---
name: "mate-wm"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "mate-session-manager"
version: "1.28.0-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mate-wm"
---

# mate-wm(1)

Start the window manager configured by the user

## NAME

mate-wm - Start the window manager configured by the user

## SYNOPSIS

**mate-wm \[--default-wm=WINDOWMANAGER\] \[--sm-client-id=ID\]**

## DESCRIPTION

The **mate-wm** program starts the window manager configured by the user. If the user has not chosen a window manager it will launch a MATE compliant window manager.

## USAGE

The user can define his preferred window manager with the **/***org***/***mate***/***desktop***/***session***/***required-components***/***windowmanager* dconf key. The value of this key should be the name of the desktop file of the desired window manager, without its **.desktop** extension. If this key is set to **mate-wm**, then **mate-wm** will simply look for an appropriate window manager. The user can also override the selection of a window manager by setting the **WINDOW\_MANAGER** environment variable.

If the **--default-wm** option is used, **mate-wm** will use **WINDOWMANAGER** as window manager if the **WINDOW\_MANAGER** environment variable is not set and if the **/***org***/***mate***/***desktop***/***session***/***required-components***/***windowmanager* dconf key does not define a specific window manager, or if the configured window manager cannot be found.

The **--sm-client-id** option is translated to an appropriate option depending on which window manager will be started.

## OPTIONS

The following options are supported:

- **--default-wm=WINDOWMANAGER**

  Define the default window manager to start if no window manager is configured, or if the configured window manager cannot be found.

- **--sm-client-id=ID**

  Specify the session management *ID* when connecting to the session manager.

## ENVIRONMENT

*mate-wm* uses the value of the **WINDOW\_MANAGER** environment variable to let the user override the configured window manager.

## BUGS

### Should you encounter any bugs, they may be reported at:

http://github.com/mate-desktop/mate-session-manager/issues

## AUTHORS

### This Man Page has been updated for the MATE Desktop Environment by:

Adam Erdman \<hekel@archlinux.info\> (2014)

## HISTORY

### This Manual was originally written for gnome-session by:

```
Miguel de Icaza <miguel@helixcode.com> (2000)
Vincent Untz <vuntz@gnome.org> (2009-2010)
```

## SEE ALSO

### Further information may also be available at: http://wiki.mate-desktop.org/docs

**[mate-session-properties(1)](/mate-session-properties/1.md),** **[mate-session-save(1)](/mate-session-save/1.md),** **[mate-session(1)](/mate-session/1.md)**