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A tiling window manager for Windows inspired by i3wm.
GlazeWM lets you easily organize windows and adjust their layout on the fly by using keyboard-driven commands.
Installation • Default keybindings • Config documentation • FAQ • Contributing ↗
- Simple YAML configuration
- Multi-monitor support
- Customizable rules for specific windows
- Declarative centered-focus column layouts
- Easy one-click installation
- Integration with Zebar as a status bar
The latest version of GlazeWM is downloadable via releases. Zebar can optionally be installed as well via a checkbox during installation.
GlazeWM is also available through several package managers:
Winget
winget install GlazeWMChocolatey
choco install glazewmScoop
scoop bucket add extras
scoop install extras/glazewmHelp fix something that annoys you, or add a feature you've been wanting for a long time! Contributions are very welcome.
Local development and guidelines are available in the contributing guide.
On the first launch of GlazeWM, a default configuration can optionally be generated.
Below is a cheat sheet of all available commands and their default keybindings.
The default config file is generated at %userprofile%\.glzr\glazewm\config.yaml.
To use a different config file location, you can launch the GlazeWM executable with the CLI argument --config="...", like so:
./glazewm.exe start --config="C:\<PATH_TO_CONFIG>\config.yaml"Or pass a value for the GLAZEWM_CONFIG_PATH environment variable:
setx GLAZEWM_CONFIG_PATH "C:\<PATH_TO_CONFIG>\config.yaml"With the benefit of using a custom path being that you can choose a different name for the config file, such as glazewm.yaml.
general:
# Commands to run when the WM has started (e.g. to run a script or launch
# another application).
startup_commands: []
# Commands to run just before the WM is shutdown.
shutdown_commands: []
# Commands to run after the WM config has reloaded.
config_reload_commands: []
# Whether to automatically focus windows underneath the cursor.
focus_follows_cursor: false
# Whether to switch back and forth between the previously focused
# workspace when focusing the current workspace.
toggle_workspace_on_refocus: false
cursor_jump:
# Whether to automatically move the cursor on the specified trigger.
enabled: true
# Trigger for cursor jump:
# - 'monitor_focus': Jump when focus changes between monitors.
# - 'window_focus': Jump when focus changes between windows.
trigger: "monitor_focus"The available keyboard shortcuts can be customized via the keybindings option. A keybinding consists of one or more key combinations and one or more commands to run when pressed.
It's recommended to use the alt key for keybindings. The Windows key is unfortunately a pain to remap, since the OS reserves certain keybindings (e.g. lwin+l).
keybindings:
# Command(s) to run.
- commands: ["focus --workspace 1"]
# Key combination(s) to trigger the keybinding.
bindings: ["alt+1"]
# Multiple commands can be run in a sequence (e.g. to move a window to a
# workspace + focus workspace).
- commands: ["move --workspace 1", "focus --workspace 1"]
bindings: ["alt+shift+1"]Full list of keys that can be used for keybindings:
Keys list
| Key | Description |
|---|---|
a - z |
Alphabetical letter keys |
0 - 9 |
Number keys |
numpad0 - numpad9 |
Numerical keypad keys |
f1 - f24 |
Function keys |
shift |
Either left or right SHIFT key |
lshift |
The left SHIFT key |
rshift |
The right SHIFT key |
control |
Either left or right CTRL key |
lctrl |
The left CTRL key |
rctrl |
The right CTRL key |
alt |
Either left or right ALT key |
lalt |
The left ALT key |
ralt |
The right ALT key |
lwin |
The left ⊞ Windows logo key |
rwin |
The right ⊞ Windows logo key |
space |
The spacebar key |
escape |
The ESCAPE key |
back |
The BACKSPACE key |
tab |
The TAB key |
enter |
The ENTER key |
left |
The ← arrow key |
right |
The → arrow key |
up |
The ↑ arrow key |
down |
The ↓ arrow key |
num_lock |
The NUM LOCK key |
scroll_lock |
The SCROLL LOCK key |
caps_lock |
The CAPS LOCK key |
page_up |
The PAGE UP key |
page_down |
The PAGE DOWN key |
insert |
The INSERT key |
delete |
The DELETE key |
end |
The END key |
home |
The HOME key |
print_screen |
The PRINT SCREEN key |
multiply |
The * key (only on numpad) |
add |
The + key (only on numpad) |
subtract |
The - key (only on numpad) |
decimal |
The DEL key (only on numpad) |
divide |
The / key (only on numpad) |
volume_up |
The volume up key |
volume_down |
The volume down key |
volume_mute |
The volume mute key |
media_next_track |
The media next track key |
media_prev_track |
The media prev track key |
media_stop |
The media stop key |
media_play_pause |
The media play/pause key |
oem_semicolon |
The ;/: key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_question |
The //? key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_tilde |
The `/~ key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_open_brackets |
The [/{ key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_pipe |
The \/| key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_close_brackets |
The ]/} key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_quotes |
The '/" key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_8 |
The `/¬ key on a UK keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_102 |
The \/| key next to left Shift on ISO keyboards (varies by keyboard) |
oem_plus |
The =/+ key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_comma |
The ,/< key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_minus |
The -/_ key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
oem_period |
The ./> key on a US standard keyboard (varies by keyboard) |
muhenkan |
The 無変換 (non-convert) key for Japanese keyboard layouts |
henkan |
The 変換 (convert) key for Japanese keyboard layouts |
If a key is not in the list above, it is likely still supported if you use its character in a keybinding (e.g. alt+å for the Norwegian Å character).
German and US international keyboards treat the right-side alt key differently. For these keyboard layouts, use
ralt+ctrlinstead ofraltto bind the right-side alt key.
The gaps between windows can be changed via the gaps property in the config file. Inner and outer gaps are set separately.
gaps:
# Gap between adjacent windows.
inner_gap: "20px"
# Gap between windows and the screen edge.
outer_gap:
top: "20px"
right: "20px"
bottom: "20px"
left: "20px"Workspaces need to be predefined via the workspaces property in the config file. A workspace is automatically assigned to each monitor on startup.
workspaces:
# This is the unique ID for the workspace. It's used in keybinding
# commands, and is also the label shown in 3rd-party apps (e.g. Zebar) if
# `display_name` is not provided.
- name: "1"
# Optional override for the workspace label used in 3rd-party apps.
# Does not need to be unique.
display_name: "Work"
# Optionally force the workspace on a specific monitor if it exists.
# 0 is your leftmost screen, 1 is the next one to the right, and so on.
bind_to_monitor: 0
# Optionally prevent workspace from being deactivated when empty.
keep_alive: falseColumns turn a workspace into a centered-focus layout: the focused window sits in a wide center column, with supporting windows tiled into columns on either side. The layout is declarative — you describe the shape once and GlazeWM keeps it applied as windows open, close, and move.
A column spec is a comma-separated, left-to-right list of columns. Each token is one column:
C— the wide center column, holding the focused window. Exactly oneCis required.- a number (
1,2,3, …) — a fixed stack holding exactly that many windows. *— a flexible stack that shares out whatever windows the fixed columns don't take, split evenly across all*columns.
Columns fill left-to-right. Say you have six windows open (one focused, five others):
| Spec | Columns | Result |
|---|---|---|
*,C,* |
flexible | center | flexible | 3 | C | 2 — the five side windows split evenly; the odd one goes left (see bias). |
2,C,* |
fixed 2 | center | flexible | 2 | C | 3 — the left column is capped at two, the right takes the rest. |
C,*,* |
center | flexible | flexible | C | 3 | 2 — center on the left, the other five split across two columns. |
C,2,* |
center | fixed 2 | flexible | C | 2 | 3 — center, then a fixed pair, then everything else. |
If the fixed columns can't hold every window and there's no * to absorb the rest, the extra windows stack onto the last column so none are dropped.
Column widths. center sets the center column's width as a fraction of the workspace (0.1–0.9, default 0.6). The rest of the width is split equally among the other columns, no matter how many windows each one stacks — so C,*,* at center: 0.6 gives a 60% center and two 20% columns, while 2,C,* gives a 60% center with 20% columns either side. Within a column, the stacked windows share its height evenly.
Per-workspace layout. A workspace can pin its own layout via the columns property, reapplied automatically whenever the workspace is focused or its windows change:
workspaces:
- name: "1"
# A bare spec string...
columns: "*,C,*"
- name: "2"
# ...or a full object.
columns:
spec: "C,2,*" # Center, a fixed pair, then the rest.
center: 0.6 # Center width as a fraction of the workspace (default 0.6).
bias: "left" # Which side wins an uneven `*` split (default "left").Default by monitor shape. general.default_columns applies a layout to any workspace without its own columns, chosen from the aspect ratio (width / height) of the monitor the workspace occupies. Rules are checked in order and the first matching band wins, so a workspace moved to a differently-shaped monitor re-columns automatically. A monitor matching no rule keeps the normal tiling layout.
general:
default_columns:
# Ultrawide (~21:9 and wider): center flanked by two stacks.
- min_aspect_ratio: 2.1
spec: "*,C,*"
center: 0.5
# Standard widescreen (~16:9): center with a single side stack.
- min_aspect_ratio: 1.5
spec: "C,*"
bias: "right"
# Anything narrower: normal tiling.
- spec: defaultCommands. Bind these in the keybindings section:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
columns [<spec>] [--center <fraction>] [--bias left|right] |
Apply a one-shot layout to the focused workspace. Bare columns re-asserts the assigned layout; with no assignment it defaults to *,C,*. |
assign-columns [<spec>] [--center <fraction>] [--bias left|right] |
Assign a persistent layout to the focused workspace (equivalent to setting columns in the config). |
unassign-columns |
Clear the workspace's assigned layout and return to normal tiling. |
center |
Swap the focused window into the center column. Running it again swaps the previous center back. |
rotate [--ccw] |
Rotate windows through the columns by one slot, preserving the layout shape. --ccw rotates counter-clockwise. |
Within a columns layout, move in a direction is grid-aware — it shifts the focused window between columns and stacks rather than breaking the layout.
Commands can be run when a window is first launched. This is useful for adding window-specific behaviors like always starting a window as fullscreen or assigning to a specific workspace.
Windows can be targeted by their process, class, and title. Multiple matching criteria can be used together to target a window more precisely.
window_rules:
- commands: ["move --workspace 1"]
match:
# Move browsers to workspace 1.
- window_process: { regex: "msedge|brave|chrome" }
- commands: ["ignore"]
match:
# Ignores any Zebar windows.
- window_process: { equals: "zebar" }
# Ignores picture-in-picture windows for browsers.
# Note that *both* the title and class must match for the rule to run.
- window_title: { regex: "[Pp]icture.in.[Pp]icture" }
window_class: { regex: "Chrome_WidgetWin_1|MozillaDialogClass" }Visual effects can be applied to windows via the window_effects option. Currently, colored borders are the only effect available with more to come in the future.
Note: Window effects are exclusive to Windows 11.
window_effects:
# Visual effects to apply to the focused window.
focused_window:
# Highlight the window with a colored border.
border:
enabled: true
color: "#0000ff"
# Visual effects to apply to non-focused windows.
other_windows:
border:
enabled: false
color: "#d3d3d3"The window_behavior config option exists to customize the states that a window can be in (tiling, floating, minimized, and fullscreen).
window_behavior:
# New windows are created in this state whenever possible.
# Allowed values: 'tiling', 'floating'.
initial_state: "tiling"
# Sets the default options for when a new window is created. This also
# changes the defaults for when the state change commands, like
# `set-floating`, are used without any flags.
state_defaults:
floating:
# Whether to center floating windows by default.
centered: true
# Whether to show floating windows as always on top.
shown_on_top: false
fullscreen:
# Maximize the window if possible. If the window doesn't have a
# maximize button, then it'll be made fullscreen normally instead.
maximized: falseBinding modes are used to modify keybindings while GlazeWM is running.
A binding mode can be enabled with wm-enable-binding-mode --name <NAME> and disabled with wm-disable-binding-mode --name <NAME>.
binding_modes:
# When enabled, the focused window can be resized via arrow keys or HJKL.
- name: "resize"
keybindings:
- commands: ["resize --width -2%"]
bindings: ["h", "left"]
- commands: ["resize --width +2%"]
bindings: ["l", "right"]
- commands: ["resize --height +2%"]
bindings: ["k", "up"]
- commands: ["resize --height -2%"]
bindings: ["j", "down"]
# Press enter/escape to return to default keybindings.
- commands: ["wm-disable-binding-mode --name resize"]
bindings: ["escape", "enter"]Q: How do I run GlazeWM on startup?
Right-click the GlazeWM icon in the system tray and select "Run on system startup".
Q: How can I create <insert layout>?
You can create custom layouts by changing the tiling direction with alt+v. This changes where the next window is placed in relation to the current window. If the current window's direction is horizontal, the new window will be placed to the right of it. If it is vertical, it will be placed below it. This also applies when moving windows; the tiling direction of the stationary window will affect where the moved window will be placed.
Community-made scripts like Dutch-Raptor/GAT-GWM and burgr033/GlazeWM-autotiling-python can be used to automatically change the tiling direction. Native support for automatic layouts isn't currently supported.
Q: How do I create a rule for <insert application>?
To match a specific application, you need a command to execute and either the window's process name, title, or class name. For example, if you use Flow-Launcher and want to make the settings window float, you can do the following:
window_rules:
- commands: ["set-floating"]
match:
- window_process: { equals: "Flow.Launcher" }
window_title: { equals: "Settings" }Programs like Winlister or AutoHotkey's Window Spy can be useful for getting info about a window.
Q: How can I ignore GlazeWM's keybindings when <insert application> is focused?
This isn't currently supported, however, the keybinding alt+shift+p in the default config is used to disable all other keybindings until alt+shift+p is pressed again.