---
type: reference
title: Niri Default Key Bindings
description: Complete table of all default key bindings organized by category — window management, navigation, workspaces, media keys, etc.
tags:
  - niri
  - keybindings
  - reference
verified: 2026-10-09
---

# Default Key Bindings

## Application Launching

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+T` | Open terminal (alacritty) |
| `Mod+D` | Run application launcher (fuzzel) |
| `Super+Alt+L` | Lock screen (swaylock) |
| `Super+Alt+S` | Toggle screen reader (orca) |

## Window Management

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Q` | Close window |
| `Mod+F` | Maximize column (with gaps) |
| `Mod+Shift+F` | Fullscreen window |
| `Mod+M` | Maximize window to edges (like double-click titlebar) |
| `Mod+Ctrl+F` | Expand column to fill remaining space |
| `Mod+V` | Toggle window floating |
| `Mod+Shift+V` | Switch focus between floating and tiling |
| `Mod+W` | Toggle column tabbed display mode |
| `Mod+BracketLeft` | Consume/expel window left |
| `Mod+BracketRight` | Consume/expel window right |
| `Mod+Comma` | Consume window into column |
| `Mod+Period` | Expel window from column |

## Column Navigation

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Left` or `Mod+H` | Focus column left |
| `Mod+Right` or `Mod+L` | Focus column right |
| `Mod+Home` | Focus first column |
| `Mod+End` | Focus last column |
| `Mod+C` | Center focused column |
| `Mod+Ctrl+C` | Center all visible columns |

## Column Movement

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Ctrl+Left` or `Mod+Ctrl+H` | Move column left |
| `Mod+Ctrl+Right` or `Mod+Ctrl+L` | Move column right |
| `Mod+Ctrl+Home` | Move column to first position |
| `Mod+Ctrl+End` | Move column to last position |

## Column Sizing

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+R` | Switch preset column width (1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 87.5%) |
| `Mod+Shift+R` | Switch preset width (reverse) |
| `Mod+Minus` | Decrease column width by 10% |
| `Mod+Equal` | Increase column width by 10% |

## Window Navigation (within column)

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Up` or `Mod+K` | Focus window up |
| `Mod+Down` or `Mod+J` | Focus window down |

## Window Height Sizing

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Ctrl+Shift+R` | Switch preset window height |
| `Mod+Ctrl+R` | Reset window height |
| `Mod+Shift+Minus` | Decrease window height by 10% |
| `Mod+Shift+Equal` | Increase window height by 10% |

## Multi-Monitor Navigation

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Shift+Left` or `Mod+Shift+H` | Focus monitor left |
| `Mod+Shift+Right` or `Mod+Shift+L` | Focus monitor right |
| `Mod+Shift+Up` or `Mod+Shift+K` | Focus monitor up |
| `Mod+Shift+Down` or `Mod+Shift+J` | Focus monitor down |

## Multi-Monitor Column Movement

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Shift+Ctrl+Left` | Move column to monitor left |
| `Mod+Shift+Ctrl+Right` | Move column to monitor right |
| `Mod+Shift+Ctrl+Up` | Move column to monitor up |
| `Mod+Shift+Ctrl+Down` | Move column to monitor down |

## Workspace Navigation

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Page_Down` or `Mod+U` | Focus workspace down |
| `Mod+Page_Up` or `Mod+I` | Focus workspace up |
| `Mod+1` through `Mod+9` | Focus workspace 1-9 |
| `Mod+Shift+Page_Down` or `Mod+Shift+U` | Move workspace down |
| `Mod+Shift+Page_Up` or `Mod+Shift+I` | Move workspace up |
| `Mod+Tab` | Focus previous workspace (commented out by default) |

## Workspace Column Movement

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Ctrl+Page_Down` or `Mod+Ctrl+U` | Move column to workspace down |
| `Mod+Ctrl+Page_Up` or `Mod+Ctrl+I` | Move column to workspace up |
| `Mod+Ctrl+1` through `Mod+Ctrl+9` | Move column to workspace 1-9 |

## Mouse/Touchpad Scrolling

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+WheelScrollDown` | Focus workspace down |
| `Mod+WheelScrollUp` | Focus workspace up |
| `Mod+WheelScrollRight` | Focus column right |
| `Mod+WheelScrollLeft` | Focus column left |
| `Mod+Ctrl+WheelScrollDown` | Move column to workspace down |
| `Mod+Ctrl+WheelScrollUp` | Move column to workspace up |
| `Mod+Ctrl+WheelScrollRight` | Move column to workspace right |
| `Mod+Ctrl+WheelScrollLeft` | Move column to workspace left |
| `Mod+Shift+WheelScrollDown` | Focus column right |
| `Mod+Shift+WheelScrollUp` | Focus column left |
| `Mod+Ctrl+Shift+WheelScrollDown` | Move column to workspace right |
| `Mod+Ctrl+Shift+WheelScrollUp` | Move column to workspace left |

## Overview

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+O` | Toggle overview (zoomed-out view of workspaces/windows) |

## Screenshot

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Print` | Interactive screenshot UI |
| `Ctrl+Print` | Screenshot screen |
| `Alt+Print` | Screenshot window |

## System

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `Mod+Shift+E` | Quit niri (with confirmation) |
| `Ctrl+Alt+Delete` | Quit niri (with confirmation) |
| `Mod+Shift+P` | Power off monitors |
| `Mod+Escape` | Toggle keyboard shortcuts inhibitor |
| `Mod+Shift+/` | Show hotkey overlay |

## Media Keys

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `XF86AudioRaiseVolume` | Increase volume 10% |
| `XF86AudioLowerVolume` | Decrease volume 10% |
| `XF86AudioMute` | Toggle mute |
| `XF86AudioMicMute` | Toggle mic mute |
| `XF86AudioPlay` / `XF86AudioPause` | Play/pause |
| `XF86AudioStop` | Stop |
| `XF86AudioPrev` | Previous track |
| `XF86AudioNext` | Next track |
| `XF86MonBrightnessUp` | Increase brightness 10% |
| `XF86MonBrightnessDown` | Decrease brightness 10% |

## Related

* [Key Bindings Syntax](/tools/niri/key-bindings-syntax.md) — How to write custom bindings
* [Action Reference](/tools/niri/action-reference.md) — All available actions