sway(5) # NAME sway - configuration file and commands # DESCRIPTION A sway configuration file is a list of sway commands that are executed by sway on startup. These commands usually consist of setting your preferences and setting key bindings. An example config is likely present in /etc/sway/config for you to check out. Lines in the configuration file might be extended through multiple lines by adding a '\\' character at the end of line. e.g.: ``` bindsym Shift+XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec \\ pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -1% ``` Commands can also be given as a block in the form *command { }*. Anything before the opening *{* will be prepended to the lines inside the block. For example: ``` output eDP-1 { background ~/wallpaper.png resolution 1920x1080 } ``` is identical to ``` output eDP-1 background ~/wallpaper.png output eDP-1 resolution 1920x1080 ``` These commands can be executed in your config file, via *swaymsg*(1), or via the bindsym command. # COMMAND CONVENTIONS Commands are split into several arguments using spaces. You can enclose arguments with quotation marks (*"..."* or *'...'*) to add spaces to a single argument. You may also run several commands in order by separating each with *,* or *;*. Throughout the documentation, *|* is used to distinguish between arguments for which you may only select one. *[...]* is used for optional arguments, and *<...>* for arguments where you are expected to supply some value. # COMMANDS The following commands may only be used in the configuration file. *bar* [] For details on bar subcommands, see *sway-bar*(5). *default_orientation* horizontal|vertical|auto Sets the default container layout for tiled containers. *include* Includes another file from _path_. _path_ can be either a full path or a path relative to the parent config, and expands shell syntax (see *wordexp*(3) for details). The same include file can only be included once; subsequent attempts will be ignored. *swaybg_command* Executes custom background _command_. Default is _swaybg_. Refer to *sway-output*(5) for more information. It can be disabled by setting the command to a single dash: _swaybg\_command -_ *swaynag_command* Executes custom command for _swaynag_. Default is _swaynag_. Additional arguments may be appended to the end. This should only be used to either direct sway to call swaynag from a custom path or to provide additional arguments. This should be placed at the top of the config for the best results. It can be disabled by setting the command to a single dash: _swaynag\_command -_ *xwayland* enable|disable Enables or disables Xwayland support, which allows X11 applications to be used. The following commands cannot be used directly in the configuration file. They are expected to be used with *bindsym* or at runtime through *swaymsg*(1). *border* none|normal|csd|pixel [] Set border style for focused window. _normal_ includes a border of thickness _n_ and a title bar. _pixel_ is a border without title bar _n_ pixels thick. Default is _normal_ with border thickness 2. _csd_ is short for client-side-decorations, which allows the client to draw its own decorations. *border* toggle Cycles through the available border styles. *exit* Exit sway and end your Wayland session. *floating* enable|disable|toggle Make focused view floating, non-floating, or the opposite of what it is now. *focus* Moves focus to the container that matches the specified criteria. *focus* up|right|down|left Moves focus to the next container in the specified direction. *focus* child Moves focus to the last-focused child of the focused container. *focus* parent Moves focus to the parent of the focused container. *focus* output up|right|down|left Moves focus to the next output in the specified direction. *focus* output Moves focus to the named output. *focus tiling* Sets focus to the last focused tiling container. *focus floating* Sets focus to the last focused floating container. *focus* mode_toggle Moves focus between the floating and tiled layers. *fullscreen* [enable|disable|toggle] [global] Makes focused view fullscreen, non-fullscreen, or the opposite of what it is now. If no argument is given, it does the same as _toggle_. If _global_ is specified, the view will be fullscreen across all outputs. *gaps* inner|outer|horizontal|vertical|top|right|bottom|left all|current set|plus|minus Changes the _inner_ or _outer_ gaps for either _all_ workspaces or the _current_ workspace. _outer_ gaps can be altered per side with _top_, _right_, _bottom_, and _left_ or per direction with _horizontal_ and _vertical_. *layout* default|splith|splitv|stacking|tabbed Sets the layout mode of the focused container. *layout* toggle [split|all] Cycles the layout mode of the focused container though a preset list of layouts. If no argument is given, then it cycles through stacking, tabbed and the last split layout. If "split" is given, then it cycles through splith and splitv. If "all" is given, then it cycles through every layout. *layout* toggle [split|tabbed|stacking|splitv|splith] [split|tabbed|stacking|splitv|splith]... Cycles the layout mode of the focused container through a list of layouts. *move* left|right|up|down [ px] Moves the focused container in the direction specified. If the container, the optional _px_ argument specifies how many pixels to move the container. If unspecified, the default is 10 pixels. Pixels are ignored when moving tiled containers. *move* [absolute] position [px] [px] Moves the focused container to the specified position in the workspace. If _absolute_ is used, the position is relative to all outputs. *move* [absolute] position center Moves the focused container to be centered on the workspace. If _absolute_ is used, it is moved to the center of all outputs. *move* position cursor|mouse|pointer Moves the focused container to be centered on the cursor. *move* container|window [to] mark Moves the focused container to the specified mark. *move* [--no-auto-back-and-forth] container|window [to] workspace [number] Moves the focused container to the specified workspace. The string "number" is optional and is used to match a workspace with the same number, even if it has a different name. *move* container|window [to] workspace prev|next|current Moves the focused container to the previous, next or current workspace on this output, or if no workspaces remain, the previous or next output. *move* container|window [to] workspace prev_on_output|next_on_output Moves the focused container to the previous or next workspace on this output, wrapping around if already at the first or last workspace. *move* container|window [to] workspace back_and_forth Moves the focused container to previously focused workspace. *move* container|window|workspace [to] output Moves the focused container or workspace to the specified output. *move* container|window|workspace [to] output up|right|down|left Moves the focused container or workspace to next output in the specified direction. *move* [to] scratchpad Moves the focused window to the scratchpad. *nop* A no operation command that can be used to override default behaviour. The optional comment argument is ignored, but logged for debugging purposes. *reload* Reloads the sway config file and applies any changes. *resize* shrink|grow width|height [ [px|ppt]] Resizes the currently focused container by _amount_, specified in pixels or percentage points. If the units are omitted, floating containers are resized in px and tiled containers by ppt. _amount_ will default to 10 if omitted. *resize set* height [px|ppt] Sets the height of the container to _height_, specified in pixels or percentage points. If the units are omitted, floating containers are resized in px and tiled containers by ppt. If _height_ is 0, the container will not be resized. *resize set* [width] [px|ppt] Sets the width of the container to _width_, specified in pixels or percentage points. If the units are omitted, floating containers are resized in px and tiled containers by ppt. If _width_ is 0, the container will not be resized. *resize set* [width] [px|ppt] [height] [px|ppt] Sets the width and height of the container to _width_ and _height_, specified in pixels or percentage points. If the units are omitted, floating containers are resized in px and tiled containers by ppt. If _width_ or _height_ is 0, the container will not be resized on that axis. *scratchpad show* Shows a window from the scratchpad. Repeatedly using this command will cycle through the windows in the scratchpad. *split* vertical|v|horizontal|h|toggle|t Splits the current container, vertically or horizontally. When _toggle_ is specified, the current container is split opposite to the parent container's layout. *splith* Equivalent to *split horizontal* *splitv* Equivalent to *split vertical* *splitt* Equivalent to *split toggle* *sticky* enable|disable|toggle "Sticks" a floating window to the current output so that it shows up on all workspaces. *swap* container with id|con_id|mark Swaps the position, geometry, and fullscreen status of two containers. The first container can be selected either by criteria or focus. The second container can be selected by _id_, _con_id_, or _mark_. _id_ can only be used with xwayland views. If the first container has focus, it will retain focus unless it is moved to a different workspace or the second container becomes fullscreen on the same workspace as the first container. In either of those cases, the second container will gain focus. The following commands may be used either in the configuration file or at runtime. *assign* [→] [workspace] [number] Assigns views matching _criteria_ (see *CRITERIA* for details) to _workspace_. The → (U+2192) is optional and cosmetic. This command is equivalent to: for_window move container to workspace *assign* [→] output left|right|up|down| Assigns views matching _criteria_ (see *CRITERIA* for details) to the specified output. The → (U+2192) is optional and cosmetic. This command is equivalent to: for_window move container to output *bindsym* [--whole-window] [--border] [--exclude-titlebar] [--release] [--locked] [--input-device=] [--no-warn] Binds _key combo_ to execute the sway command _command_ when pressed. You may use XKB key names here (*xev*(1) is a good tool for discovering these). With the flag _--release_, the command is executed when the key combo is released. Unless the flag _--locked_ is set, the command will not be run when a screen locking program is active. If _input-device_ is given, the binding will only be executed for that input device and will be executed instead of any binding that is generic to all devices. By default, if you overwrite a binding, swaynag will give you a warning. To silence this, use the _--no-warn_ flag. Mouse bindings operate on the container under the cursor instead of the container that has focus. Mouse buttons can either be specified in the form _button[1-9]_ or by using the name of the event code (ex _BTN\_LEFT_ or _BTN\_RIGHT_). For the former option, the buttons will be mapped to their values in X11 (1=left, 2=middle, 3=right, 4=scroll up, 5=scroll down, 6=scroll left, 7=scroll right, 8=back, 9=forward). For the latter option, you can find the event names using _libinput debug-events_. _--whole-window_, _--border_, and _--exclude-titlebar_ are mouse-only options which affect the region in which the mouse bindings can be triggered. By default, mouse bindings are only triggered when over the title bar. With the _--border_ option, the border of the window will be included in this region. With the _--whole-window_ option, the cursor can be anywhere over a window including the title, border, and content. _--exclude-titlebar_ can be used in conjunction with any other option to specify that the titlebar should be excluded from the region of consideration. If _--whole-window_ is given, the command can be triggered when the cursor is over an empty workspace. Using a mouse binding over a layer surface's exclusive region is not currently possible. Example: ``` # Execute firefox when alt, shift, and f are pressed together bindsym Mod1+Shift+f exec firefox ``` *bindcode* [--whole-window] [--border] [--exclude-titlebar] [--release] [--locked] [--input-device=] [--no-warn] is also available for binding with key/button codes instead of key/button names. *client.* Configures the color of window borders and title bars. All 5 colors are required, with the exception of *client.background*, which requires exactly one. Colors may be specified in hex, either as _#RRGGBB_ or _#RRGGBBAA_. The available classes are: *client.background* Ignored (present for i3 compatibility). *client.focused* The window that has focus. *client.focused_inactive* The most recently focused view within a container which is not focused. *client.placeholder* Ignored (present for i3 compatibility). *client.unfocused* A view that does not have focus. *client.urgent* A view with an urgency hint. *Note*: Native Wayland windows do not support urgency. Urgency only works for Xwayland windows. The meaning of each color is: _border_ The border around the title bar. _background_ The background of the title bar. _text_ The text color of the title bar. _indicator_ The color used to indicate where a new view will open. In a tiled container, this would paint the right border of the current view if a new view would be opened to the right. _child_border_ The border around the view itself. The default colors are: [- *class* :[ _border_ :[ _background_ :[ _text_ :[ _indicator_ :[ _child_border_ |[ *background* : n/a : #ffffff : n/a : n/a : n/a | *focused* : #4c7899 : #285577 : #ffffff : #2e9ef4 : #285577 | *focused_inactive* : #333333 : #5f676a : #ffffff : #484e50 : #5f676a | *unfocused* : #333333 : #222222 : #888888 : #292d2e : #222222 | *urgent* : #2f343a : #900000 : #ffffff : #900000 : #900000 | *placeholder* : #000000 : #0c0c0c : #ffffff : #000000 : #0c0c0c *default_border* normal|none|pixel [] Set default border style for new tiled windows. *default_floating_border* normal|none|pixel [] Set default border style for new floating windows. This only applies to windows that are spawned in floating mode, not windows that become floating afterwards. *exec* Executes _shell command_ with sh. *exec_always* Like *exec*, but the shell command will be executed _again_ after *reload*. *floating_maximum_size* x Specifies the maximum size of floating windows. -1 x -1 removes the upper limit. *floating_minimum_size* x Specifies the minimum size of floating windows. The default is 75 x 50. *floating_modifier* [normal|inverse] When the _modifier_ key is held down, you may hold left click to move windows, and right click to resize them. If _inverse_ is specified, left click is used for resizing and right click for moving. *floating_scroll* up|right|down|left [command] Sets a command to be executed when the mouse wheel is scrolled in the specified direction while holding the floating modifier. Resets the command, when given no arguments. *focus_follows_mouse* yes|no|always If set to _yes_, moving your mouse over a window will focus that window. If set to _always_, the window under the cursor will always be focused, even after switching between workspaces. *focus_wrapping* yes|no|force This option determines what to do when attempting to focus over the edge of a container. If set to _no_, the focused container will retain focus, if there are no other containers in the direction. If set to _yes_, focus will be wrapped to the opposite edge of the container, if there are no other containers in the direction. If set to _force_, focus will be wrapped to the opposite edge of the container, even if there are other containers in the direction. Default is _yes_. *font* Sets font for use in title bars in Pango format. *titlebar_border_thickness* Thickness of the titlebar border in pixels *titlebar_padding* [] Padding of the text in the titlebar. _horizontal_ value affects horizontal padding of the text while _vertical_ value affects vertical padding (space above and below text). Padding includes titlebar borders so their value should be greater than titlebar_border_thickness. If _vertical_ value is not specified it is set to the _horizontal_ value. *for_window* Whenever a window that matches _criteria_ appears, run list of commands. See *CRITERIA* for more details. *force_focus_wrapping* yes|no This option is a wrapper to support i3's legacy syntax. _no_ is equivalent to _focus_wrapping yes_ and _yes_ is equivalent to _focus_wrapping force_. This is only available for convenience. Please use _focus_wrapping_ instead when possible. *gaps* inner|outer|horizontal|vertical|top|right|bottom|left Sets default _amount_ pixels of _inner_ or _outer_ gap, where the inner affects spacing around each view and outer affects the spacing around each workspace. Outer gaps are in addition to inner gaps. To reduce or remove outer gaps, outer gaps can be set to a negative value. _outer_ gaps can also be specified per side with _top_, _right_, _bottom_, and _left_ or per direction with _horizontal_ and _vertical_. This affects new workspaces only, and is used when the workspace doesn't have its own gaps settings (see: workspace gaps ...). *hide_edge_borders* none|vertical|horizontal|both|smart|smart_no_gaps Hides window borders adjacent to the screen edges. Default is _none_. *input* For details on input subcommands, see *sway-input*(5). \* may be used in lieu of a specific device name to configure all input devices. A list of input device names may be obtained via *swaymsg -t get_inputs*. *seat* For details on seat subcommands, see *sway-input*(5). *kill* Kills (closes) the currently focused container and all of its children. *smart_borders* on|no_gaps|off If smart_borders are _on_, borders will only be enabled if the workspace only has one visible child (identical to _hide_edge_borders_ smart). If smart_borders is set to _no_gaps_, borders will only be enabled if the workspace only has one visible child and gaps greater than zero. *smart_gaps* on|off If smart_gaps are _on_ gaps will only be enabled if a workspace has more than one child. *mark* --add|--replace [--toggle] Marks are arbitrary labels that can be used to identify certain windows and then jump to them at a later time. By default, *mark* sets _identifier_ as the only mark on a window. _--add_ will instead add _identifier_ to the list of current marks. If _--toggle_ is specified mark will remove _identifier_ if it is already marked. *mode* Switches to the specified mode. The default mode _default_. *mode* [--pango_markup] The only two valid _mode-subcommands..._ are *bindsym* and *bindcode*. If _--pango_markup_ is given, then _mode_ will be interpreted as pango markup. *mouse_warping* output|container|none If _output_ is specified, the mouse will be moved to new outputs as you move focus between them. If _container_ is specified, the mouse will be moved to the middle of the container on switch. Default is _output_. *no_focus* Prevents windows matching from being focused automatically when they're created. This has no effect on the first window in a workspace. *output* For details on output subcommands, see *sway-output*(5). \* may be used in lieu of a specific output name to configure all outputs. A list of output names may be obtained via *swaymsg -t get_outputs*. *popup_during_fullscreen* smart|ignore|leave_fullscreen Determines what to do when a fullscreen view opens a dialog. If _smart_ (the default), the dialog will be displayed. If _ignore_, the dialog will not be rendered. If _leave_fullscreen_, the view will exit fullscreen mode and the dialog will be rendered. *set* $ Sets variable $_name_ to _value_. You can use the new variable in the arguments of future commands. When the variable is used, it can be escaped with an additional $ (ie $$_name_) to have the replacement happen at run time instead of when reading the config. However, it does not always make sense for the variable to be replaced at run time since some arguments do need to be known at config time. *show_marks* yes|no If *show_marks* is yes, marks will be displayed in the window borders. Any mark that starts with an underscore will not be drawn even if *show_marks* is yes. The default is _yes_. *opacity* Set the opacity of the window between 0 (completely transparent) and 1 (completely opaque). *tiling_drag* enable|disable|toggle Sets whether or not tiling containers can be dragged with the mouse. If enabled (default), the _floating_mod_ can be used to drag tiling, as well as floating, containers. Using the left mouse button on title bars without the _floating_mod_ will also allow the container to be dragged. _toggle_ should not be used in the config file. *tiling_drag_threshold* Sets the threshold that must be exceeded for a container to be dragged by its titlebar. This has no effect if _floating_mod_ is used or if _tiling_drag_ is set to _disable_. Once the threshold has been exceeded once, the drag starts and the cursor can come back inside the threshold without stopping the drag. _threshold_ is multiplied by the scale of the output that the cursor on. The default is 9. *title_align* left|center|right Sets the title alignment. If _right_ is selected and _show_marks_ is set to _yes_, the marks will be shown on the _left_ side instead of the _right_ side. *unmark* [] *unmark* will remove _identifier_ from the list of current marks on a window. If _identifier_ is omitted, all marks are removed. *urgent* enable|disable|allow|deny Using _enable_ or _disable_ manually sets or unsets the window's urgent state. Using _allow_ or _deny_ controls the window's ability to set itself as urgent. By default, windows are allowed to set their own urgency. *workspace* [--no-auto-back-and-forth] [number] Switches to the specified workspace. The string "number" is optional and is used to sort workspaces. *workspace* prev|next Switches to the next workspace on the current output or on the next output if currently on the last workspace. *workspace* prev_on_output|next_on_output Switches to the next workspace on the current output. *workspace* back_and_forth Switches to the previously focused workspace. *workspace* gaps inner|outer|horizontal|vertical|top|right|bottom|left Specifies that workspace _name_ should have the given gaps settings when it is created. *workspace* output Specifies that workspace _name_ should be shown on the specified _outputs_. Multiple outputs can be listed and the first available will be used. If the workspace gets placed on an output further down the list and an output that is higher on the list becomes available, the workspace will be move to the higher priority output. *workspace_auto_back_and_forth* yes|no When _yes_, repeating a workspace switch command will switch back to the prior workspace. For example, if you are currently on workspace 1, switch to workspace 2, then invoke the "workspace 2" command again, you will be returned to workspace 1. Default is _no_. *workspace_layout* default|stacking|tabbed Specifies the initial layout for new workspaces. # BAR CONTROL *bar hidden_state* hide|show|toggle [] Sets the hidden state of the bar (see *sway-bar*(5)), either individually, by specifying a bar id, or if none is given, for all bar instances. _toggle_ switches between _hide_ and _show_. *bar mode* dock|hide|invisible|toggle [] Sets the mode of the bar (see *sway-bar*(5)), either individually, by specifying a bar id, or if none is given, for all bar instances. _toggle_ switches between _dock_ and _hide_. # CRITERIA A criteria is a string in the form of, for example: ``` [class="[Rr]egex.*" title="some title"] ``` The string contains one or more (space separated) attribute/value pairs. They are used by some commands to choose which views to execute actions on. All attributes must match for the criteria to match. Criteria may be used with either the *for_window* or *assign* commands to specify operations to perform on new views. A criteria may also be used to perform specific commands (ones that normally act upon one window) on all views that match that criteria. For example: Focus on a window with the mark "IRC": ``` [con_mark="IRC"] focus ``` Kill all windows with the title "Emacs": ``` [class="Emacs"] kill ``` Mark all Firefox windows with "Browser": ``` [class="Firefox"] mark Browser ``` The following attributes may be matched with: *app_id* Compare value against the app id. Can be a regular expression. If value is \_\_focused\_\_, then the app id must be the same as that of the currently focused window. *class* Compare value against the window class. Can be a regular expression. If value is \_\_focused\_\_, then the window class must be the same as that of the currently focused window. *con_id* Compare against the internal container ID, which you can find via IPC. If value is \_\_focused\_\_, then the id must be the same as that of the currently focused window. *con_mark* Compare against the window marks. Can be a regular expression. *floating* Matches floating windows. *id* Compare value against the X11 window ID. Must be numeric. *instance* Compare value against the window instance. Can be a regular expression. If value is \_\_focused\_\_, then the window instance must be the same as that of the currently focused window. *shell* Compare value against the window shell, such as "xdg_shell" or "xwayland". Can be a regular expression. If value is \_\_focused\_\_, then the shell must be the same as that of the currently focused window. *tiling* Matches tiling windows. *title* Compare against the window title. Can be a regular expression. If value is \_\_focused\_\_, then the window title must be the same as that of the currently focused window. *urgent* Compares the urgent state of the window. Can be "first", "last", "latest", "newest", "oldest" or "recent". *window_role* Compare against the window role (WM_WINDOW_ROLE). Can be a regular expression. If value is \_\_focused\_\_, then the window role must be the same as that of the currently focused window. *window_type* Compare against the window type (\_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE). Possible values are normal, dialog, utility, toolbar, splash, menu, dropdown_menu, popup_menu, tooltip and notification. *workspace* Compare against the workspace name for this view. Can be a regular expression. If the value is \_\_focused\_\_, then all the views on the currently focused workspace matches. # SEE ALSO *sway*(1) *sway-input*(5) *sway-output*(5) *sway-bar*(5) *sway-ipc*(7)