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First Login

After logging into Hyprland for the first time, you’ll see:
  • Waybar at the top showing workspaces, system tray, and status information
  • A clean desktop with your wallpaper
  • No windows open initially
The modifier key for most shortcuts is Super (Windows key). Let’s get you productive!

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Essential Keybindings

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Applications

Terminal

Super + ReturnOpens Kitty terminal emulator

Application Launcher

Super + SpaceOpens Rofi launcher to search and launch applications

File Manager

Super + EOpens Nemo file manager

Browser

Launch Brave browser via Super + Space → type “brave”

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Window Management

Hyprland uses a dynamic tiling layout by default. Windows automatically tile to make efficient use of screen space.

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Basic Window Operations

KeybindingAction
Super + QClose active window
Super + VToggle floating mode for current window
Super + F11Toggle fullscreen
Super + FSwap window with master
Super + Shift + FFocus master window

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Focus Movement (Vim-style)

Move focus between windows using Vim keybindings: 
Super + H

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Window Movement

Move windows around your layout:
KeybindingDirection
Super + Shift + HMove window left
Super + Shift + JMove window down
Super + Shift + KMove window up
Super + Shift + LMove window right

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Resize Windows

Resize the active window using Ctrl key:
KeybindingAction
Ctrl + HShrink width (left)
Ctrl + LExpand width (right)
Ctrl + KShrink height (up)
Ctrl + JExpand height (down)

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Mouse Controls

Move Window

Super + Left Click + Drag

Resize Window

Super + Right Click + Drag

Scroll Workspaces

Super + Mouse Wheel Up/Down

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Workspaces

Hyprland provides 10 workspaces for organizing your windows:

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Switch Workspace

Super + [1-9,0]  # Switch to workspace 1-10
Example: Super + 3 switches to workspace 3

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Move Window to Workspace

Super + Shift + [1-9,0]  # Move active window to workspace 1-10
Example: Super + Shift + 5 moves current window to workspace 5

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Special Workspace (Scratchpad)

A hidden workspace for quick access to a dropdown terminal: 
Super + Tab
The scratchpad automatically launches with a Kitty terminal on startup. Use it as a quick dropdown terminal!

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Screenshots

Full Screen

PrintCapture entire screen with Satty editor

Region to Clipboard

Super + PrintSelect region and copy to clipboard

Region with Editor

Super + F12Select region and open in Satty for annotation
Screenshots are saved to ~/Pictures/Screenshots/ with timestamp format YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.png

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System Controls

KeybindingAction
Super + Shift + RReload Hyprland configuration
Super + MOpen logout menu (wlogout)
Super + Shift + QLock screen (hyprlock)

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Media Keys

KeybindingAction
XF86AudioRaiseVolumeIncrease volume by 5%
XF86AudioLowerVolumeDecrease volume by 5%
XF86AudioMuteToggle mute
Most modern keyboards have dedicated media keys that work out of the box!

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Your First Workflow

Let’s set up a typical development workspace:
1

Open Terminal

Press Super + Return to open your terminal on workspace 1.
2

Open Editor

Press Super + Space, type “code” or “nvim”, and press Enter to open your code editor.
3

Switch to Workspace 2

Press Super + 2 to switch to workspace 2.
4

Open Browser

Press Super + Space, type “brave”, and press Enter.
5

Navigate Between Workspaces

Use Super + 1 and Super + 2 to switch between your code and browser.
6

Use Scratchpad

Press Super + Tab to toggle the dropdown terminal for quick commands.

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Quick Tips

Keybindings are defined in:
~/.config/hypr/modules/binds.conf
Edit this file and reload with Super + Shift + R to apply changes.
Default applications are set in:
~/.config/hypr/modules/vars.conf
Example:
$terminal = kitty
$fileManager = nemo
$menu = rofi -show drun
$lock = hyprlock
$browser = brave
Configure monitors in:
~/.config/hypr/modules/monitors.conf
See Hyprland Configuration for details.
Use paru to install additional packages:
paru -S package-name
Or add them to ~/dotfiles/packages.txt and run ./install again.

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Cheat Sheet

Here’s a printable reference of the most important keybindings:

Applications

  • Super + Return → Terminal
  • Super + Space → App Launcher
  • Super + E → File Manager

Window Control

  • Super + Q → Close window
  • Super + V → Toggle floating
  • Super + H/J/K/L → Focus
  • Super + Shift + H/J/K/L → Move

Workspaces

  • Super + [1-9,0] → Switch workspace
  • Super + Shift + [1-9,0] → Move window
  • Super + Tab → Scratchpad

System

  • Super + Shift + R → Reload config
  • Super + M → Logout menu
  • Super + Shift + Q → Lock screen
  • Print → Screenshot

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Next Steps

Now that you know the basics, explore:
Press Super + Shift + R anytime to reload your configuration after making changes!

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