Uncommon tips & tricks

Configuring

Switchable keyboard layouts

The easiest way to accomplish this is to set this using XKB settings, for example:

input {
    kb_layout = us,cz
    kb_variant = ,qwerty
    kb_options = grp:alt_shift_toggle
}

Variants are set per layout.

[!WARNING] The first layout defined in the input section will be the one used for binds by default.

For example: us,ua -> config binds would be e.g. SUPER, A, while on ua,us -> SUPER, Cyrillic_ef

You can change this behavior globally or per-device by setting resolve_binds_by_sym = 1. In that case, binds will activate when the symbol typed matches the symbol specified in the bind.

For example: if your layouts are us,fr and have a bind for SUPER, A you’d need to press the first letter on the second row while the us layout is active and the first letter on the first row while the fr layout is active.

You can also bind a key to execute hyprctl switchxkblayout for more keybind freedom. See Using hyprctl.

To find the valid layouts and kb_options, you can check out the /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.lst. For example:

To get the layout name of a language:

grep -i 'persian' /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.lst

To get the list of keyboard shortcuts you can put in the kb_options to toggle keyboard layouts:

grep 'grp:.*toggle' /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.lst

Disabling keybinds with one master keybind

If you want to disable all keybinds with another keybind (make a keybind toggle of sorts) you can just use a submap with only a keybind to exit it.

bind = MOD, KEY, submap, clean
submap = clean
bind = MOD, KEY, submap, reset
submap = reset

Remapping Caps Lock

You can customize the behavior of the Caps Lock key using kb_options.

To view all available options related to Caps Lock, run:

grep 'caps' /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.lst

For example, to remap Caps lock to Ctrl:

input {
    kb_options = ctrl:nocaps
}

To swap Caps Lock and Escape:

input {
    kb_options = caps:swapescape
}

You can also find additional kb_options unrelated to Caps Lock in /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.lst.

Set F13-F24 as usual function keys

By default, F13-F24 are mapped by xkb as various “XF86” keysyms. These cause binding issues in many programs. One example is OBS Studio, which does not detect the XF86 keysyms as usable keybindings, making you unable to use them for binds. This option simply maps them back to the expected F13-F24 values, which are bindable as normal.

[!WARNING] This option was only added recently to xkeyboard-config. Please ensure you are on version 2.43 or greater for this option to do anything.

input {
    kb_options = fkeys:basic_13-24
}

Minimize windows using special workspaces

This approach uses special workspaces to mimic the “minimize window” function, by using a single keybind to toggle the minimized state. Note that one keybind can only handle one window.

bind = $mod, S, togglespecialworkspace, magic
bind = $mod, S, movetoworkspace, +0
bind = $mod, S, togglespecialworkspace, magic
bind = $mod, S, movetoworkspace, special:magic
bind = $mod, S, togglespecialworkspace, magic

Show desktop

This approach uses same principle as the Minimize windows using special workspaces section. It moves all windows from current workspace to a special workspace named desktop. Showing desktop state is remembered per workspace.

Create a script:

#!/bin/env sh

TMP_FILE="$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/hyprland-show-desktop"

CURRENT_WORKSPACE=$(hyprctl monitors -j | jq '.[] | .activeWorkspace | .name' | sed 's/"//g')

if [ -s "$TMP_FILE-$CURRENT_WORKSPACE" ]; then
  readarray -d $'\n' -t ADDRESS_ARRAY <<< $(< "$TMP_FILE-$CURRENT_WORKSPACE")

  for address in "${ADDRESS_ARRAY[@]}"
  do
    CMDS+="dispatch movetoworkspacesilent name:$CURRENT_WORKSPACE,address:$address;"
  done

  hyprctl --batch "$CMDS"

  rm "$TMP_FILE-$CURRENT_WORKSPACE"
else
  HIDDEN_WINDOWS=$(hyprctl clients -j | jq --arg CW "$CURRENT_WORKSPACE" '.[] | select (.workspace .name == $CW) | .address')

  readarray -d $'\n' -t ADDRESS_ARRAY <<< $HIDDEN_WINDOWS

  for address in "${ADDRESS_ARRAY[@]}"
  do
    address=$(sed 's/"//g' <<< $address )

    if [[ -n address ]]; then
      TMP_ADDRESS+="$address\n"
    fi

    CMDS+="dispatch movetoworkspacesilent special:desktop,address:$address;"
  done

  hyprctl --batch "$CMDS"

  echo -e "$TMP_ADDRESS" | sed -e '/^$/d' > "$TMP_FILE-$CURRENT_WORKSPACE"
fi

then bind it:

  bind = $mainMod , D, exec, <PATH TO SCRIPT>

Minimize Steam instead of killing

Steam will exit entirely when its last window is closed using the killactive dispatcher. To minimize Steam to tray, use the following script to close applications:

if [ "$(hyprctl activewindow -j | jq -r ".class")" = "Steam" ]; then
    xdotool getactivewindow windowunmap
else
    hyprctl dispatch killactive ""
fi

Shimeji

To use Shimeji programs like this, set the following rules:

windowrule {
	name = shimeji
	match:class = com-group_finity-mascot-Main
	
	float = true
	no_blur = true
	no_focus = true
	no_shadow = true
	border_size = 0
}

[!NOTE] The app indicator probably won’t show, so you’ll have to killall -9 java to kill them.

Demo GIF of Spamton Shimeji

Toggle animations/blur/etc hotkey

For increased performance in games, or for less distractions at a keypress

create file ~/.config/hypr/gamemode.sh && chmod +x ~/.config/hypr/gamemode.sh and add:

#!/usr/bin/env sh
HYPRGAMEMODE=$(hyprctl getoption animations:enabled | awk 'NR==1{print $2}')
if [ "$HYPRGAMEMODE" = 1 ] ; then
    hyprctl --batch "\
        keyword animations:enabled 0;\
        keyword animation borderangle,0; \
        keyword decoration:shadow:enabled 0;\
        keyword decoration:blur:enabled 0;\
	    keyword decoration:fullscreen_opacity 1;\
        keyword general:gaps_in 0;\
        keyword general:gaps_out 0;\
        keyword general:border_size 1;\
        keyword decoration:rounding 0"
    hyprctl notify 1 5000 "rgb(40a02b)" "Gamemode [ON]"
    exit
else
    hyprctl notify 1 5000 "rgb(d20f39)" "Gamemode [OFF]"
    hyprctl reload
    exit 0
fi
exit 1

Edit to your liking of course. If animations are enabled, it disables all the pretty stuff. Otherwise, the script reloads your config to grab your defaults.

Add this to your hyprland.conf:

bind = WIN, F1, exec, ~/.config/hypr/gamemode.sh

The hotkey toggle will be WIN+F1, but you can change this to whatever you want.

Zoom

To zoom using Hyprland’s built-in zoom utility

[!WARNING] If mouse wheel bindings work only for the first time, you should probably reduce reset time with binds:scroll_event_delay

bind = $mod, mouse_down, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor $(hyprctl getoption cursor:zoom_factor -j | jq '.float * 1.1')
bind = $mod, mouse_up, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor $(hyprctl getoption cursor:zoom_factor -j | jq '(.float * 0.9) | if . < 1 then 1 else . end')

binde = $mod, equal, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor $(hyprctl getoption cursor:zoom_factor -j | jq '.float * 1.1')
binde = $mod, minus, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor $(hyprctl getoption cursor:zoom_factor -j | jq '(.float * 0.9) | if . < 1 then 1 else . end')
binde = $mod, KP_ADD, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor $(hyprctl getoption cursor:zoom_factor -j | jq '.float * 1.1')
binde = $mod, KP_SUBTRACT, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor $(hyprctl getoption cursor:zoom_factor -j | jq '(.float * 0.9) | if . < 1 then 1 else . end')

bind = $mod SHIFT, mouse_up, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor 1
bind = $mod SHIFT, mouse_down, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor 1
bind = $mod SHIFT, minus, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor 1
bind = $mod SHIFT, KP_SUBTRACT, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor 1
bind = $mod SHIFT, 0, exec, hyprctl -q keyword cursor:zoom_factor 1

Alt tab behaviour

To mimic DE’s alt-tab behaviour. Here is an example that uses foot, fzf, grim-hyprland and chafa to the screenshot in the terminal.

alttab

Dependencies :

foot
fzf
grim-hyprland
chafa
jq

add this to your config

exec-once = foot --server -c $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/foot/foot.ini

bind = ALT, TAB, exec, $HOME/.config/hypr/scripts/alttab/enable.sh 'down'
bind = ALT SHIFT, TAB, exec, $HOME/.config/hypr/scripts/alttab/enable.sh 'up'

submap=alttab
bind = ALT, tab, sendshortcut, , tab, class:alttab
bind = ALT SHIFT, tab, sendshortcut, shift, tab, class:alttab

bindrt = ALT, ALT_L, exec, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/disable.sh ; hyprctl -q dispatch sendshortcut , return,class:alttab
bindrt = ALT SHIFT, ALT_L, exec, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/disable.sh ; hyprctl -q dispatch sendshortcut , return,class:alttab
bind = ALT, Return, exec, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/disable.sh ; hyprctl -q dispatch sendshortcut , return, class:alttab
bind = ALT SHIFT, Return, exec, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/disable.sh ; hyprctl -q dispatch sendshortcut , return, class:alttab
bind = ALT, escape, exec, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/disable.sh ; hyprctl -q dispatch sendshortcut , escape,class:alttab
bind = ALT SHIFT, escape, exec, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/disable.sh ; hyprctl -q dispatch sendshortcut , escape,class:alttab
submap = reset

workspace = special:alttab, gapsout:0, gapsin:0, bordersize:0
windowrule = match:class alttab, no_anim
windowrule = match:class alttab, stay_focused
windowrule = match:class alttab, workspace special:alttab
windowrule = match:class alttab, border_size 0

create file touch $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/alttab.sh && chmod +x $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/alttab.sh and add:

alttab.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
hyprctl -q dispatch submap alttab
start=$1
address=$(hyprctl -j clients | jq -r 'sort_by(.focusHistoryID) | .[] | select(.workspace.id >= 0) | "\(.address)\t\(.title)"' |
	      fzf --color prompt:green,pointer:green,current-bg:-1,current-fg:green,gutter:-1,border:bright-black,current-hl:red,hl:red \
		  --cycle \
		  --sync \
		  --bind tab:down,shift-tab:up,start:$start,double-click:ignore \
		  --wrap \
		  --delimiter=$'\t' \
		  --with-nth=2 \
		  --preview "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/preview.sh {}" \
		  --preview-window=down:80% \
		  --layout=reverse |
	      awk -F"\t" '{print $1}')

if [ -n "$address" ] ; then
	echo "$address" > $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/hypr/alttab/address
fi

hyprctl -q dispatch submap reset

I chose to exclude windows that are in special workspaces but it can be modified by removing select(.workspace.id >= 0)

create file touch $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/preview.sh && chmod +x $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/preview.sh and add:

preview.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
line="$1"

IFS=$'\t' read -r addr _ <<< "$line"
dim=${FZF_PREVIEW_COLUMNS}x${FZF_PREVIEW_LINES}

grim -t png -l 0 -w "$addr" $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/hypr/alttab/preview.png
chafa --animate false --dither=none -s "$dim" "$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/hypr/alttab/preview.png"

create file touch $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/disable.sh && chmod +x $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/disable.sh and add:

disable.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
hyprctl -q keyword animations:enabled true

hyprctl -q --batch "keyword unbind ALT, TAB ; keyword unbind ALT SHIFT, TAB ; keyword bind ALT, TAB, exec, $HOME/.config/hypr/scripts/alttab/enable.sh 'down' ; keyword bind ALT SHIFT, TAB, exec, $HOME/.config/hypr/scripts/alttab/enable.sh 'up'"

create file touch $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/enable.sh && chmod +x $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/hypr/scripts/alttab/enable.sh and add:

enable.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
mkdir -p $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/hypr/alttab
hyprctl -q --batch "keyword animations:enabled false; keyword unbind ALT, TAB ; keyword unbind ALT SHIFT, TAB"
footclient -a alttab $HOME/.config/hypr/scripts/alttab/alttab.sh $1
hyprctl --batch -q "dispatch focuswindow address:$(cat $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/hypr/alttab/address) ; dispatch alterzorder top"

Config versioning

Some updates add breaking changes, which can be anticipated by looking at the git development branch.

Since Hyprland 0.53, we export a variable for each major version, that looks like this:

$HYPRLAND_V_0_XX

You can make your configs conditional, e.g.:

# hyprlang if HYPRLAND_V_0_53

someValue = 0.53

# hyprlang endif

# hyprlang if !HYPRLAND_V_0_53

someValue = 0.52

# hyprlang endif

The -git branch exports the variable for the next major release.

All future releases will export all past variables as well, e.g. 0.54 will also export 0.53.

Last updated on December 19, 2025

Multi-GPU Example configurations