DWM Shortcut Guide
Dynamic Window Manager (DWM) is one of the lightest and most efficient window managers for Linux. With DWM, you can manage windows easily using keyboard shortcuts. Here’s a list of essential DWM shortcuts to improve your workflow.
🚀 Launching Apps
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
Mod + p | Launch dmenu |
Mod + Shift + Enter | Launch st terminal |
🔄 Window Focus & Swap
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
Mod + j | Focus next window |
Mod + k | Focus previous window |
Mod + Enter | Swap window with master (zoom) |
Mod + Tab | Switch to previous tag (view) |
⬛ Layout / Window Position
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
Mod + t | Tile layout (left-right) |
Mod + f | Floating layout |
Mod + m | Monocle layout (fullscreen) |
Mod + space | Cycle through layouts |
Mod + Shift + space | Toggle floating mode (per window) |
📐 Master Area Control
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
Mod + i | Increase number of master windows |
Mod + d | Decrease number of master windows |
Mod + h | Shrink master area (mfact -) |
Mod + l | Expand master area (mfact +) |
❌ Close / Quit
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
Mod + Shift + c | Kill client (close window) |
Mod + Shift + q | Quit dwm |
🖥️ Multi-monitor
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
Mod + , | Focus left monitor |
Mod + . | Focus right monitor |
Mod + Shift + , | Move window to left |
Mod + Shift + . | Move window to right |
🔢 Tag Management (Virtual Desktop)
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
Mod + [1-9] | Switch to tag (workspace) 1–9 |
Mod + Ctrl + [1-9] | Toggle view specific tag (multi view) |
Mod + Shift + [1-9] | Move window to specific tag |
Mod + Ctrl + Shift + [1-9] | Toggle move window to multiple tags |
Mod + 0 | View all tags (show all) |
Mod + Shift + 0 | Tag window to all tags |
🖱️ Mouse Bindings
| Click (location) | Button | Function |
|---|
| Layout symbol (top left) | LMB | Set layout to default |
| Layout symbol (top left) | RMB | Set layout to monocle |
| Window title (bar) | MMB | Zoom |
| Status bar | MMB | Launch terminal |
| Client (window) | Mod + LMB | Move window |
| Client (window) | Mod + MMB | Toggle floating |
| Client (window) | Mod + RMB | Resize window |
| Tag bar (left) | LMB | View tag |
| Tag bar (left) | RMB | Toggle view tag |
| Tag bar (left) | Mod + LMB | Tag window to tag |
| Tag bar (left) | Mod + RMB | Toggle tag window |
📋 Miscellaneous
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
Mod + Shift + r | Reload dwm configuration |
Mod + Shift + x | Exit dwm |
Mod + Shift + s | Screenshot (uses scrot) |
Mod + Shift + v | Paste clipboard content |
Mod + Shift + b | Toggle status bar visibility |
Mod + Shift + m | Toggle master area visibility |
Mod + Shift + n | Toggle all windows visibility |
Mod + Shift + t | Toggle title bar visibility |
Mod + Shift + f | Toggle fullscreen mode |