rules

Window Rules

Window rules allow you to set specific properties (floating, opacity, size, animations, etc.) for applications based on their app_id or title. You can set all parameters in one line, and if you both set app_id and title, the window will only follow the rules when app_id and title both match.

Format:

# Set window rules that apply to every times when the window is opened
window_rule=Parameter:Values,title:Values
window_rule=Parameter:Values,Parameter:Values,app_id:Values,title:Values

# Set window rules that only apply once when the window is opened
window_rule_once=Parameter:Values,title:Values
window_rule_once=Parameter:Values,Parameter:Values,app_id:Values,title:Values

State & Behavior Parameters

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
app_id	string	Any	Match by application ID, supports regex
title	string	Any	Match by window title, supports regex
is_floating	integer	0 / 1	Force floating state
is_fullscreen	integer	0 / 1	Force fullscreen state
is_fake_fullscreen	integer	0 / 1	Force fake-fullscreen state (window stays constrained)
is_global	integer	0 / 1	Open as global window (sticky across tags)
is_overlay	integer	0 / 1	Make it always in top layer
is_open_silent	integer	0 / 1	Open without focus
is_tag_silent	integer	0 / 1	Don't focus if client is not in current view tag
force_fake_maximize	integer	0 / 1 (default 1)	The state of client set to fake maximized
ignore_maximize	integer	0 / 1 (default 1)	Don't handle maximize request from client
ignore_minimize	integer	0 / 1 (default 1)	Don't handle minimize request from client
force_tiled_state	integer	0 / 1	Deceive the window into thinking it is tiling, so it better adheres to assigned dimensions
single_scratchpad	integer	0 / 1 (default 1)	Only show one out of named scratchpads or the normal scratchpad
allow_shortcuts_inhibit	integer	0 / 1 (default 1)	Allow shortcuts to be inhibited by clients
idle_inhibit_when_focus	integer	0 / 1 (default 0)	Automatically keep idle inhibit active when this window is focused
vrr_only_fullscreen	integer	0 / 1 (default 0)	VRR only fullscreen,you need to turn vrr to 0 in monitor rule first
shield_when_capture	integer	0 / 1	Shield window when captured
force_render	integer	0 / 1	Force render frame even if the window is not visible
activation_bypass	integer	0 / 1	Bypass xdg-activation authentication: activation requests for this window are treated as authenticated, so the normal activation behavior applies regardless of token validity

Geometry & Position

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
width	float	0-9999	Window width when it becomes a floating window,if the value below 1, it will be the percentage of the screen width,otherwise it will be the pixel value
height	float	0-9999	Window height when it becomes a floating window,if the value below 1, it will be the percentage of the screen height,otherwise it will be the pixel value
offset_x	integer	-999-999	X offset from center (%), 100 is the edge of screen with outer gap
offset_y	integer	-999-999	Y offset from center (%), 100 is the edge of screen with outer gap
monitor	string	Any	Assign to monitor by monitor spec (name, make, model, or serial)
tags	mask	0-9 / 1|3|5	Assign to specific one tag (use 0 for special workspace overlay) or multiple tags (use | to split multiple tags)
no_force_center	integer	0 / 1	Window does not force center
no_size_hint	integer	0 / 1	Don't use min size and max size for size hints

Visuals & Decoration

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
no_blur	integer	0 / 1	Window does not have blur effect
no_border	integer	0 / 1	Remove window border
no_shadow	integer	0 / 1	Not apply shadow
no_radius	integer	0 / 1	Not apply corner radius
no_animation	integer	0 / 1	Not apply animation
focused_opacity	integer	0 / 1	Window focused opacity
unfocused_opacity	integer	0 / 1	Window unfocused opacity
allow_csd	integer	0 / 1	Allow client side decoration
confine_pointer	integer	0 / 1	While this window is focused and visible, force the cursor to stay inside it (does not require the client to use the pointer constraints protocol)

Tip: For detailed visual effects configuration, see the Window Effects page for blur, shadows, and opacity settings.

Layout & Scroller

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
scroller_proportion	float	0.1-1.0	Set scroller proportion
scroller_proportion_single	float	0.1-1.0	Set scroller auto adjust proportion when it is single window

Tip: For comprehensive layout configuration, see the Layouts page for all layout options and detailed settings.

Animation

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
animation_type_open	string	zoom, slide, fade, none	Set open animation
animation_type_close	string	zoom, slide, fade, none	Set close animation
no_fade_in	integer	0 / 1	Window ignores fade-in animation
no_fade_out	integer	0 / 1	Window ignores fade-out animation

Tip: For detailed animation configuration, see the Animations page for available types and settings.

Terminal & Swallowing

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
is_term	integer	0 / 1	A new GUI window will replace the is_term window when it is opened
no_swallow	integer	0 / 1	The window will not replace the is_term window

Global & Special Windows

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
global_key_binding	string	[mod combination][-][key]	Global keybinding (only works for Wayland apps)
is_unmanaged_global	integer	0 / 1	Open as unmanaged global window (for desktop pets or camera windows)
is_named_scratchpad	integer	0 / 1	0: disable, 1: named scratchpad

Tip: For scratchpad usage, see the Scratchpad page for detailed configuration examples.

Performance & Tearing

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
force_tearing	integer	0 / 1	Set window to tearing state, refer to Tearing

Examples

# Set specific window size and position
window_rule=width:1000,height:900,app_id:yesplaymusic,title:Demons

# Global keybindings for OBS Studio
window_rule=global_key_binding:ctrl+alt-o,app_id:com.obsproject.Studio
window_rule=global_key_binding:ctrl+alt-n,app_id:com.obsproject.Studio
window_rule=is_open_silent:1,app_id:com.obsproject.Studio

# Force tearing for games
window_rule=force_tearing:1,title:vkcube

# Skip xdg-activation authentication for this app
window_rule=activation_bypass:1,app_id:org.example.App
window_rule=force_tearing:1,title:Counter-Strike 2

# Named scratchpad for file manager
window_rule=is_named_scratchpad:1,width:1280,height:800,app_id:st-yazi

# Custom opacity for specific apps
window_rule=focused_opacity:0.8,app_id:firefox
window_rule=unfocused_opacity:0.6,app_id:foot

# Position windows relative to screen center
window_rule=offset_x:20,offset_y:-30,width:800,height:600,app_id:alacritty

# Send to specific tag and monitor
window_rule=tags:9,monitor:HDMI-A-1,app_id:discord

# Terminal swallowdby setup
window_rule=is_term:1,app_id:st
window_rule=no_swallow:1,app_id:foot

# Disable client-side decorations
window_rule=allow_csd:1,app_id:firefox

# Unmanaged global window (desktop pets, camera)
window_rule=is_unmanaged_global:1,app_id:cheese

# Named scratchpad toggle
bind=alt,h,toggle_named_scratchpad,st-yazi,none,st -c st-yazi -e yazi

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Tag Rules

You can set all parameters in one line. If only id is set, the rule is followed when the id matches. If any of monitor_name, monitor_make, monitor_model, or monitor_serial are set, the rule is followed only if all of the set monitor fields match.

Warning: Layouts set in tag rules have a higher priority than monitor rule layouts.

Format:

tag_rule=id:Values,Parameter:Values,Parameter:Values
tag_rule=id:Values,monitor_name:eDP-1,Parameter:Values,Parameter:Values
tag_rule=id:Values,monitor_make:xxx,monitor_model:xxx,Parameter:Values
tag_rule=id:*,Parameter:Values

Tip: See Layouts for detailed descriptions of each layout type.

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
id	integer / wildcard	0-9 / *	Match by tag id, 0 means the ~0 tag. Use * to match all tags at once
monitor_name	string	monitor name	Match by monitor name
monitor_make	string	monitor make	Match by monitor manufacturer
monitor_model	string	monitor model	Match by monitor model
monitor_serial	string	monitor serial	Match by monitor serial number
layout_name	string	layout name	Layout name to set
no_render_border	integer	0 / 1	Disable render border
open_as_floating	integer	0 / 1	New open window will be floating
no_hide	integer	0 / 1	Not hide even if the tag is empty
master_count	integer	0, 99	Number of master windows
master_factor	float	0.1–0.9	Master area factor
scroller_default_proportion	float	0.1-1.0	Set scroller default proportion.
scroller_default_proportion_single	float	0.1-1.0	Set scroller auto adjust proportion when it is single window(only apply when set scroller_ignore_proportion_single to 0)
scroller_ignore_proportion_single	integer	0 / 1	Ignore scroller single proportion setting.

Examples

# Set layout for all tags at once (equivalent to the two rules below)
tag_rule=id:*,layout_name:scroller

# Set layout for specific tags
tag_rule=id:1,layout_name:scroller
tag_rule=id:2,layout_name:scroller

# Limit to specific monitor
tag_rule=id:1,monitor_name:eDP-1,layout_name:scroller
tag_rule=id:2,monitor_name:eDP-1,layout_name:scroller

# Persistent tags (1-4) with layout assignment
tag_rule=id:1,no_hide:1,layout_name:scroller
tag_rule=id:2,no_hide:1,layout_name:scroller
tag_rule=id:3,monitor_name:eDP-1,no_hide:1,layout_name:scroller
tag_rule=id:4,monitor_name:eDP-1,no_hide:1,layout_name:scroller

# Advanced tag configuration with master layout settings
tag_rule=id:5,layout_name:tile,master_count:2,master_factor:0.6
tag_rule=id:6,monitor_name:HDMI-A-1,layout_name:monocle,no_render_border:1

# set scroller proportion for specific tag
tag_rule=id:1,layout_name:scroller,scroller_default_proportion_single:0.5,scroller_ignore_proportion_single:0,scroller_default_proportion:0.9,monitor_name:HDMI-A-1

Tip: For Waybar configuration with persistent tags, see Status Bar documentation.

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Layer Rules

You can set all parameters in one line. Target "layer shell" surfaces like status bars (waybar), launchers (rofi), or notification daemons.

Format:

layer_rule=layer_name:Values,Parameter:Values,Parameter:Values

Tip: You can use mmsg get last_open_surface to get the last open layer name for debugging.

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
layer_name	string	layer name	Match name of layer, supports regex
animation_type_open	string	slide, zoom, fade, none	Set open animation
animation_type_close	string	slide, zoom, fade, none	Set close animation
no_blur	integer	0 / 1	Disable blur
no_animation	integer	0 / 1	Disable layer animation
no_shadow	integer	0 / 1	Disable layer shadow
shield_when_capture	integer	0 / 1	Shield layer when captured.(it is better to combination with no_animation:1)

Tip: For animation types, see Animations. For visual effects, see Window Effects.

Examples

# No blur or animation for slurp selection layer (avoids occlusion and ghosting in screenshots)
layer_rule=no_animation:1,no_blur:1,layer_name:selection

# Zoom animation for Rofi with multiple parameters
layer_rule=animation_type_open:zoom,no_animation:0,layer_name:rofi

# Disable animations and shadows for notification daemon
layer_rule=no_animation:1,no_shadow:1,layer_name:swaync

# Multiple effects for launcher
layer_rule=animation_type_open:slide,animation_type_close:fade,no_blur:1,layer_name:wofi