---
name: "i3-config-wizard"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "i3-wm"
version: "4.25.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/i3-config-wizard"
---

# i3-config-wizard(1)

creates a keysym based config based on your layout

## NAME

i3-config-wizard - creates a keysym based config based on your layout

## SYNOPSIS

i3-config-wizard \[**-s** *socket*\] \[**-m** *modifier*\] \[**-v**\] \[**-h**\]

## OPTIONS

- **-s, --socket** *socket*

  Overwrites the path to the i3 IPC socket.

- **-m, --modifier** *modifier*

  Generates the configuration file headlessly. Accepts win or alt.

- **-v, --version**

  Display version number and exit.

- **-h, --help**

  Display a short help message and exit.

## FILES

### /etc/i3/config.keycodes

This file contains the default configuration with keycodes. All the bindcode lines will be transformed to bindsym and the user-specified modifier will be used.

## DESCRIPTION

i3-config-wizard is started by i3 in its default config, unless ~/.i3/config exists. i3-config-wizard creates a keysym based i3 config file (based on /etc/i3/config.keycodes) in ~/.i3/config.

The advantage of using keysyms is that the config file is easy to read, understand and modify. However, if we shipped with a keysym based default config file, the key positions would not be consistent across different keyboard layouts (take for example the homerow for movement). Therefore, we ship with a keycode based default config and let the wizard transform it according to your current keyboard layout.

## SEE ALSO

[i3(1)](/i3/1.md)

## AUTHOR

Michael Stapelberg and contributors