5f676a #ffffff #484e50 #5f676a client.unfocused #333333 #222222 #888888 #292d2e #222222 client.urgent #2f343a #FF8383 #ffffff #FF8383 #FF8383 client.placeholder #000000 #0c0c0c #ffffff #000000 #0c0c0c client.background #ffffff
Window Rules
for_window [window_role= "pop-up" ] floating enable for_window [window_role= "task_dialog" ] floating enable for_window [class= "yakuake" ] floating enable for_window [class= "systemsettings" ] floating enable for_window [class= "Pavucontrol" ] floating enable; border none for_window [class= "Steam" title="Friends List"] floating enable ; border none
Plasma Desktop Compatibility
for_window [title= "plasma-desktop" ] floating enable; border none for_window [class= "plasmashell" ] floating enable for_window [class= "Plasma" ] floating enable; border none for_window [class= "krunner" ] floating enable; border none for_window [class= "(?i)*nextcloud*" ] floating disable no_focus [class= "plasmashell" window_type="notification"]
Startup Applications # Screen locker exec --no-startup-id xss-lock --transfer-sleep-lock -- i3lock --nofork # Network manager exec --no-startup-id nm-applet # Volume icon exec --no-startup-id volumeicon # Polybar status bar exec_always --no-startup-id $HOME /.config/polybar/launch.sh # Compositor exec_always --no-startup-id picom --backend glx --xrender-sync-fence # Notification daemon exec_always --no-startup-id dunst # Auto-tiling exec_always --no-startup-id autotiling # Workspace layouts exec "sh ~/dotfiles/.config/i3layouts/startLayouts.sh"
The exec_always directive runs on every i3 restart/reload, while exec only runs on startup.
Additional Configuration Floating Modifier Use $mod + mouse to drag floating windows.
Testing Your Configuration After making changes:
Save the configuration file
Press $mod+Shift+t to reload (tests syntax)
Press $mod+Shift+r to restart i3 (applies changes)
Check for errors in ~/.xsession-errors
Always test configuration changes before logging out. Invalid syntax can prevent i3 from starting.