---
name: "xbanish"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "xbanish"
version: "1.8-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xbanish"
---

# xbanish(1)

hide the X11 mouse cursor when a key is pressed

## NAME

**xbanish** – hide the X11 mouse cursor when a key is pressed

## SYNOPSIS

**xbanish** \[**-a**\] \[**-d**\] \[**-i** *modifier*\] \[**-m** \[*w*\]*nw\|ne\|sw\|se*\] \[**-t** *seconds*\] \[**-s**\]

## DESCRIPTION

**xbanish** hides the X11 mouse cursor when a key is pressed. The cursor is shown again when it is moved or a mouse button is pressed. This is similar to the [xterm(1)](/xterm/1.md) setting **pointerMode** but the effect is global in the X11 session.

## OPTIONS

- **-a**

  Always keep mouse cursor hidden while **xbanish** is running.

- **-d**

  Print debugging messages to stdout.

- **-i** *modifier*

  Ignore pressed key if *modifier* is used. Modifiers are: **shift**, **lock** (CapsLock), **control**, **mod1** (Alt or Meta), **mod2** (NumLock), **mod3** (Hyper), **mod4** (Super, Windows, or Command), **mod5** (ISO Level 3 Shift), and **all**

- **-m** \[*w*\]*nw\|ne\|sw\|se*

  When hiding the mouse cursor, move it to this corner of the screen or current window, then move it back when showing the cursor.

- **-t** *seconds*

  Hide the mouse cursor after **seconds** have passed without mouse movement.

- **-s**

  Ignore scrolling events.

## SEE ALSO

XFixes(3)

## AUTHORS

**xbanish** was written by joshua stein ⟨*jcs@jcs.org*⟩.