Hyprland 0.5.1: Fixing Workspace Swipe Gestures

Sep 10, 2025 by Square 48 views

Hey guys! Ever run into a snag while tweaking your Hyprland setup? I recently wrestled with a config issue related to workspace swipe gestures in Hyprland 0.5.1, and I'm here to walk you through it. If you're seeing an error about gestures:workspace_swipe not existing, you're in the right place. Let's dive in and get this sorted out, shall we? This guide is all about helping you troubleshoot and fix that pesky configuration error, so you can get back to enjoying those smooth workspace transitions. Ready to roll up your sleeves and fix this? Let's do it.

The Problem: `gestures:workspace_swipe` Missing

So, the core problem. You're likely staring at an error message like this: "config option <gestures:workspace_swipe> does not exist." This usually pops up when you're trying to configure your gestures, specifically workspace swipes, in your input.conf file. The older versions of Hyprland had a different way of handling this, and in 0.5.1, things have changed. The direct configuration of workspace_swipe within the gestures block, as you might have found in older tutorials or examples, is no longer the correct approach. Don't worry, though; the fix is pretty straightforward.

This issue can be super frustrating because you're trying to make your desktop feel slick with those gesture controls, and then bam – a config error. It's like your system is saying, “Hey, I don't understand what you're trying to tell me.” But don't sweat it. This is a common hiccup, and it's easily fixable. The key is understanding how Hyprland 0.5.1 now handles gesture configurations, and then making a few simple adjustments to your input.conf file. We're going to explore the proper way to configure workspace swipes, so you can get your gestures working flawlessly. Also, we'll make sure to include a little bit of context about why this might be happening, and what to keep in mind as you're making changes to your config. The goal here is to give you the knowledge to fix the current problem and also to help you understand how to troubleshoot similar issues in the future. Let's go ahead and get started!

Understanding the Error

Let's break down why this error occurs. In Hyprland 0.5.1, the way you enable and configure workspace swipe gestures has evolved. If you're coming from an earlier version or following outdated guides, you might have workspace_swipe = true or workspace_swipe = false directly in your gestures { ... } block. However, this particular option has been deprecated or moved. The config parser is telling you that it doesn't recognize that specific directive, leading to the error. This change is part of a broader effort to streamline and improve how Hyprland handles input and gestures. The developers are always working on improving the user experience and making the configuration more intuitive. The changes help in making the code more efficient and in line with modern standards. So, while it can be a pain to update your configuration, it usually results in a more robust and feature-rich system. Now that you know what's going on, it's time to fix it.

The Solution: Correcting Your `input.conf`

Okay, so here's how to fix the issue with the gestures:workspace_swipe error. Instead of trying to directly enable or disable the workspace swipe using the deprecated method, you'll need to use the newer approach. This involves setting up the gesture bindings to control the workspace switching. Let's walk through the correct configuration step-by-step.

Firstly, you'll need to ensure that your input.conf file (usually located in ~/.config/hypr/input.conf or the relevant Hyprland config directory) is correctly structured. You should remove any lines that directly reference workspace_swipe = true or workspace_swipe = false inside the gestures block. These lines will only cause errors. Next, you will want to configure the actual gesture bindings. Here's how you would typically set up swipe gestures to switch workspaces:

input {
    touchpad {
        natural_scroll = false
    }
    kb_layout = us
    follow_mouse = 1
    sensitivity = 1
}
gestures {
    workspace_swipe = 1
    workspace_swipe_fingers = 3
    workspace_swipe_invert = false
    swipe_sensitivity = 1.0
}

In this example, the critical line is workspace_swipe = 1. It turns on workspace swipe gestures. workspace_swipe_fingers = 3 sets it so it'll need three fingers to swipe between workspaces. workspace_swipe_invert = false sets the swipe direction. And finally, swipe_sensitivity = 1.0 configures the sensitivity of the swipe gesture. With this configuration, your workspace swipe gestures should work without the config error. Remember to save the input.conf file after making these changes. After saving your input.conf file, you'll need to either restart Hyprland or reload your configuration for the changes to take effect. You can usually do this by running hyprctl reload in your terminal or by logging out and back in. By following these steps, you should have successfully resolved the configuration issue.

Detailed Configuration Breakdown

Let's break down each part of the corrected input.conf configuration to make sure we're all on the same page, shall we? I'll go into more detail about what each option does and why it is set up this way.

input { ... }: This block sets up general input settings. Here you can configure touchpad settings, keyboard layouts, mouse following, and sensitivity. This is the place to set basic input behaviour.
touchpad { natural_scroll = false }: Within the input block, this sets up your touchpad settings, in this example it disables natural scrolling, which means the content moves in the same direction as your fingers, but you can adjust it as you see fit. Some people love natural scrolling; others don't, so adjust this according to your preference.
kb_layout = us: Configures the keyboard layout. It's set to 'us' here, representing the US keyboard layout. This is how Hyprland knows how to interpret your keyboard input. Make sure to change this to your specific layout, if it's different, for example kb_layout = de for German keyboards.
follow_mouse = 1: This tells your windows to follow the mouse. The value 1 means it's enabled. When enabled, windows will move with your mouse focus, which is a standard behaviour in most window managers.
sensitivity = 1: This configures the mouse sensitivity. The value is set to 1 in this case. You can adjust this value to change your mouse sensitivity. Higher numbers mean higher sensitivity, lower numbers mean lower.
gestures { ... }: This block is where you configure gestures. It allows you to customize how you interact with Hyprland using touch gestures.
workspace_swipe = 1: This is the magic switch that enables workspace swipe gestures. Setting it to 1 turns the feature on. If you set it to 0, it turns it off.
workspace_swipe_fingers = 3: This sets the number of fingers required to trigger a workspace swipe. In this example, it's set to 3. It’s up to you how many fingers you want to use, but 3 fingers is the standard and a good starting point.
workspace_swipe_invert = false: This setting inverts the direction of the swipe. When set to false, swiping left moves to the previous workspace, and swiping right moves to the next. If set to true, it inverts that direction. This allows you to set the intuitive direction of your workspace swipes.
swipe_sensitivity = 1.0: Controls the sensitivity of the swipe gesture. A value of 1.0 is a good default. You can increase this number to make swipes more sensitive or decrease it to make them less sensitive. This option helps you fine-tune the feel of your gestures.

By understanding each setting, you'll be able to fully customize your workspace swipe gestures to suit your preferences. This detailed breakdown is designed to give you a deeper understanding of Hyprland configuration and ensure you can troubleshoot future issues.

Testing and Troubleshooting

Alright, so you've made the changes to your input.conf file. Awesome! Now, how do you make sure everything is working as expected? And more importantly, what do you do if it isn't? Let's get into some testing and troubleshooting steps to ensure that your workspace swipes are running smoothly.

First, save your input.conf file. This is super important! Make sure all your changes are saved before you move on. Then, restart Hyprland or reload the config. The easiest way to do this is usually to open up your terminal and type hyprctl reload. Alternatively, you can log out and log back in to Hyprland. This reloads your configuration and applies the changes you made.

Now, test your workspace swipes. With your config reloaded, try swiping with the number of fingers you configured. Swipe left or right on your touchpad or touchscreen (if you have one) to see if you can switch between workspaces. If it's working, congratulations! You've successfully fixed the issue.

But what if it's not working? Here's a quick troubleshooting guide:

Double-check your input.conf: Go back to your input.conf file and make sure you've made the changes correctly. It's easy to miss a typo or a misplaced bracket.
Verify the correct path: Make sure the input.conf file is saved in the correct location. The most common place is ~/.config/hypr/input.conf.
Check for other config errors: Sometimes, a small mistake in another part of your Hyprland config can cause unexpected behavior. Run hyprctl --version in your terminal to ensure your Hyprland is working without issues. If you have any config errors, they will show up in the output.
Consult the Hyprland logs: Hyprland keeps detailed logs. You can often find useful information about what's going wrong in the logs. Check the logs for any error messages related to gestures or input. You can typically find these logs in the /tmp/hyprland.log file.
Simplify your config temporarily: If you're still having trouble, try commenting out other parts of your config file to see if they're interfering with the gestures. This helps you isolate the problem.
Ask for help: If you're stuck, don't hesitate to seek help from the Hyprland community. There are plenty of friendly folks on forums, Discord servers, and Reddit who are happy to assist.

By following these steps, you'll be able to verify your configuration, troubleshoot any issues, and get those workspace swipes working perfectly. Remember to be patient and persistent – configuration can sometimes take a little trial and error!

Advanced Customization and Tips

Alright, so you've fixed the basic configuration, and now you have workspace swipes working flawlessly. But what if you want to take it a step further and add some advanced customization? Let's dive into some advanced tweaks and helpful tips to really make those workspace swipes your own. You can really make your Hyprland setup personalized and efficient.

First, let's talk about animation. Hyprland is known for its smooth animations, and you can customize how workspace transitions look. You can add animations to workspace switches by modifying the animations section in your Hyprland config file (usually hypr.conf). For example, to add a fade-in/fade-out animation, you can use the following code. These animations can enhance your visual experience and make your desktop feel even more responsive. Here is how to do it:

    animations {
        workspace {
            speed = 1
            from = 0
            to = 1
        }
    }

This simple setup adds a fade-in effect when you switch workspaces. You can adjust the speed to change the animation duration. Also, you can play around with different animation effects (like slide, or zoom). Experiment with different settings to see what works best for you. Also, if you want a more customized transition, you can use animations. To do that, you will want to add this code:

    animations {
        workspace {
            speed = 1
            from = 0
            to = 1
            ... more options ...
        }
    }

You can then adjust values for the speed, the from and to values, and other things to customize your animations as you see fit.

Another cool customization you can do is edge swipe gestures. These are gestures triggered when you swipe from the edge of the screen. You can set up edge swipe gestures to switch workspaces, launch applications, or trigger other actions. To configure edge swipes, you'll need to use the bindedge section of your config file. This will allow you to configure edge swipes for different sides of your screen. For example, you might bind a swipe from the left edge to switch to the previous workspace, and a swipe from the right edge to switch to the next workspace. The configuration will look something like this:

    bindedge, <left>, workspace, prev
    bindedge, <right>, workspace, next

With these settings, swiping from the left edge will switch to the previous workspace, and swiping from the right edge will switch to the next one. Remember to reload your config (using hyprctl reload) after making these changes.

Also, you can also customize the sensitivity. While you have the swipe_sensitivity option in your input.conf, you can also adjust the sensitivity of your touchpad or touchscreen in other ways. Many touchpads allow you to adjust the sensitivity in their settings, which could be done with a GUI tool, if you have one, or through the command line using the libinput settings. Experimenting with different sensitivity settings can help you find the right balance.

Finally, don't be afraid to explore themes. Hyprland supports theming, allowing you to customize the look and feel of your desktop. Try out different themes to find one that complements your configuration and makes your workspace even more enjoyable. You can find themes on the Hyprland GitHub page or online, download them, and apply them in your config. This is where you can really get crazy with your setup!

By exploring these advanced customization options and tips, you can take your Hyprland setup to the next level. This will help you create a workspace that is not only functional but also uniquely yours. Enjoy the process and the flexibility Hyprland offers!