---
name: "i3-nagbar"
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-nagbar"
---

# i3-nagbar(1)

displays an error bar on top of your screen

## NAME

i3-nagbar - displays an error bar on top of your screen

## SYNOPSIS

i3-nagbar \[-m \<message\>\] \[-b \<button\> \<action\>\] \[-B \<button\> \<action\>\] \[-t warning\|error\] \[-f \<font\>\] \[-v\] \[-p\]

## OPTIONS

- **-v, --version**

  Display version number and exit.

- **-h, --help**

  Display a short help-message and exit.

- **-t, --type** *type*

  Display either a warning or error message. This only changes the color scheme for the i3-nagbar. Default: error.

- **-m, --message** *message*

  Display *message* as text on the left of the i3-nagbar.

- **-f, --font** *font*

  Select font that is being used.

**-b, --button** *button* *action*

Create a button with text *button*. The *action* are the shell commands that will be executed by this button. Multiple buttons can be defined. Will launch the shell commands inside a terminal emulator, using i3-sensible-terminal.

**-B, --button-no-terminal** *button* *action*

Same as above, but will execute the shell commands directly, without launching a terminal emulator.

- **-p, --primary**

  Always opens the i3-nagbar on the primary monitor. By default it opens on the focused monitor.

## DESCRIPTION

i3-nagbar is used by i3 to tell you about errors in your configuration file (for example). While these errors are logged to the logfile (if any), the past has proven that users are either not aware of their logfile or do not check it after modifying the configuration file.

## EXAMPLE

```
i3-nagbar -m 'You have an error in your i3 config file!' \
-b 'edit config' 'i3-sensible-editor ~/.config/i3/config'
```

## SEE ALSO

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

## AUTHOR

Michael Stapelberg and contributors