A Complete Guide to Installing the i3 Window Manager on Ubuntu 22.04
If you’re tired of traditional desktop environments and crave a more efficient, keyboard-driven workflow, a tiling window manager might be exactly what you need. Unlike floating window managers like GNOME or Windows, which require constant mouse interaction to arrange windows, a tiling window manager automatically organizes them into non-overlapping tiles. The i3 window manager is one of the most popular, lightweight, and highly customizable options available.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of installing and setting up the i3 window manager on your Ubuntu 22.04 system, transforming your desktop into a minimalist and powerful workspace.
What is i3 and Why Should You Use It?
i3 is a dynamic tiling window manager designed for power users and developers. Its core philosophy revolves around simplicity, performance, and control. Here are the key advantages:
- Extreme Efficiency: Navigate your desktop, launch applications, and manage windows entirely from the keyboard. This significantly speeds up your workflow.
- Minimal Resource Usage: i3 is incredibly lightweight, consuming far less RAM and CPU than full-featured desktop environments. It’s an excellent choice for older hardware or for users who want to dedicate maximum resources to their applications.
- Complete Customization: Every aspect of i3, from keybindings to the status bar, is controlled by a simple plain-text configuration file. You can tailor it precisely to your needs.
- Distraction-Free Workspace: With no unnecessary icons, docks, or animations, i3 provides a clean, focused environment to get work done.
Step 1: Updating and Installing i3
Before installing any new software, it’s always a best practice to update your system’s package repository. Open your terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt update
Once the update is complete, you can install i3. While you can install the core i3 package alone, it’s highly recommended to also install a few essential companion tools that provide a complete experience: i3status for the system status bar, dmenu for a fast application launcher, and i3lock for screen locking.
Install i3 and its essential utilities with a single command:
sudo apt install i3 i3status dmenu i3lock
Enter your password when prompted and confirm the installation by pressing ‘Y’.
Step 2: Logging into Your New i3 Session
With the installation finished, you need to log out of your current Ubuntu desktop session to switch to i3.
- Log out of your current session. You can typically do this by clicking the top-right corner of your screen and selecting “Power Off / Log Out” > “Log Out”.
- You will be returned to the login screen (known as GDM). Do not enter your password yet.
- Look for a small gear icon (⚙️), usually located in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Click on it.
- A menu will appear with your available desktop sessions. Select “i3” from the list.
- Now, enter your password and press Enter.
Step 3: Your First-Time i3 Configuration
The first time you log in, you will be greeted with a plain black screen and an i3 configuration dialog. This is normal. This wizard is here to help you create your initial configuration file.
You will be asked if you want to generate a configuration file. Press Enter to accept the default option, “Yes, generate a config.”
Next, you will be asked to choose your default modifier key, also known as the Mod key. This is the primary key you will hold down to execute i3 commands. You have two choices:
- Win Key (Super): The key with the Windows logo on your keyboard.
- Alt Key: The standard Alt key.
It is strongly recommended to choose the Win (Super) key as your Mod key. This is because the Alt key is already used for shortcuts in many applications (like Alt+F4), and choosing it as your Mod key can create conflicts. Press Enter to select the Mod4 (Win/Super key) option.
Your configuration file will now be created at ~/.config/i3/config.
Getting Started: Essential i3 Keyboard Shortcuts
You are now in your i3 environment. It’s a blank canvas waiting for your commands. Here are the most critical keyboard shortcuts you need to know to get started. Remember, Mod refers to the key you just selected (likely the Windows key).
- Open a Terminal:
Mod + Enter - Launch an Application:
Mod + d(This will opendmenuat the top of the screen. Start typing the name of an application, likefirefox, and press Enter to launch it). - Close a Window:
Mod + Shift + q - Navigate Between Windows: Use
Mod+ the arrow keys (←,↓,↑,→) orMod+ the Vim keys (j,k,l,;). - Move a Window: Hold
Mod + Shiftand use the arrow keys or Vim keys. - Change Layout (Split Horizontally/Vertically):
- New windows open by splitting the current window vertically.
- To make the next window split horizontally, press
Mod + h. - To revert to splitting vertically, press
Mod + v.
- Enter Fullscreen Mode:
Mod + f - Change Window Layout:
- Tiling (default):
Mod + e - Stacking (windows on top of each other):
Mod + s - Tabbed (like browser tabs):
Mod + w
- Tiling (default):
- Restart i3 In-Place (to apply config changes):
Mod + Shift + r - Exit i3 Session (Log Out):
Mod + Shift + e
Next Steps: Customization
Your journey with i3 has just begun. The real power comes from customizing the configuration file.
You can edit the file using a terminal-based editor like nano:
nano ~/.config/i3/config
Here, you can change keybindings, customize the status bar with i3status, set programs to launch on startup, and even configure a wallpaper using a program like feh.
Welcome to the world of tiling window managers. By embracing a keyboard-centric approach, you’ve taken a significant step toward a more productive and focused computing experience.
Source: https://kifarunix.com/install-i3-windows-manager-on-ubuntu/
