3

keys

github-actions[bot] edited this page 2026-03-22 03:37:29 +00:00

Table of Contents

• Syntax
• Flags
• Key Modes (Submaps)
• Single Modifier Key Binding
• Dispatchers List
• Window Management
• Focus & Movement
• Tags & Monitors
• Layouts
• System
• Media Controls
• Brightness
• Volume
• Playback
• Floating Window Movement

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Syntax

Key bindings follow this format:

bind[flags]=MODIFIERS,KEY,COMMAND,PARAMETERS

• Modifiers: SUPER, CTRL, ALT, SHIFT, NONE (combine with +, e.g. SUPER+CTRL+ALT).
• Key: Key name (from xev or wev) or keycode (e.g., code:24 for q).

Info: bind automatically converts keysym to keycode for comparison. This makes it compatible with all keyboard layouts, but the matching may not always be precise. If a key combination doesn't work on your keyboard layout, use a keycode instead (e.g., code:24 instead of q).

Flags

• l: Works even when screen is locked.
• s: Uses keysym instead of keycode to bind.
• r: Triggers on key release instead of press.
• p: Pass key event to client.

Examples:

bind=SUPER,Q,killclient
bindl=SUPER,L,spawn,swaylock

# Using keycode instead of key name
bind=ALT,code:24,killclient

# Combining keycodes for modifiers and keys
bind=code:64,code:24,killclient
bind=code:64+code:133,code:24,killclient

# Bind with no modifier
bind=NONE,XF86MonBrightnessUp,spawn,brightnessctl set +5%

# Bind a modifier key itself as the trigger key
bind=alt,shift_l,switch_keyboard_layout

Key Modes (Submaps)

You can divide key bindings into named modes. Rules:

1. Set keymode=<name> before a group of bind lines — those binds only apply in that mode.
2. If no keymode is set before a bind, it belongs to the default mode.
3. The special common keymode applies its binds across all modes.

Use setkeymode to switch modes, and mmsg -b to query the current mode.

# Binds in 'common' apply in every mode
keymode=common
bind=SUPER,r,reload_config

# Default mode bindings
keymode=default
bind=ALT,Return,spawn,foot
bind=SUPER,F,setkeymode,resize

# 'resize' mode bindings
keymode=resize
bind=NONE,Left,resizewin,-10,0
bind=NONE,Right,resizewin,+10,0
bind=NONE,Escape,setkeymode,default

Single Modifier Key Binding

When binding a modifier key itself, use NONE for press and the modifier name for release:

# Trigger on press of Super key
bind=none,Super_L,spawn,rofi -show run

# Trigger on release of Super key
bindr=Super,Super_L,spawn,rofi -show run

Dispatchers List

Window Management

Command	Param	Description
killclient	-	Close the focused window.
togglefloating	-	Toggle floating state.
toggle_all_floating	-	Toggle all visible clients floating state.
togglefullscreen	-	Toggle fullscreen.
togglefakefullscreen	-	Toggle "fake" fullscreen (remains constrained).
togglemaximizescreen	-	Maximize window (keep decoration/bar).
toggleglobal	-	Pin window to all tags.
toggle_render_border	-	Toggle border rendering.
centerwin	-	Center the floating window.
minimized	-	Minimize window to scratchpad.
restore_minimized	-	Restore window from scratchpad.
toggle_scratchpad	-	Toggle scratchpad.
toggle_named_scratchpad	appid,title,cmd	Toggle named scratchpad. Launches app if not running, otherwise shows/hides it.

Focus & Movement

Command	Param	Description
focusdir	left/right/up/down	Focus window in direction.
focusstack	next/prev	Cycle focus within the stack.
focuslast	-	Focus the previously active window.
exchange_client	left/right/up/down	Swap window with neighbor in direction.
exchange_stack_client	next/prev	Exchange window position in stack.
zoom	-	Swap focused window with Master.

Tags & Monitors

Command	Param	Description
view	-1/0/1-9 or mask [,synctag]	View tag. -1 = previous tagset, 0 = all tags, 1-9 = specific tag, mask e.g. 1|3|5. Optional synctag (0/1) syncs the action to all monitors.
viewtoleft	[synctag]	View previous tag. Optional synctag (0/1) syncs to all monitors.
viewtoright	[synctag]	View next tag. Optional synctag (0/1) syncs to all monitors.
viewtoleft_have_client	[synctag]	View left tag and focus client if present. Optional synctag (0/1).
viewtoright_have_client	[synctag]	View right tag and focus client if present. Optional synctag (0/1).
viewcrossmon	tag,monitor_spec	View specified tag on specified monitor.
tag	1-9 [,synctag]	Move window to tag. Optional synctag (0/1) syncs to all monitors.
tagsilent	1-9	Move window to tag without focusing it.
tagtoleft	[synctag]	Move window to left tag. Optional synctag (0/1).
tagtoright	[synctag]	Move window to right tag. Optional synctag (0/1).
tagcrossmon	tag,monitor_spec	Move window to specified tag on specified monitor.
toggletag	0-9	Toggle tag on window (0 means all tags).
toggleview	1-9	Toggle tag view.
comboview	1-9	View multi tags pressed simultaneously.
focusmon	left/right/up/down/monitor_spec	Focus monitor by direction or monitor spec.
tagmon	left/right/up/down/monitor_spec,[keeptag]	Move window to monitor by direction or monitor spec. keeptag is 0 or 1.

Layouts

Command	Param	Description
setlayout	name	Switch to layout (e.g., scroller, tile).
switch_layout	-	Cycle through available layouts.
incnmaster	+1/-1	Increase/Decrease number of master windows.
setmfact	+0.05	Increase/Decrease master area size.
set_proportion	float	Set scroller window proportion (0.0–1.0).
switch_proportion_preset	-	Cycle proportion presets of scroller window.
scroller_stack	left/right/up/down	Move window inside/outside scroller stack by direction.
incgaps	+/-value	Adjust gap size.
togglegaps	-	Toggle gaps.

System

Command	Param	Description
spawn	cmd	Execute a command.
spawn_shell	cmd	Execute shell command (supports pipes |).
spawn_on_empty	cmd,tagnumber	Open command on empty tag.
reload_config	-	Hot-reload configuration.
quit	-	Exit mangowm.
toggleoverview	-	Toggle overview mode.
create_virtual_output	-	Create a headless monitor (for VNC/Sunshine).
destroy_all_virtual_output	-	Destroy all virtual monitors.
toggleoverlay	-	Toggle overlay state for the focused window.
toggle_trackpad_enable	-	Toggle trackpad enable.
setkeymode	mode	Set keymode.
switch_keyboard_layout	[index]	Switch keyboard layout. Optional index (0, 1, 2...) to switch to specific layout.
setoption	key,value	Set config option temporarily.
disable_monitor	monitor_spec	Shutdown monitor. Accepts a monitor spec.
enable_monitor	monitor_spec	Power on monitor. Accepts a monitor spec.
toggle_monitor	monitor_spec	Toggle monitor power. Accepts a monitor spec.

Media Controls

Warning: Some keyboards don't send standard media keys. Run wev and press your key to check the exact key name.

Brightness

Requires: brightnessctl

bind=NONE,XF86MonBrightnessUp,spawn,brightnessctl s +2%
bind=SHIFT,XF86MonBrightnessUp,spawn,brightnessctl s 100%
bind=NONE,XF86MonBrightnessDown,spawn,brightnessctl s 2%-
bind=SHIFT,XF86MonBrightnessDown,spawn,brightnessctl s 1%

Volume

Requires: wpctl (WirePlumber)

bind=NONE,XF86AudioRaiseVolume,spawn,wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ 5%+
bind=NONE,XF86AudioLowerVolume,spawn,wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ 5%-
bind=NONE,XF86AudioMute,spawn,wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle
bind=SHIFT,XF86AudioMute,spawn,wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_SOURCE@ toggle

Playback

Requires: playerctl

bind=NONE,XF86AudioNext,spawn,playerctl next
bind=NONE,XF86AudioPrev,spawn,playerctl previous
bind=NONE,XF86AudioPlay,spawn,playerctl play-pause

Floating Window Movement

Command	Param	Description
smartmovewin	left/right/up/down	Move floating window by snap distance.
smartresizewin	left/right/up/down	Resize floating window by snap distance.
movewin	(x,y)	Move floating window.
resizewin	(width,height)	Resize window.

General

• installation
• quick-start
• ipc
• faq

Bindings

• keys
• mouse-gestures

Configuration

• basics
• monitors
• input
• xdg-portals
• miscellaneous

Visuals

• theming
• status-bar
• effects
• animations

Window Management

• layouts
• rules
• overview
• scratchpad