Where Is the i3 Config File?
Where the i3 window manager looks for its config on Linux, and how to generate one with the setup wizard.
Last updated
i3 checks user paths first: ~/.config/i3/config (or $XDG_CONFIG_HOME), then the legacy ~/.i3/config, then system files under /etc. A -c flag overrides everything for testing.
First-time users get offered i3-config-wizard, which writes a working config with key positions matched to the current keyboard. Accept it. Hand-editing from the /etc sample is fine too, but the wizard saves fiddling with modifiers.
Where i3 stores this, by platform
~/.config/i3/config
Main user config. Legacy ~/.i3/config and /etc/i3/config are fallbacks. i3bar is configured inside this same file. Check edits with i3 -C before reloading.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create my own i3 config?
Copy /etc/i3/config to ~/.config/i3/config and edit the copy. The system file is a fallback that package updates can replace. Validate edits with i3 -C and reload with Mod+Shift+r.
What if I have no config file at all?
Run i3-config-wizard. It asks for your modifier key and writes a config using your current layout. It refuses to run if a config already exists, so move yours aside first.
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