---
name: "window-managers"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "xfree86-common"
version: "3.3.2.3a-11"
release: "Debian 2.1 (Slink)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/window-managers"
---

# window-managers(5)

list of X window managers

## NAME

window-managers - list of X window managers

## DESCRIPTION

*/etc/X11/window-managers* contains a list of paths to X window managers.  If there is no *$HOME/.xsession* file available (or if the system is configured to ignore them) and executable by the user who started the X session, the */etc/X11/Xsession* script will attempt to start each of the window managers listed in this file in turn, until it finds one that will run.  X window managers may add or remove themselves from this file with the [**register-window-manager**(8)](/register-window-manager/8.md) command.

The path */usr/X11R6/bin* should not be used.  Use */usr/bin/X11* instead.  Window managers in other locations should be referenced in a manner consistent with Debian policy.

## EXAMPLES

/usr/bin/X11/mwm

/usr/bin/X11/fvwm2

/usr/bin/X11/twm

/usr/local/bin/my-wm

## SEE ALSO

[**register-window-manager**(8)](/register-window-manager/8.md), [**Xsession**(5)](/Xsession/5.md), [**Xsession.options**(5)](/Xsession.options/5.md)

## AUTHOR

This manpage was written by Branden Robinson for Debian GNU/Linux.