---
name: "icewm-startup"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "icewm"
version: "4.1.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/icewm-startup"
---

# icewm-startup(5)

### NAME

```
 icewm-startup - icewm startup configuration file
```

### SYNOPSIS

```
 $ICEWM_PRIVCFG/startup
 $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/icewm/startup
 $HOME/.icewm/startup
 /usr/etc/icewm/startup
 /usr/share/icewm/startup
```

### DESCRIPTION

The *startup* file contains commands to be executed on **icewm** startup. This is an executable script. Typically the commands tweak X11 settings and launch some applications that always need to be active. It is run by [**icewm-session**(1)](/icewm-session/1.md) when **icewm** starts.

### EXAMPLES

```
 #!/bin/bash
 xset r rate 250 32
 flameshot &
 volumeicon &
 redshift-gtk &
 picom -b
```

Remember to `"chmod +x ~/.icewm/startup"`. The first line must be a hash-bang, followed by the path of your script interpreter or shell.

### FILES

Locations for the *startup* file are as follows:

```
 $ICEWM_PRIVCFG/startup
 $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/icewm/startup
 $HOME/.icewm/startup
 /usr/etc/icewm/startup
 /usr/share/icewm/startup
```

The locations are searched in the order listed; the first file found is executed and the remainder ignored.

### SEE ALSO

[**icewm-session**(1)](/icewm-session/1.md), [**icewm-shutdown**(5)](/icewm-shutdown/5.md).

### AUTHOR

Brian Bidulock \<mailto:bidulock@openss7.org\>.

### LICENSE

**IceWM** is licensed under the GNU Library General Public License. See the *COPYING* file in the distribution.