search
HomeSystem TutorialLINUXHow to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

Feb 13, 2024 pm 05:18 PM
linuxlinux tutoriallinux systemlinux commandshell scriptarrangementembeddedlinuxGetting started with linuxlinux learning

i3wm (i3 Window Manager) is written in C language and is a lightweight, easy to configure and popular tiling window manager. Unlike traditional desktop environments, Tiling Manager provides just enough functionality to arrange windows on the screen in an easy and attractive way that suits your workflow.

i3 is a minimalist tiling manager that intelligently arranges windows on the screen in a seamless, non-overlapping manner. Other tiling managers include xmonad and wmii.

In this guide, we will explain how to install and use i3 window manager on a Linux desktop system.

Benefits of i3 Window Manager

Unlike X Windows managers such as Fluxbox, KWin and enlightenment, i3 comes with a package of goodies, which are listed below, to provide a smooth desktop experience.

1. Resource friendly

Unlike full-featured desktop environments like GNOME, the i3 window manager is very minimalist and designed to simplify and increase efficiency. Because resource utilization is low, it compensates for the window manager's fast tiling issues and leaves plenty of memory and CPU for other applications.

2. Flexibility

In addition to being able to automatically arrange windows in a neat and organized manner, i3 is also fully configurable and you can adjust a few settings to match your preferred screen layout. Using external tools, you can enhance the appearance by selecting a background image, adjusting transparency and window fade effects, and enabling desktop notifications.

3. Easy to navigate between workspaces

Since you can easily configure various keyboard shortcuts, i3 Collage Manager provides an easy and fast way to switch between workspaces. You can be more productive by seamlessly grouping windows to fit your workflow.

Install i3 Window Manager on Linux

The i3 tiling manager is available in the Debian, Ubuntu, and Linux Mint repositories and can be installed using the apt package manager as shown below.

linuxmi@linuxmi:~/www.linuxmi.com

sudo apt install i3

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

On Fedora distributions, i3 can be installed using the dnf package manager as shown below.

linuxmi@linuxmi:~/www.linuxmi.com

sudo dnf install i3

After the installation is completed, you need to restart the system, click the small gear in the login window, and select the 'i3' option, as shown in the picture.

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

Select i3 window manager

After logging in, you will be prompted to generate a configuration file that will be saved in your home directory ~/.config/i3/config, or use the default of saving the file in the /etc/i3 directory.

In this guide we will be using the first option, so we will press ENTER to place the configuration file in our home directory.

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

Create i3 configuration file

Next, you will need to define the i3 wm modifier key, also known as the $mod key, which can be the Windows logo key or the Alt key (Ubuntu Chinese Alt key). Use the up or down arrow keys to select your preferred modifier key.

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

Set i3 modification key

After completing the initial setup. The default i3 window doesn't matter much, it saves as a blank screen and displays the status bar at the bottom of the screen.

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

i3 window status bar

How to use i3 window manager in Linux

Once you have the i3 Tile Manager installed, here are some keyboard combinations you can use to easily start using the Tile Manager.

Start terminal:$mod ENTER.

Launch an application using the menu: $mod d This will open a menu at the top of your screen, allowing you to search for a specific application by entering keywords in the text box provided.

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

Launch application in i3 window

  • Enter full screen mode - on and off: $mod f.
  • Exit the application window; $mod Shift q.
  • Restart i3: $mod Shift r.
  • Exit i3 window manager: $mod Shift e.

Operation window

When you launch an application, they are usually tiles, as shown below. Obviously, the workspace looks crowded without multiple tiled windows, leaving you feeling overwhelmed.

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

Operation i3 window manager window

For a better experience, you can detach a window and put it in the foreground, so you have a "floating" experience. This can be achieved by pressing the $mod Shift Space combination.

In the example below, the terminal window is in the foreground rather than tiled.

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

Separate window in the foreground

In addition, you can also make the window full screen and return to tiled mode by clicking the $mod f combination and repeating the same operation.

i3 Status Bar

This is one of the most important but still overlooked parts of the i3 tiling manager. It displays information such as available disk space, IP address and bandwidth rate, battery level, date and time.

How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux

i3 window status bar

i3 basic configuration

If you did not generate the configuration file in your home directory, you can find it in the /etc/i3/config path. To copy it to your home directory

linuxmi@linuxmi:~/www.linuxmi.com$ sudo cp /etc/i3/config ~/.config/i3

Then change ownership to your user

linuxmi@linuxmi:~/www.linuxmi.com$ sudo chown user:group ~/.config/i3

The configuration file comes with many settings that you can adjust to your liking to change the appearance of the tile manager. You can change the color of the workspace, change the layout of the windows, and resize the windows. We won’t spend too much time on that or now. The purpose of this guide is to introduce you to i3 Tiling Manager and the basic features to get started.

The above is the detailed content of How to install and use i3 window manager on Linux. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Statement
This article is reproduced at:良许Linux教程网. If there is any infringement, please contact admin@php.cn delete
How to Automatically Restart a Failed Service in LinuxHow to Automatically Restart a Failed Service in LinuxApr 28, 2025 am 09:39 AM

This guide details how to configure automatic service restarts in Linux using systemd, enhancing system reliability and minimizing downtime. System administrators often rely on this functionality to ensure critical services, such as web servers (Apa

10 Hidden Linux Commands Every Sysadmin Should Know10 Hidden Linux Commands Every Sysadmin Should KnowApr 28, 2025 am 09:35 AM

As Linux users, we often rely on commonly used commands ls, grep, awk, sed and find to complete the work. But Linux has a large number of lesser-known commands that can save time, automate tasks and simplify workflows. This article will explore some underrated but powerful Linux commands that deserve more attention. rename – efficient batch rename files The rename command is the savior when you need to rename multiple files at once. Without using loops containing mv, rename allows you to easily apply complex renaming patterns. Change all .txt files to .log. rename 's/\.txt$/\.log/' *

How to List All Running Services Under Systemd in LinuxHow to List All Running Services Under Systemd in LinuxApr 28, 2025 am 09:29 AM

Linux systems provide various system services (such as process management, login, syslog, cron, etc.) and network services (such as remote login, email, printer, web hosting, data storage, file transfer, domain name resolution (using DNS), dynamic IP address allocation (using DHCP), and so on). Technically, a service is a process or group of process (usually known as a daemon) that runs continuously in the background, waiting for incoming requests (especially from the client). Linux supports different ways to manage services (start, stop, restart, enable automatic startup at system startup, etc.), usually through a process or service manager. Almost all modern Linux distributions now use the same

CrossOver 25: Run Windows Software and Games on LinuxCrossOver 25: Run Windows Software and Games on LinuxApr 28, 2025 am 09:27 AM

Run Windows Software and Games on Linux with CrossOver 25 Running Windows applications and games on Linux is now easier than ever, thanks to CrossOver 25 from CodeWeavers. This commercial software solution lets Linux users run a wide variety of Wind

pCloud - The Most Secure Cloud Storage [50% Off Offer]pCloud - The Most Secure Cloud Storage [50% Off Offer]Apr 28, 2025 am 09:26 AM

Secure Your Data with pCloud: A Comprehensive Guide to Linux Installation pCloud, a leading secure cloud storage service, provides a robust platform for managing your files and data. This guide details the installation process on Linux systems. About

MangoHud - Monitor FPS, CPU & GPU Usage in Linux GamesMangoHud - Monitor FPS, CPU & GPU Usage in Linux GamesApr 28, 2025 am 09:25 AM

MangoHud: A powerful tool for real-time monitoring of Linux gaming performance MangoHud is a powerful and lightweight tool designed for gamers, developers, and anyone who wants to monitor system performance in real time. It acts as an overlay for Vulkan and OpenGL applications, displaying important information such as FPS, CPU and GPU usage, temperature, etc. This article will explore the functions, working principles and usage of MangoHud, and provide step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring MangoHud on Linux systems. What is MangoHud? MangoHud is an open source project available on GitHub and aims to provide a simple and customizable way to monitor

5 Must-Know Linux Command Line Archive Tools – Part 15 Must-Know Linux Command Line Archive Tools – Part 1Apr 28, 2025 am 09:23 AM

Managing archived files is a common task in Linux. This article, the first of a two-part series, explores five powerful command-line archive tools, detailing their features and usage with examples. 1. The tar Command: A Versatile Archiving Utility t

Top 7 Tools to Compare Files in Linux (with Examples)Top 7 Tools to Compare Files in Linux (with Examples)Apr 28, 2025 am 09:21 AM

This guide explores various methods for comparing text files in Linux, a crucial task for system administrators and developers. We'll cover command-line tools and visual diff tools, highlighting their strengths and appropriate use cases. Let's assum

See all articles

Hot AI Tools

Undresser.AI Undress

Undresser.AI Undress

AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover

AI Clothes Remover

Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Undress AI Tool

Undress AI Tool

Undress images for free

Clothoff.io

Clothoff.io

AI clothes remover

Video Face Swap

Video Face Swap

Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!

Hot Tools

SublimeText3 Chinese version

SublimeText3 Chinese version

Chinese version, very easy to use

Safe Exam Browser

Safe Exam Browser

Safe Exam Browser is a secure browser environment for taking online exams securely. This software turns any computer into a secure workstation. It controls access to any utility and prevents students from using unauthorized resources.

EditPlus Chinese cracked version

EditPlus Chinese cracked version

Small size, syntax highlighting, does not support code prompt function

SublimeText3 Linux new version

SublimeText3 Linux new version

SublimeText3 Linux latest version

SecLists

SecLists

SecLists is the ultimate security tester's companion. It is a collection of various types of lists that are frequently used during security assessments, all in one place. SecLists helps make security testing more efficient and productive by conveniently providing all the lists a security tester might need. List types include usernames, passwords, URLs, fuzzing payloads, sensitive data patterns, web shells, and more. The tester can simply pull this repository onto a new test machine and he will have access to every type of list he needs.