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i3 Keyboard shortcuts

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i3 is a popular tiling window manager for Linux that arranges windows automatically and is controlled entirely from the keyboard. Learning its shortcuts is essential, since they handle launching, splitting, and navigating every window.

Official:Official site

All i3 keyboard shortcuts (Linux)

Layout
`
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
-
=
⌫ Back
Tab
Q
W
E
R
T
Y
U
I
O
P
[
]
\
Caps
A
S
D
F
G
H
J
K
L
;
'
Enter ⏎
Shift
Z
X
C
V
B
N
M
,
.
/
Shift
Ctrl
Win
Alt
Space
Alt
Win
Menu
Ctrl
↑
←
↓
→

40 shortcuts

Windows 15

Action Shortcut
Kill focused window AltShiftQ
Focus window to the left AltJ
Focus window below AltK
Focus window above AltL
Focus window to the right Alt;
Move window left AltShiftJ
Move window down AltShiftK
Move window up AltShiftL
Move window right AltShift;
Toggle floating for window AltShiftSpace
Focus window left (arrow) Alt←
Focus window down (arrow) Alt↓
Focus window up (arrow) Alt↑
Focus window right (arrow) Alt→
Toggle focus between tiling and floating AltSpace

Workspaces 10

Action Shortcut
Switch to workspace 1 Alt1
Switch to workspace 2 Alt2
Switch to workspace 3 Alt3
Move container to workspace 1 AltShift1
Move container to workspace 2 AltShift2
Switch to workspace 4 Alt4
Switch to workspace 5 Alt5
Move container to workspace 3 AltShift3
Switch to workspace 10 Alt0
Move container to workspace 10 AltShift0

Layout 7

Action Shortcut
Toggle fullscreen AltF
Split horizontally AltH
Split vertically AltV
Stacking layout AltS
Tabbed layout AltW
Toggle split layout (default) AltE
Enter resize mode AltR

System 5

Action Shortcut
Open a new terminal AltEnter
Open application launcher (dmenu) AltD
Reload configuration file AltShiftC
Restart i3 in place AltShiftR
Exit i3 (with confirmation) AltShiftE

Containers 3

Action Shortcut
Focus parent container AltA
Move window to scratchpad AltShift−
Show scratchpad window Alt−

Sourced from i3wm.org, raw.githubusercontent.com Last verified

Unofficial reference. ShortcutPosters is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by i3. All product names, logos, and trademarks are property of their respective owners. See our licensing & trademark notice.

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4 art directions — pick one below, click to zoom & compare.

Layout
I3KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · LINUX · 401AltSwitch to…2AltSwitch to…3AltSwitch to…4AltSwitch to…5AltSwitch to…67890AltSwitch to…QAlt ShiftKill focuse…WAltTabbed lay…EAltToggle spli…RAlt ShiftRestart i3 i…TYUIOPAAltFocus pare…SAltStacking la…DAltOpen appli…FAltToggle full…GHAltSplit horizo…JAltFocus win…KAltFocus win…LAltFocus win…ZXCAlt ShiftReload con…VAltSplit vertic…BNMMORE SHORTCUTSOpen a new terminalAltEnterFocus window to the r…Alt;Move window leftAltShiftJMove window downAltShiftKMove window upAltShiftLMove window rightAltShift;Toggle floating for wi…AltShiftSpaceMove container to wo…AltShift1Move container to wo…AltShift2Exit i3AltShiftEFocus window leftAlt←Focus window downAlt↓Focus window upAlt↑Focus window rightAlt→Toggle focus betwee…AltSpaceEnter resize modeAltRMove container to wo…AltShift3Move window to scrat…AltShift−Show scratchpad win…Alt−Move container to wo…AltShift0shortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH I3 · LINUX
LAYOUTToggle fullscreenAltFSplit horizontallyAltHSplit verticallyAltVStacking layoutAltSTabbed layoutAltWToggle split layout (default)AltEEnter resize modeAltRCONTAINERSFocus parent containerAltAMove window to scratchpadAltShift−Show scratchpad windowAlt−WINDOWSKill focused windowAltShiftQFocus window to the leftAltJFocus window belowAltKFocus window aboveAltLFocus window to the rightAlt;Move window leftAltShiftJMove window downAltShiftKMove window upAltShiftLMove window rightAltShift;Toggle floating for windowAltShiftSpaceFocus window left (arrow)Alt←Focus window down (arrow)Alt↓Focus window up (arrow)Alt↑Focus window right (arrow)Alt→Toggle focus between tiling…AltSpaceSYSTEMOpen a new terminalAltEnterOpen application launcherAltDReload configuration fileAltShiftCRestart i3 in placeAltShiftRExit i3 (with confirmation)AltShiftEWORKSPACESSwitch to workspace 1Alt1Switch to workspace 2Alt2Switch to workspace 3Alt3Move container to workspa…AltShift1Move container to workspa…AltShift2Switch to workspace 4Alt4Switch to workspace 5Alt5Move container to workspa…AltShift3Switch to workspace 10Alt0Move container to workspa…AltShift0i3KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · LINUX · 40BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH I3 · LINUX
LAYOUT07Toggle fullscreenAltFSplit horizontallyAltHSplit verticallyAltVStacking layoutAltSTabbed layoutAltWToggle split layoutAltEEnter resize modeAltRCONTAINERS03Focus parent containerAltAMove window to scratc…AltShift−Show scratchpad windowAlt−WINDOWS15Kill focused windowAltShiftQFocus window to the l…AltJFocus window belowAltKFocus window aboveAltLFocus window to the r…Alt;Move window leftAltShiftJMove window downAltShiftKMove window upAltShiftLMove window rightAltShift;Toggle floating for w…AltShiftSpaceFocus window leftAlt←Focus window downAlt↓Focus window upAlt↑Focus window rightAlt→Toggle focus between…AltSpaceSYSTEM05Open a new terminalAltEnterOpen application laun…AltDReload configuration…AltShiftCRestart i3 in placeAltShiftRExit i3AltShiftEWORKSPACES10Switch to workspace 1Alt1Switch to workspace 2Alt2Switch to workspace 3Alt3Move container to wor…AltShift1Move container to wor…AltShift2Switch to workspace 4Alt4Switch to workspace 5Alt5Move container to wor…AltShift3Switch to workspace 10Alt0Move container to wor…AltShift0i3KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS · LINUX · 40BOTH LAYOUTSQWERTYQWERTYAZERTYAZERTYshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH I3 · LINUX
I3 · KEYBOARD SHORTCUTSLinux · 5 SETS · No.01I3TOTAL40SHORTCUTSFOR LINUX · SHIPPED COMBOSSETSSYSTEM05WINDOWS15LAYOUT07WORKSPACES10CONTAINERS03REF. EDITION · JAN 2026shortcutposters.comOpen a new terminalAltEnterOpen application launcher (dmenu)AltDReload configuration fileAltShiftCRestart i3 in placeAltShiftRExit i3 (with confirmation)AltShiftEKill focused windowAltShiftQFocus window to the leftAltJFocus window belowAltKFocus window aboveAltLFocus window to the rightAlt;Move window leftAltShiftJMove window downAltShiftKMove window upAltShiftLMove window rightAltShift;Toggle floating for windowAltShiftSpaceFocus window left (arrow)Alt←Focus window down (arrow)Alt↓Focus window up (arrow)Alt↑Focus window right (arrow)Alt→Toggle focus between tiling and floatingAltSpaceToggle fullscreenAltFSplit horizontallyAltHSplit verticallyAltVStacking layoutAltSTabbed layoutAltWToggle split layout (default)AltEEnter resize modeAltRSwitch to workspace 1Alt1Switch to workspace 2Alt2Switch to workspace 3Alt3Move container to workspace 1AltShift1Move container to workspace 2AltShift2Switch to workspace 4Alt4Switch to workspace 5Alt5Move container to workspace 3AltShift3Switch to workspace 10Alt0Move container to workspace 10AltShift0Focus parent containerAltAMove window to scratchpadAltShift−Show scratchpad windowAlt−

Linux edition · 40 shortcuts

A printable, framed-quality poster of the essential i3 shortcuts for Linux — the keys worth keeping in view, designed to stay readable on a wall.

Free PNG is web-resolution & watermarked.

Customise this poster Pick the shortcuts, restyle the colours — download free. Get the framed-quality print Full 300 DPI, print-ready — at home or shipped to your door.

Frequently asked questions

Does the poster include every i3 shortcut?
i3 has 40 keyboard shortcuts on Linux — the complete list is free to read on this page. The poster features the most essential ones, curated to stay readable on a wall.
Can I print it at home?
Yes. The digital download is a high-resolution 300 DPI file you can print at home or at any print shop, in standard frame sizes.
Does it cover both Mac and Windows?
We sell a separate edition per platform so every key matches your keyboard exactly. This page is the Linux edition.
Is this an official i3 product?
No. This is an unofficial reference poster and is not affiliated with or endorsed by i3. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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