Input and shortcuts

Edit the file as described in Configuration, then validate and reload it.

Pointer and touchpad

Set these options in [compositor.input]:

Setting	Default	Effect
tap_to_click	true	Enable tap to click.
natural_scroll	true	Enable natural scrolling.
focus_follows_mouse	true	Focus a window as the pointer moves over it; set to false to focus on click.

For individual devices, run knavectl devices to see names and capabilities, then add a rule:

[[compositor.device]]
name = "Example Touchpad"
natural_scroll = false
sensitivity = 0.4
disable_while_typing = true

Names match case-insensitively and support * and ?. Global input settings apply first; matching device rules apply in order, with later rules winning. Unset device fields leave the underlying value unchanged.

Optional device field	Values
enabled	Boolean; false stops events from the device.
tap_to_click, tap_and_drag, drag_lock	Booleans for touchpad tap behavior.
natural_scroll, disable_while_typing, middle_emulation, left_handed	Booleans.
sensitivity	Number from -1.0 to 1.0; 0.0 is the device default.
accel_profile	"adaptive" or "flat".
scroll_method	"no_scroll", "two_finger", "edge", or "on_button_down".
scroll_button	Numeric button code for button scrolling.
click_method	"button_areas" or "clickfinger".

Gestures

A three-finger horizontal swipe switches workspaces by default. To pass it to applications instead:

[[compositor.gesture.bind]]
fingers = 3
direction = "horizontal"
action = "none"

Setting	Values
fingers	An integer of at least 1.
direction	"horizontal".
action	"workspace" to switch workspaces, or "none" to pass the gesture to applications.

Entries override matching finger count and direction, with later entries taking precedence.

Shortcuts

Add a binding with a key combination, action and optional arguments. A binding replaces the default for the same combination; other defaults remain active.

[[compositor.bind]]
keys = "MOD+SHIFT+RETURN"
dispatch = "exec"
args = ["foot"]

MOD follows [compositor] modkey; combinations can also use CTRL, SHIFT, ALT, and mouse buttons BUTTON_LEFT, BUTTON_RIGHT, BUTTON_MIDDLE. exec runs the executable and arguments without shell interpretation.

Action	Arguments
close, toggle-floating, maximize, unmaximize, toggle-maximize, minimize, restore-minimized	None.
toggle-overview, quit	None.
focus-next, focus-previous, focus-left, focus-right, focus-up, focus-down	None.
next-workspace, previous-workspace, last-workspace	None.
workspace, move-to-workspace	One workspace number as a string.
move-window, resize-window	Optional "pointer" target; otherwise use the focused window.
resize-master	One signed percentage change from -80 to 80, excluding zero.
reset-master	None.
screenshot	A mode ("region", "output", or "window") and destination ("save" or "clipboard").
exec	Executable followed by its arguments.

knave config check checks the typed file, but shortcut names and actions are also checked by the compositor when loading. A failed reload keeps the current configuration.