i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

Focus next window

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:46:56 +0000

Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Comment by Michael for
Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:15:20 +0000

I think waiting for a week helps, at least I can accept it in a week.

Comment by Michael for
Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:50:38 +0000

Can you please just answer your own question with an actual answer (and then accept it)? Search engines actually parse the number of answers.

Comment by lzap for
Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:53:49 +0000

Hmmm I was wrong, my configuration was not loaded properly. Focus right or left DOES cycle. So this is what I actually want :-)

Comment by lzap for
Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:45:27 +0000

Need karma of 50 to accept it :-(

Answer by cee for
Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:47:11 +0000

I am using [simpleswitcher](https://github.com/DaveDavenport/simpleswitcher) for some time now.
That means it just waits until I (accidentially) hit Alt+Tab. I try to memorize where my open programs are, so that I don't have to cycle through them. But it's still handy from time to time. I have got the tip from the following [forum post.](https://faq.i3wm.org/question/1281/application-switcher/)

Answer by lzap for
Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:45:08 +0000

I was wrong, this does cycle: bindsym Mod1+Tab focus right bindsym Mod1+Shift+Tab focus left

Comment by voyd for

I was wrong, this does cycle:

bindsym Mod1+Tab focus right
bindsym Mod1+Shift+Tab focus left

Tue, 19 May 2015 11:31:52 +0000

This is simple and does what is asked for. Sadly, I can't upvote it yet, as I don't have 10 reputation.

Answer by ViktorNova for
Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 18:40:46 +0000

Thank you! I use the "stacked" layout almost entirely (vertical tabs), and have made this small adjustment to the above suggestion to cycle through them, and it works beautifully bindsym Mod1+Tab focus up bindsym Mod1+Shift+Tab focus down Now one of my most engrained lifelong habits from 'other' window managers is serving me once again in i3. Love it! =D -ViktorNova

Answer by mats for
Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:13:21 +0000

Here's a Python function that implements a generic focus next command using i3-py: def focus_next(): num = i3.filter(i3.get_workspaces(), focused=True)[0]['num'] ws_nodes = i3.filter(num=num)[0]['nodes'] curr = i3.filter(ws_nodes, focused=True)[0] ids = [win['id'] for win in i3.filter(ws_nodes, nodes=[])] next_idx = (ids.index(curr['id']) + 1) % len(ids) next_id = ids[next_idx] i3.focus(con_id=next_id)

Comment by AsaAyers for

Here's a Python function that implements a generic focus next command using i3-py:

def focus_next():
    num = i3.filter(i3.get_workspaces(), focused=True)[0]['num']
    ws_nodes = i3.filter(num=num)[0]['nodes']
    curr = i3.filter(ws_nodes, focused=True)[0]

    ids = [win['id'] for win in i3.filter(ws_nodes, nodes=[])]

    next_idx = (ids.index(curr['id']) + 1) % len(ids)
    next_id = ids[next_idx]

    i3.focus(con_id=next_id)

Sat, 18 Apr 2015 15:09:28 +0000

`ws_nodes = ws_nodes + i3.filter(num=num)[0]['floating_nodes']` Adding that will capture the floating nodes too.

Comment by Michael for

Here's a Python function that implements a generic focus next command using i3-py:

def focus_next():
    num = i3.filter(i3.get_workspaces(), focused=True)[0]['num']
    ws_nodes = i3.filter(num=num)[0]['nodes']
    curr = i3.filter(ws_nodes, focused=True)[0]

    ids = [win['id'] for win in i3.filter(ws_nodes, nodes=[])]

    next_idx = (ids.index(curr['id']) + 1) % len(ids)
    next_id = ids[next_idx]

    i3.focus(con_id=next_id)

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:28:47 +0000

I suppose this does not work for floating windows since you access ['nodes'] directly.

Answer by tdavis for
Hello, it seems Alt+Tab combination is not used and I wonder if I could set something like "focus next". I would like to cycle through all my windows from both screens, something similar than in traditional workspaces. I tried to setup "focus right" or "left", but when it reaches the last window, it stops.

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:31:14 +0000

The problem with the selected answer is that "right" and "left" only work properly on a horizontal layout. With these bindings and a vertical layout, nothing happens. There doesn't appear to be generic "focus next" / "focus prev" so my instinct is to write an i3-py script to first try "right", see if the current window changed and, if not, try "down" instead.

i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

Focus next window

Comment by voyd for I was wrong, this does cycle: bindsym Mod1+Tab focus right bindsym Mod1+Shift+Tab focus left

Comment by voyd for
I was wrong, this does cycle:

`bindsym Mod1+Tab focus right bindsym Mod1+Shift+Tab focus left`