---
name: "slim"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "slim"
version: "1:1.4.1-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/slim"
---

# slim(1)

Simple LogIn Manager

## NAME

**slim** - Simple LogIn Manager

## SYNOPSIS

```
slim [options] [<arguments>]
```

## DESCRIPTION

**SLiM is a lightweight login manager for X11, allowing the initialization** **of a graphical session by entering username and password in a login screen.** **It is desktop-agnostic and should work (suitably configured) with any** **session style.**

## OPTIONS

- **-c /path/to/config**

  **select a non-standard configuration file instead of /etc/slim.conf**

- **-d**

  **run as a daemon**

- **-n**

  **do NOT run as a daemon**

- **-s**

  **be systemd compatible by disabling consolekit support. This option does** **nothing if consolekit support has not been built in.**

- **-p /path/to/theme**

  **display a preview of the theme. An already running X11 session** **is required for theme preview.**

- **-w \<www\>x\<hhh\>**

  **set the size of the window used for theme preview. This option is only valid** **after a -p option**

- **-h**

  **display a brief help message**

- **-v**

  **display version information**

## EXAMPLES

- **slim -d**

  **run slim in daemon mode**

- **slim -p /usr/share/slim/themes/default -w 800x600**

  **preview of the default theme at low resolution**

## STARTING SLIM AT BOOT

**Please refer to the documentation of your Operating System to make slim** **automatically startup after the system boots. In particular, the method is** **very different between SysV, OpenRC, runit and systemd init processes.**

## CONFIGURATION

**Global configuration is stored in the /etc/slim.conf file. See the comments** **inside the file for a detailed explanation of the** *options***.**

## USAGE AND SPECIAL USERNAMES

**When started, slim will show a login panel; enter the username and** **password of the user you want to login as.**

**Special usernames:**

- **console**

  **open an xterm login console. No password needed**

- **exit**

  **quit slim. No password needed. See the note in BUGS***.*

- **halt**

  *shutdown the machine*

- **reboot**

  *reboot the machine*

- **suspend**

  *power-suspend the machine*

*See the configuration file for customizing the above commands.* *The 'halt' and 'reboot' commands need the root password, and hence may not*  *work on systems where root login is disabled.*

*Shortcuts:*

- **F11**

  *executes a custom command (by default takes a screenshot)*

- **F1**

  *choose session type from session list.*

## BUGS

*When run as a daemon from OpenRC (and possibly other init systems), causing* *SLiM to quit can sometimes result in a blank screen and unresponsive computer.* *This includes when using the "exit" special username.*

*SLiM does not handle expired passwords and treats them as expired accounts.*

*Probably still a few more but I'm working on them.*

## AUTHORS

*Simone Rota \<sip@varlock.com\>*

*Johannes Winkelmann \<jw@tks6.net\>*

*Nobuhiro Iwamatsu \<iwamatsu@nigauri.org\>*

*Rob Pearce \<slim@flitspace.org.uk\>*

## SEE ALSO

[**slimlock**(1)](/slimlock/1.md)

*See the online documentation at the SLiM web site for further information* *on themes, FAQs, etc.*