---
name: "nitrogen"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "nitrogen"
version: "1.6.1-2+b3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nitrogen"
---

# nitrogen(1)

X11 background previewer and setter

## NAME

nitrogen - X11 background previewer and setter

## SYNOPSIS

**nitrogen \[**
 *OPTIONS*
 **\]**
 *DIRECTORY?*

## DESCRIPTION

In normal working mode, provides an interface which displays all pictures in the given DIRECTORY.  From this interface, it is possible to set the X11 root pixmap either temporarily or set and store the picture, drawing mode, and X display for restoration later.  If no directory is specified, it uses the stored directories in your "library" (as of 1.5). See the Preferences dialog.
 When the --restore option is passed, nitrogen sets all backgrounds that it has a configuration for and exits immediately, for use in an .xinitrc or .xsession file.

## OPTIONS

- \--restore

  Restores previously saved pictures to the root displays.

- \--no-recurse

  Do not recurse into subdirectories of DIRECTORY.

- \--sort=\[option\]

  Sorts the background list by the given option.  By default, items are sorted as they are found on the filesystem, giving a quasi-newest first sorting order.  Valid options are:

- alpha

  Alphabetical order.

- ralpha

  Reverse alphabetical order.

- time

  Modified time, ascending.

- rtime

  Modified time, descending.

- \--set-auto

  Set the background specified by DIRECTORY using the automatic size setting.

- \--set-centered

  Set the background specified by DIRECTORY using the centered size setting.

- \--set-scaled

  Set the background specified by DIRECTORY using the scaled size setting.

- \--set-tiled

  Set the background specified by DIRECTORY using the tiled size setting.

- \--set-zoom

  Set the background specified by DIRECTORY using the zoom size setting.

- \--set-zoom-fill

  Set the background specified by DIRECTORY using the zoom fill size setting.

- \--save

  Saves the background permanently in the config. Only used with one of the --set-xxx options.

- \--set-color=\[arg\]

  Sets background color in hex, #000000 by default. Only used with one of the --set-xxx options.

- \--random

  Choose random background from config or given directory. Only used with one of the --set-xxx options.

- \--head=\[option\]

  Select Xinerama/multihead display in GUI, 0..n, use -1 for full screen (Xinerama only).

- \--force-setter=\[option\]

  DEBUG: Forces the background setting engine to use a specific backend. This is for advanced debugging use only. Valid options are:

- xwindows

  Standard XWindows primitives.

- xinerama

  Xinerama/XWindows primitives.

- gnome

  GNOME/Nautilus based.

- \--help

  I'm just here so I won't get fined.

## FILES

*~/.config/nitrogen/*
 Holds the configuration for saved backgrounds.

## BUGS

Use the GitHub issue tracker: https://github.com/l3ib/nitrogen/issues

## AUTHORS

Dave Foster \<daf@minuslab.net\>
 Javeed Shaikh \<syscrash2k@gmail.com\>

## AVAILABILITY

Nitrogen is developed on GitHub: https://github.com/l3ib/nitrogen/