Niri Keybinds & FAQ

Note

Niri is a scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor that offers a unique approach to window management with its column-based layout system.

Our main goal with our setup is to have a working Niri configuration that provides a smooth and intuitive desktop experience while keeping the configuration simple and accessible.

Take a look into our Niri FAQ.

Dotfiles maintained by Ly-sec

Keybinds

Most of the key combinations require the use of the mod key which in our case is the Windows key (referenced as SUPER), you can change it in the config file.

Application Control

Description	Key
Open terminal	Super + Return SuperReturn
Open Wofi (Program Launcher)	Super + Space SuperSpace
Open browser (Firefox)	Super + B SuperB
Open file manager	Super + E SuperE
Close focused window	Super + Q SuperQ
Lock screen	Super + Alt + L SuperAltL

Workspace Navigation

Description	Key
Go to workspace (1-9)	Super + 1 Super1 through Super + 9 Super9
Previous workspace	Super + Tab SuperTab
Move between workspaces with scroll wheel	Super + Scroll SuperScroll

Window Navigation

Description	Key
Focus window/column up	Super + ArrowUp SuperArrowUp or Super + K SuperK
Focus window/column down	Super + ArrowDown SuperArrowDown or Super + J SuperJ
Focus column left	Super + ArrowLeft SuperArrowLeft or Super + H SuperH
Focus column right	Super + ArrowRight SuperArrowRight or Super + L SuperL
Focus first column	Super + Home SuperHome
Focus last column	Super + End SuperEnd

Monitor Navigation

Description	Key
Focus monitor left	Super + Shift + ArrowLeft SuperShiftArrowLeft
Focus monitor right	Super + Shift + ArrowRight SuperShiftArrowRight
Focus monitor up	Super + Shift + ArrowUp SuperShiftArrowUp
Focus monitor down	Super + Shift + ArrowDown SuperShiftArrowDown

Window Management

Description	Key
Move window to workspace (1-9)	Super + Control + 1 SuperControl1 through Super + Control + 9 SuperControl9
Move window/column up	Super + Control + ArrowUp SuperControlArrowUp or Super + Control + K SuperControlK
Move window/column down	Super + Control + ArrowDown SuperControlArrowDown or Super + Control + J SuperControlJ
Move column left	Super + Control + ArrowLeft SuperControlArrowLeft or Super + Control + H SuperControlH
Move column right	Super + Control + ArrowRight SuperControlArrowRight or Super + Control + L SuperControlL
Move column to first position	Super + Control + Home SuperControlHome
Move column to last position	Super + Control + End SuperControlEnd
Move column to monitor left	Super + Shift + Control + ArrowLeft SuperShiftControlArrowLeft
Move column to monitor right	Super + Shift + Control + ArrowRight SuperShiftControlArrowRight
Move column to monitor up	Super + Shift + Control + ArrowUp SuperShiftControlArrowUp
Move column to monitor down	Super + Shift + Control + ArrowDown SuperShiftControlArrowDown

Layout Controls

Description	Key
Expand column to available width	Super + Control + F SuperControlF
Center column	Super + C SuperC
Center visible columns	Super + Control + C SuperControlC
Decrease column width	Super + Minus SuperMinus
Increase column width	Super + Equal SuperEqual
Decrease window height	Super + Shift + Minus SuperShiftMinus
Increase window height	Super + Shift + Equal SuperShiftEqual

Window Modes

Description	Key
Toggle window floating	Super + T SuperT
Toggle window fullscreen	Super + F SuperF
Toggle column tabbed display	Super + W SuperW
Toggle overview mode	Super + O SuperO

Screenshots

Description	Key
Screenshot selection	Control + Shift + 1 ControlShift1
Screenshot screen	Control + Shift + 2 ControlShift2
Screenshot window	Control + Shift + 3 ControlShift3

System Controls

Description	Key
Show hotkey overlay	Super + Shift + Escape SuperShiftEscape
Emergency escape (restore control)	Super + Escape SuperEscape
Power off monitors	Super + Shift + P SuperShiftP
Quit Niri	Control + Alt + Delete ControlAltDelete

Media Controls

Description	Key
Volume up	VolUp VolUp
Volume down	VolDown VolDown
Mute audio	VolMute VolMute
Mute microphone	MicMute MicMute
Media next track	MediaNext MediaNext
Media previous track	MediaPrev MediaPrev
Media play/pause	MediaPlayPause MediaPlayPause

Advanced Navigation

Description	Key
Horizontal scroll with mouse	Super + Scroll then Left/Right SuperScroll Left/Right
Move column with horizontal scroll	Super + Control + Scroll then Left/Right SuperControlScroll Left/Right
Alternative column navigation	Super + Shift + Scroll then Up/Down SuperShiftScroll Up/Down
Move column with alternative scroll	Super + Control + Shift + Scroll then Up/Down SuperControlShiftScroll Up/Down

FAQ

What makes Niri different from other window managers?

Niri uses a unique scrollable-tiling approach where windows are arranged in columns that can be scrolled horizontally. This provides an infinite desktop metaphor that’s particularly useful for ultrawide monitors and workflows requiring many open applications.

How do I change the keyboard layout?

Edit the input section in your config file:

Example

input {
    keyboard {
        xkb {
            layout "us" // Change from "de" to your preferred layout
        }
    }
}

Can I customize the gaps and window appearance?

Yes, you can modify the layout section:

Example

layout {
    gaps 8 // Change gap size

    focus-ring {
        width 2
        active-color "#your-color"
        inactive-color "#your-color"
    }
}

How do I add more startup applications?

Add them to the startup section:

Example

spawn-at-startup "your-application"

What is the emergency escape key for?

The Super+Escape binding is designed to restore control when a fullscreen application blocks your keybinds. It disables any active keyboard shortcut inhibitor.

How do I configure multiple monitors?

Uncomment and modify the output section for your specific displays. Run niri msg outputs to get the correct names:

Example

output "DP-1" {
    mode "1920x1080@60.000"
    scale 1
}