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Understanding Tags

Tags in Mango are similar to workspaces or virtual desktops in other window managers, but more flexible:
  • Windows can be assigned to multiple tags simultaneously
  • You can view multiple tags at once
  • Each monitor maintains its own tag selection
  • Tags are numbered 1-9 by default

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Tag Viewing Commands

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view (bind_to_view)

Switch to a specific tag.
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arg->ui
uint32_t
required
Tag number (1-9) or tag mask
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arg->i
int
Additional flags for behavior
Examples: 
bind=Ctrl,1,view,1,0
bind=Ctrl,2,view,2,0
bind=Ctrl,3,view,3,0
...
bind=Ctrl,9,view,9,0
Behavior:
  • Switches to the specified tag (workspace)
  • If already on that tag and view_current_to_back=1, switches to previous tag
  • Hides windows from other tags
  • Shows windows assigned to the new tag
  • Maintains tag history for easy switching

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viewtoleft

Switch to the tag on the left (previous tag).
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arg->i
int
Additional flags
Example: 
bind=SUPER,Left,viewtoleft,0
Behavior:
  • Switches to previous tag (n-1)
  • Does not wrap around (stops at tag 1)
  • Does not work in overview mode
  • Does not work if viewing all tags (tag 0)

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viewtoright

Switch to the tag on the right (next tag).
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arg->i
int
Additional flags
Example: 
bind=SUPER,Right,viewtoright,0
Behavior:
  • Switches to next tag (n+1)
  • Does not wrap around (stops at tag 9)
  • Does not work in overview mode
  • Does not work if viewing all tags

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viewtoleft_have_client

Switch to the previous tag that has windows.
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arg->i
int
Additional flags
Example: 
bind=CTRL,Left,viewtoleft_have_client,0
Behavior:
  • Searches leftward for a tag with windows
  • Skips empty tags
  • Stops at tag 1
  • Does not work in overview mode
  • Useful for quickly navigating between active workspaces

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viewtoright_have_client

Switch to the next tag that has windows.
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arg->i
int
Additional flags
Example: 
bind=CTRL,Right,viewtoright_have_client,0
Behavior:
  • Searches rightward for a tag with windows
  • Skips empty tags
  • Stops at tag 9
  • Does not work in overview mode
  • Useful for quickly navigating between active workspaces

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toggleview

Toggle visibility of a tag (view multiple tags).
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arg->ui
uint32_t
required
Tag number to toggle (0 for all tags)
Example: 
bind=SUPER,1,toggleview,1
bind=SUPER,2,toggleview,2
Behavior:
  • Adds or removes tag from current view
  • Allows viewing multiple tags simultaneously
  • Pass 0 to toggle all tags
  • Useful for monitoring multiple workspaces
  • Does not change if result would show no tags

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comboview

Combine multiple tags into view.
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arg->ui
uint32_t
required
Tag mask to add to view
Example: 
bind=SUPER+CTRL,1,comboview,1
Behavior:
  • First invocation switches to specified tag
  • Subsequent invocations add tags to view
  • Creates custom workspace combinations
  • Resets on single tag view

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viewcrossmon

Switch to a tag on a different monitor.
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arg->v
string
required
Monitor name/spec
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arg->ui
uint32_t
Tag number
Example: 
bind=SUPER+ALT,1,viewcrossmon,HDMI-A-1,1
Behavior:
  • Focuses specified monitor
  • Switches to specified tag on that monitor
  • Useful for multi-monitor setups

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Window Tagging Commands

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tag

Move focused window to a specific tag and follow it.
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arg->ui
uint32_t
required
Tag number (1-9) or tag mask
​
arg->i
int
Additional flags
Examples: 
bind=Alt,1,tag,1,0
bind=Alt,2,tag,2,0
...
bind=Alt,9,tag,9,0
Behavior:
  • Moves focused window to specified tag
  • Switches view to that tag (follows window)
  • Exits scroller stack if window was in one
  • Clears fullscreen state of conflicting windows
  • Updates tag status and arrangement

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tagsilent

Move focused window to a specific tag without following it.
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arg->ui
uint32_t
required
Tag number (1-9) or tag mask
Example: 
bind=Alt+Shift,1,tagsilent,1
Behavior:
  • Moves window to specified tag
  • Does NOT switch view to that tag
  • Useful for organizing windows without disrupting workflow
  • Window disappears from current view
  • Focuses next window in current tag

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tagtoleft

Move focused window to previous tag and follow it.
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arg->i
int
Additional flags
Example: 
bind=CTRL+SUPER,Left,tagtoleft,0
Behavior:
  • Moves window to tag n-1
  • Switches view to that tag
  • Stops at tag 1 (does not wrap)
  • Only works if currently viewing exactly one tag

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tagtoright

Move focused window to next tag and follow it.
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arg->i
int
Additional flags
Example: 
bind=CTRL+SUPER,Right,tagtoright,0
Behavior:
  • Moves window to tag n+1
  • Switches view to that tag
  • Stops at tag 9 (does not wrap)
  • Only works if currently viewing exactly one tag

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toggletag

Toggle window’s assignment to a tag.
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arg->ui
uint32_t
required
Tag number to toggle (INT_MIN for all tags)
Example: 
bind=SUPER+SHIFT,1,toggletag,1
Behavior:
  • Adds or removes tag from window’s tag assignment
  • Window can be visible on multiple tags
  • Pass INT_MIN to toggle between current tag and all tags
  • Useful for making windows appear in multiple workspaces
  • Does not change if result would assign no tags

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tagmon

Move focused window to a different monitor.
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arg->i
direction
required
Direction: LEFT, RIGHT, or monitor name via arg->v
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arg->v
string
Monitor name/spec
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arg->ui
uint32_t
Tag number on target monitor (0 to preserve current tags)
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arg->i2
int
Flag: 1 to preserve tags, 0 to use arg->ui
Examples: 
bind=SUPER+Alt,Left,tagmon,left
bind=SUPER+Alt,Right,tagmon,right
Behavior:
  • Moves window to specified monitor
  • Optionally changes window’s tag on target monitor
  • Switches view to target monitor and tag
  • Adjusts window size proportionally for new monitor
  • Centers floating windows on target monitor
  • Warps cursor if warpcursor=1

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tagcrossmon

Move window to a tag on a different monitor.
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arg->v
string
required
Monitor name/spec
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arg->ui
uint32_t
Tag number
Example: 
bind=SUPER+CTRL,1,tagcrossmon,HDMI-A-1,1
Behavior:
  • If monitor matches current monitor, acts like tag
  • Otherwise moves window to specified monitor and tag
  • Combines monitor switch with tag assignment

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Overview Mode

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toggleoverview

Toggle overview mode (show all windows).
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arg->i
int
Mode flag (1 for tab mode)
Example: 
bind=ALT,Tab,toggleoverview,
Behavior:
  • Shows all windows across all tags in a grid
  • Temporarily exits floating and fullscreen states
  • Click or focus window to exit overview and switch to that tag
  • Backs up window states and restores them on exit
  • In tab mode with ov_tab_mode=1, cycles through windows
  • Does not activate if no windows visible on monitor
  • Maintains tag history for proper restoration
Configuration: 
hotarea_size=10           # Size of hot corners
enable_hotarea=1          # Enable hot corner activation
ov_tab_mode=0            # Tab cycling mode
overviewgappi=5          # Inner gaps in overview
overviewgappo=30         # Outer gaps in overview

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Tag Configuration

Tags are configured per-monitor in config.conf: 
# Set default layout for each tag
tagrule=id:1,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:2,layout_name:scroller
tagrule=id:3,layout_name:grid
tagrule=id:4,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:5,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:6,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:7,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:8,layout_name:tile
tagrule=id:9,layout_name:tile

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Advanced Tag Features

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Cross-Tag Focus

Enable automatic tag switching when focusing: 
focus_cross_tag=1      # Switch tags when focusing in direction
focus_cross_monitor=1  # Switch monitors when focusing

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View History

Mango maintains view history per monitor:
  • Previous tag is tracked via pertag->prevtag
  • Pressing current tag again returns to previous (if view_current_to_back=1)

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See Also

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