i3 Complete Shortcuts &
Config Notes
Config File Locations
| i3 config |
~/.config/i3/config |
| i3blocks |
~/.config/i3blocks/config |
| Alacritty |
~/.config/alacritty/alacritty.toml |
| SDDM |
/etc/sddm.conf |
| Firefox CSS |
~/.mozilla/firefox/<profile>/chrome/userChrome.css |
Autostart Programs
dex |
Autostart XDG desktop apps |
xss-lock + i3lock |
Locks screen before suspend |
nm-applet |
Network manager tray icon |
nitrogen --restore |
Restores wallpaper on login |
picom |
Compositor (transparency, fading) |
Key Bindings
Mod key = Super (Windows key) Custom
vim-style keys: j=left, k=down, l=up, ;=right
Terminal & Apps
Super + Enter |
Open terminal |
Super + d |
Open dmenu app launcher |
Window Management
Super + Shift + q |
Kill focused window |
Super + f |
Toggle fullscreen |
Super + Shift + Space |
Toggle floating / tiling |
Super + Space |
Toggle focus between floating and tiling |
Focus (move cursor between
windows)
Super + Left |
Focus window to the left |
Super + Right |
Focus window to the right |
Super + Up |
Focus window above |
Super + Down |
Focus window below |
Super + j |
Focus left (vim style) |
Super + ; |
Focus right (vim style) |
Super + l |
Focus up (vim style) |
Super + k |
Focus down (vim style) |
Move Windows
Super + Shift + Left |
Move window left |
Super + Shift + Right |
Move window right |
Super + Shift + Up |
Move window up |
Super + Shift + Down |
Move window down |
Super + Shift + j |
Move window left (vim style) |
Super + Shift + ; |
Move window right (vim style) |
Super + Shift + l |
Move window up (vim style) |
Super + Shift + k |
Move window down (vim style) |
Splitting & Layouts
Super + h |
Split next window horizontally (side by side) |
Super + v |
Split next window vertically (above/below) |
Super + Shift + h |
Split horizontal (custom) |
Super + Shift + v |
Split vertical (custom) |
Super + t |
Toggle split direction |
Super + s |
Stacking layout |
Super + w |
Tabbed layout |
Super + e |
Toggle split layout |
Super + a |
Focus parent container |
Scratchpad
Super + Shift + - |
Send window to scratchpad (hide it) |
Super + - |
Show / cycle scratchpad windows |
Workspaces
Super + 1 to Super + 9 |
Switch to workspace 1-9 |
Super + 0 |
Switch to workspace 10 |
Super + Shift + 1 to
Super + Shift + 9 |
Move window to workspace 1-9 |
Super + Shift + 0 |
Move window to workspace 10 |
Resize Mode
Super + r |
Enter resize mode |
Left / j |
Shrink window width |
Right / ; |
Grow window width |
Up / l |
Shrink window height |
Down / k |
Grow window height |
Enter or Escape |
Exit resize mode |
Super + r |
Exit resize mode |
i3 System
Super + Shift + c |
Reload i3 config |
Super + Shift + r |
Restart i3 (preserves layout) |
Super + Shift + e |
Exit i3 / logout |
Volume Up key |
Increase volume by 10% |
Volume Down key |
Decrease volume by 10% |
Mute key |
Toggle mute |
Mic Mute key |
Toggle mic mute |
i3blocks Bar
| BAT |
Battery % |
30s |
| CPU |
CPU usage % |
5s |
| RAM |
RAM used / total |
5s |
| DISK |
Disk used / total |
30s |
| VOL |
Volume % |
5s |
| NET |
Wifi network name |
10s |
| Time |
Date and time |
60s |
Window Rules
for_window [class=".*"] border pixel 2 # removes titlebars, keeps 2px border
default_border pixel 2 # default border for all windows
Alacritty Settings
| Opacity |
0.85 (85% transparent) |
| Padding X |
10px |
| Padding Y |
10px |
| Font size |
9.0 |
Vim Shortcuts
Modes
| Normal |
Esc |
Navigate and run commands |
| Insert |
i |
Type text |
| Visual |
v |
Select text |
Exit & Save
:w |
Save |
:q |
Quit |
:wq |
Save and quit |
:q! |
Quit without saving |
Navigation
h j k l |
Left, down, up, right |
gg |
Top of file |
G |
Bottom of file |
0 |
Start of line |
$ |
End of line |
Ctrl+d |
Scroll down half page |
Ctrl+u |
Scroll up half page |
Editing
i |
Insert before cursor |
a |
Insert after cursor |
o |
New line below |
O |
New line above |
dd |
Delete line |
yy |
Copy line |
p |
Paste |
u |
Undo |
Ctrl+r |
Redo |
Search & Replace
/word |
Search forward |
n |
Next result |
N |
Previous result |
:%s/old/new/g |
Replace all occurrences |
Visual Mode
v |
Select characters |
V |
Select whole lines |
d |
Delete selected |
y |
Copy selected |
Useful Commands
# Convert markdown to pdf
pandoc file.md -o file.pdf -V geometry:margin=1in -V fontsize=12pt --pdf-engine=xelatex
# Disable trackpad temporarily
sudo modprobe -r psmouse
# Re-enable trackpad
sudo modprobe psmouse
# Open bluetooth GUI
blueman-manager
# Set wallpaper
nitrogen
# Reload i3
Super + Shift + r
Tip: Always reload i3 with
Super + Shift + r after editing the config.
Tip: Press Esc in vim whenever you’re lost
— it always returns to Normal mode.