The Ultimate Komorebi Guide with AutoHotKey

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about using Komorebi, a tiling window manager for Windows, with AutoHotKey for keyboard shortcuts.

Installation

Install Komorebi:

winget install LGUG2Z.komorebi

or with Scoop:

scoop bucket add extras
scoop install komorebi

Ensure AutoHotKey is installed (v2 is recommended)
Download Komorebi example configurations:
```
komorebic quickstart
```

Start Komorebi with AutoHotKey:

komorebic stop --whkd  # If already running with whkd
komorebic start --ahk

Core Concepts

Monitors: Your physical displays
Workspaces: Virtual spaces on each monitor (default: 9 per monitor, numbered 0-8)
Containers: Hold and arrange windows in different layouts
Stacks: Multiple windows occupying the same container, toggled through with shortcuts

Complete AutoHotKey Configuration

Create a komorebi.ahk file in your user profile directory with the following content:

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0.2
#SingleInstance Force
 
Komorebic(cmd) {
    RunWait(format("komorebic.exe {}", cmd), , "Hide")
}
 
; ===== BASIC CONTROLS =====
!q::Komorebic("close")                         ; Alt+Q: Close focused window
!m::Komorebic("minimize")                      ; Alt+M: Minimize focused window
!+o::Komorebic("reload-configuration")         ; Alt+Shift+O: Reload Komorebi configuration
^!r::Reload                                    ; Ctrl+Alt+R: Reload AHK script
 
; ===== WINDOW FOCUS =====
!h::Komorebic("focus left")                    ; Alt+H: Focus window to the left
!j::Komorebic("focus down")                    ; Alt+J: Focus window below
!k::Komorebic("focus up")                      ; Alt+K: Focus window above
!l::Komorebic("focus right")                   ; Alt+L: Focus window to the right
!+[::Komorebic("cycle-focus previous")         ; Alt+Shift+[: Focus previous window
!+]::Komorebic("cycle-focus next")             ; Alt+Shift+]: Focus next window
 
; ===== WINDOW MOVEMENT =====
!+h::Komorebic("move left")                    ; Alt+Shift+H: Move window left
!+j::Komorebic("move down")                    ; Alt+Shift+J: Move window down
!+k::Komorebic("move up")                      ; Alt+Shift+K: Move window up
!+l::Komorebic("move right")                   ; Alt+Shift+L: Move window right
 
; ===== WINDOW STACKING =====
!Left::Komorebic("stack left")                 ; Alt+Left: Stack window to the left
!Down::Komorebic("stack down")                 ; Alt+Down: Stack window below
!Up::Komorebic("stack up")                     ; Alt+Up: Stack window above
!Right::Komorebic("stack right")               ; Alt+Right: Stack window to the right
!`;::Komorebic("unstack")                      ; Alt+;: Unstack window (remove from stack)
![::Komorebic("cycle-stack previous")          ; Alt+[: Switch to previous window in stack
!]::Komorebic("cycle-stack next")              ; Alt+]: Switch to next window in stack
 
; ===== WINDOW RESIZING =====
!+Left::Komorebic("resize-window left")        ; Alt+Shift+Left: Resize window left
!+Down::Komorebic("resize-window down")        ; Alt+Shift+Down: Resize window down
!+Up::Komorebic("resize-window up")            ; Alt+Shift+Up: Resize window up
!+Right::Komorebic("resize-window right")      ; Alt+Shift+Right: Resize window right
 
; ===== WORKSPACE MANAGEMENT =====
!1::Komorebic("focus-workspace 0")             ; Alt+1: Switch to workspace 1
!2::Komorebic("focus-workspace 1")             ; Alt+2: Switch to workspace 2
!3::Komorebic("focus-workspace 2")             ; Alt+3: Switch to workspace 3
!4::Komorebic("focus-workspace 3")             ; Alt+4: Switch to workspace 4
!5::Komorebic("focus-workspace 4")             ; Alt+5: Switch to workspace 5
!6::Komorebic("focus-workspace 5")             ; Alt+6: Switch to workspace 6
!7::Komorebic("focus-workspace 6")             ; Alt+7: Switch to workspace 7
!8::Komorebic("focus-workspace 7")             ; Alt+8: Switch to workspace 8
!9::Komorebic("focus-workspace 8")             ; Alt+9: Switch to workspace 9
 
; ===== MOVING WINDOWS BETWEEN WORKSPACES =====
!+1::Komorebic("move-to-workspace 0")          ; Alt+Shift+1: Move window to workspace 1
!+2::Komorebic("move-to-workspace 1")          ; Alt+Shift+2: Move window to workspace 2
!+3::Komorebic("move-to-workspace 2")          ; Alt+Shift+3: Move window to workspace 3
!+4::Komorebic("move-to-workspace 3")          ; Alt+Shift+4: Move window to workspace 4
!+5::Komorebic("move-to-workspace 4")          ; Alt+Shift+5: Move window to workspace 5
!+6::Komorebic("move-to-workspace 5")          ; Alt+Shift+6: Move window to workspace 6
!+7::Komorebic("move-to-workspace 6")          ; Alt+Shift+7: Move window to workspace 7
!+8::Komorebic("move-to-workspace 7")          ; Alt+Shift+8: Move window to workspace 8
!+9::Komorebic("move-to-workspace 8")          ; Alt+Shift+9: Move window to workspace 9
 
; ===== WORKSPACE CYCLING =====
!Tab::Komorebic("cycle-workspace next")        ; Alt+Tab: Switch to next workspace
!+Tab::Komorebic("cycle-workspace previous")   ; Alt+Shift+Tab: Switch to previous workspace
 
; ===== LAYOUT MANAGEMENT =====
!x::Komorebic("flip-layout horizontal")        ; Alt+X: Flip layout horizontally
!y::Komorebic("flip-layout vertical")          ; Alt+Y: Flip layout vertically
!c::Komorebic("promote")                       ; Alt+C: Promote window (make it primary)
!+Backspace::Komorebic("retile")               ; Alt+Shift+Backspace: Force retile all windows
!Backspace::Komorebic("toggle-float")          ; Alt+Backspace: Toggle float for focused window
!t::Komorebic("toggle-float-all")              ; Alt+T: Toggle float for all windows on workspace
!w::Komorebic("toggle-monocle")                ; Alt+W: Toggle monocle mode (maximize current window)
!+r::Komorebic("toggle-tiling-direction")      ; Alt+Shift+R: Toggle between horizontal/vertical tiling
 
; ===== MONITOR MANAGEMENT =====
!,::Komorebic("cycle-monitor previous")        ; Alt+,: Focus previous monitor
!.::Komorebic("cycle-monitor next")            ; Alt+.: Focus next monitor
!+,::Komorebic("move-container-to-monitor previous") ; Alt+Shift+,: Move window to previous monitor
!+.::Komorebic("move-container-to-monitor next") ; Alt+Shift+.: Move window to next monitor
 
; ===== APPLICATION SHORTCUTS =====
; Uncomment and customize as needed
; !f::
; {
;     if !WinExist("ahk_exe firefox.exe")
;         Run "firefox.exe"
;     else
;         WinActivate "ahk_exe firefox.exe"
; }
; 
; !b::
; {
;     if !WinExist("ahk_exe chrome.exe")
;         Run "chrome.exe"
;     else
;         WinActivate "ahk_exe chrome.exe"
; }

Detailed Feature Guide

Working with Window Stacks

Stacking allows multiple windows to share the same container in the tiling layout.

Create a stack:
- Focus a window and press Alt+Left/Right/Up/Down to stack it on an adjacent window
- The focused window will be stacked on top of the target window
Navigate within a stack:
- Alt+[: Cycle to previous window in stack
- Alt+]: Cycle to next window in stack
Remove from stack:
- Alt+;: Remove the current window from the stack
- The window will be placed according to the current layout

Window Layouts

Komorebi offers multiple layouts that automatically arrange windows:

BSP (Binary Space Partition) - Default
- Divides space recursively, alternating between horizontal and vertical splits
- Alt+Shift+R toggles between horizontal/vertical tiling
Columns
- Arranges windows in columns
- Primary window on left, secondary windows stacked vertically on right
Rows
- Arranges windows in rows
- Primary window on top, secondary windows stacked horizontally below
Modifying Layouts:
- Alt+C: Promote focused window to primary position
- Alt+X: Flip layout horizontally
- Alt+Y: Flip layout vertically

Special Modes

Monocle Mode:
- Alt+W: Toggle monocle mode (maximizes current window)
- Useful for focusing on one task without closing other windows
Floating Mode:
- Alt+Backspace: Toggle float for current window
- Alt+T: Toggle float for all windows
- Useful for windows that don’t work well with tiling

Customization Tips

Changing Modifier Keys

If you prefer using Windows key instead of Alt:

Replace ! with # in the AHK script
For example, change !h:: to #h::

Custom Commands

Create custom sequences for specific workflows:

!0:: {  ; Alt+0: Arrange for coding
    Komorebic("focus-workspace 0")
    Komorebic("change-layout rows")
    Komorebic("resize-window down 200")
}

Application-Specific Rules

Set up rules for specific applications in your applications.yaml file:

- identifier: ahk_exe explorer.exe
  float: true

Window Borders

Enable colorful window borders in komorebi.json:

{
  "border": true,
  "border_width": 10,
  "border_color": {
    "r": 50,
    "g": 50,
    "b": 50
  },
  "border_color_active": {
    "r": 0,
    "g": 120,
    "b": 215
  }
}

Troubleshooting

Shortcuts Not Working

Check if AHK is running:
- Look for the AHK icon in system tray
- Run Get-Process AutoHotkey in PowerShell

Restart Komorebi and AHK:

komorebic stop --ahk
komorebic start --ahk

Verify AHK path:
- Set KOMOREBI_AHK_EXE environment variable if needed:
```
$Env:KOMOREBI_AHK_EXE = "AutoHotkeyU64.exe"
```

Window Management Issues

Run komorebic retile to force reconsideration of all windows
Use komorebic check to verify your configuration is found
Check logs at %LOCALAPPDATA%\komorebi\komorebi.log

Advanced Features

Multi-Monitor Setup

Focus monitors:
- Alt+,: Focus previous monitor
- Alt+.: Focus next monitor
Move windows between monitors:
- Alt+Shift+,: Move to previous monitor
- Alt+Shift+.: Move to next monitor

Status Bar Integration

Enable the status bar in your setup:

komorebic start --ahk --bar

Customize bar in komorebi.bar.json to show:

Workspace indicators
Active window title
System resources
Date and time

Resources

Documentation: https://lgug2z.github.io/komorebi/
GitHub Repository: https://github.com/LGUG2Z/komorebi
Discord: Available for komorebi-related discussion (link on GitHub)

This guide covers everything you need to become proficient with Komorebi and AutoHotKey, enabling a powerful tiling window management experience on Windows!

My Notes

Explorer