---
name: "xrefresh"
section: "1x"
platform: "linux"
package: "xbase-clients"
version: "4.3.0.dfsg.1-14sarge7"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xrefresh/1x"
---

# xrefresh(1x)

refresh all or part of an X screen

## NAME

xrefresh - refresh all or part of an X screen

## SYNOPSIS

**xrefresh** \[-option ...\]

## DESCRIPTION

*Xrefresh* is a simple X program that causes all or part of your screen to be repainted. This is useful when system messages have messed up your screen. *Xrefresh* maps a window on top of the desired area of the screen and then immediately unmaps it,  causing refresh events to be sent to all applications.  By default, a window with no background is used, causing all applications to repaint \`\`smoothly.'' However, the various options can be used to indicate that a solid background  (of any color) or the root window background should be used instead.

## ARGUMENTS

- **-white**

  Use a white background.  The screen just appears to flash quickly, and then repaint.

- **-black**

  Use a black background (in effect, turning off all of the electron guns to the tube).  This can be somewhat disorienting as everything goes black for a moment.

- **-solid *color***

  Use a solid background of the specified color.  Try green.

- **-root**

  Use the root window background.

- **-none**

  This is the default.  All of the windows simply repaint.

- **-geometry *WxH+X+Y***

  Specifies the portion of the screen to be repainted; see *[X(7x)](/X/7x.md)*.

- **-display *display***

  This  argument  allows  you  to  specify the server and screen to refresh; see *[X(7x)](/X/7x.md)*.

## X DEFAULTS

The *xrefresh* program uses the routine  *XGetDefault(3X)* to read defaults, so its resource names are all capitalized.

- **Black, White, Solid, None, Root**

  Determines what sort of window background to use.

- **Geometry**

  Determines the area to refresh.  Not very useful.

## ENVIRONMENT

- DISPLAY - To get default host and display number.

  ## SEE ALSO

[X(7x)](/X/7x.md)

## BUGS

It should have just one default type for the background.

## AUTHORS

Jim Gettys, Digital Equipment Corp., MIT Project Athena