Configuring Niri

Niri is a scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor. This skill navigates the complete Niri documentation to answer configuration questions.

Config location: ~/.config/niri/config.kdl (KDL syntax, live-reloaded)

Commands: niri validate (check config) | niri msg action reload-config (force reload)

How to Use This Skill

•Identify user intent from the topic index below
•Read the relevant doc file(s) from the docs/ subdirectory (paths are relative to this skill's directory)
•Answer using the documentation content

Always read docs before answering - don't rely on general knowledge about Niri.

User asks about...	Read this file	Config block
Keyboard shortcuts, hotkeys, binds	`docs/Configuration:-Key-Bindings.md`	`binds {}`
Mouse, touchpad, tablet, sensitivity	`docs/Configuration:-Input.md`	`input {}`
Monitors, displays, resolution, scale	`docs/Configuration:-Outputs.md`	`output "name" {}`
Window gaps, columns, sizing, borders	`docs/Configuration:-Layout.md`	`layout {}`
Per-app settings, opacity, floating	`docs/Configuration:-Window-Rules.md`	`window-rule {}`
Animations, easing, duration	`docs/Configuration:-Animations.md`	`animations {}`
Touchpad/touchscreen gestures	`docs/Configuration:-Gestures.md`	`gestures {}`
Layer shell, panels, bars	`docs/Configuration:-Layer-Rules.md`	`layer-rule {}`
Named/persistent workspaces	`docs/Configuration:-Named-Workspaces.md`	`workspace {}`
Lid close, tablet mode switch	`docs/Configuration:-Switch-Events.md`	`switch-events {}`
Alt-tab, window switching	`docs/Configuration:-Recent-Windows.md`	`recent-windows {}`
Config splitting, modular config	`docs/Configuration:-Include.md`	`include "file"`
Debug, render, damage tracking	`docs/Configuration:-Debug-Options.md`	`debug {}`
Top-level flags (prefer-no-csd, etc)	`docs/Configuration:-Miscellaneous.md`	(top level)

User asks about...	Read this file
Installation, first setup, dependencies	`docs/Getting-Started.md`
How workspaces work, workspace navigation	`docs/Workspaces.md`
Floating windows, how to float	`docs/Floating-Windows.md`
Tabs, tabbed windows	`docs/Tabs.md`
Fullscreen, maximize behavior	`docs/Fullscreen-and-Maximize.md`
Gestures overview (not config)	`docs/Gestures.md`
Screen recording, OBS, pipewire	`docs/Screencasting.md`
IPC, niri msg, scripting	`docs/IPC.md`
Systemd integration, autostart	`docs/Example-systemd-Setup.md`
Status bars, launchers, notifications	`docs/Important-Software.md`
Layer shell panels (waybar, etc)	`docs/Layer‐Shell-Components.md`

User asks about...	Read this file
Common questions, how to X	`docs/FAQ.md`
App-specific problems (Electron, etc)	`docs/Application-Issues.md`
X11 apps, Steam, games, XWayland	`docs/Xwayland.md`
Nvidia GPU issues	`docs/Nvidia.md`
Fractional scaling issues	`docs/Fractional-Layout.md`
Accessibility, screen readers	`docs/Accessibility.md`

Topic	File
Contributing to niri	`docs/Development:-Developing-niri.md`
Design philosophy	`docs/Development:-Design-Principles.md`
Animation internals	`docs/Development:-Animation-Timing.md`

Shader examples for animations: docs/examples/

Common search terms → doc file:

•rounded corners, corner radius → Configuration:-Window-Rules.md
•CSD, client-side decorations → Configuration:-Miscellaneous.md + FAQ.md
•blur → FAQ.md (not yet supported)
•sticky, pinned, always on top → FAQ.md (not yet supported)
•hotkey overlay, startup popup → FAQ.md
•focus ring, border color → Configuration:-Layout.md
•spawn, exec, run command → Configuration:-Key-Bindings.md
•screenshot → Configuration:-Key-Bindings.md (look for screenshot action)
•natural scroll, tap to click → Configuration:-Input.md
•HiDPI, 4K, scaling → Configuration:-Outputs.md
•VRR, variable refresh → Configuration:-Outputs.md