FAQ_Monitors

• Monitors and Display Configuration
  • Adjusting Monitor Resolution, Refresh Rate, etc
  • Monitor Config Syntax
    • Special values
    • Disabling a monitor
    • Catch-all for unknown monitors
  • Multi-Monitor Setup
  • Fractional Scaling (HiDPI)
    • HiDPI recommended workflow
  • Monitor Rotation
  • Extra Arguments
  • Assigning Workspaces to Monitors
  • Saving Monitor Profiles
  • Closed-Lid Laptops May Wake Display After Settings or Wallpaper Changes
  • Laptop Brightness Control May Need Driver-Specific Tweaks

Monitors and Display Configuration

Note

This page covers common monitor configuration questions for KooL's Hyprland Dots.
For the full official reference, see the Hyprland Wiki — Monitors.

Adjusting Monitor Resolution, Refresh Rate, etc

You can manually edit ~/.config/hypr/monitors.conf or use nwg-displays.
Launch nwg-displays via the Rofi Menu (SUPER + D) or via the KooL Settings Menu (SUPER + SHIFT + E).

Monitor Config Syntax

The general format for a monitor entry is:

monitor = name, resolution, position, scale

A common single-monitor example:

monitor = DP-1, 1920x1080@144, 0x0, 1

This sets DP-1 to 1920×1080 at 144 Hz, positioned at the top-left corner, with a scale of 1 (unscaled).

To list all available monitors (including inactive ones), run:

hyprctl monitors all

Special values

Value	Description
preferred	Use the monitor's preferred resolution and refresh rate
highres	Use the highest available resolution
highrr	Use the highest available refresh rate
maxwidth	Use the widest available resolution
auto	Automatically assign position (places monitor to the right of existing ones)
auto-left, auto-right, auto-up, auto-down	Auto-position relative to other monitors
auto (scale)	Let Hyprland pick a scale based on PPI

Example using special values:

monitor = DP-1, preferred, auto, 1

Disabling a monitor

monitor = HDMI-A-1, disable

Note

This removes the monitor from the layout entirely, moving all windows elsewhere.
To just turn off the display (screensaver-style), use the dpms dispatcher instead.

Catch-all for unknown monitors

monitor = , preferred, auto, 1

This ensures any newly connected monitor gets a sane default instead of being ignored.

Multi-Monitor Setup

For a dual-monitor setup side by side (DP-1 on the left, HDMI-A-1 on the right):

monitor = DP-1,     1920x1080@144, 0x0,    1
monitor = HDMI-A-1, 1920x1080@60,  1920x0, 1

The position 1920x0 places the second monitor immediately to the right of the first.
Positions are in logical pixels (i.e. after scaling is applied).

For a vertical stack (DP-1 on top, HDMI-A-1 below):

monitor = DP-1,     1920x1080@144, 0x0,    1
monitor = HDMI-A-1, 1920x1080@60,  0x1080, 1

Tip

Use nwg-displays (SUPER + D → search for it, or SUPER + SHIFT + E → Monitor Profiles) to set up multi-monitor layouts graphically. It writes directly to ~/.config/hypr/monitors.conf.

Fractional Scaling (HiDPI)

Set the scale factor as the 4th argument. Common values:

# 2× scaling (HiDPI, e.g. 4K display at effective 1080p)
monitor = DP-1, 3840x2160@60, 0x0, 2

# 1.5× scaling
monitor = DP-1, 2560x1440@144, 0x0, 1.5

# 1.25× scaling
monitor = HDMI-A-1, 1920x1080@60, 0x0, 1.25

Warning

Fractional scaling (non-integer values like 1.25, 1.5) may cause blurry XWayland apps.
Hyprland uses xwayland:force_zero_scaling to mitigate this — see ~/.config/hypr/UserConfigs/UserSettings.conf.

HiDPI recommended workflow

1. Set scale in monitors.conf to your preferred value (e.g. 1.5 or 2)
2. Adjust GTK font size/DPI with nwg-look
3. Tune font scaling in the Font tab of nwg-look
4. For Qt apps, use qt5ct / qt6ct and Kvantum
5. Adjust Waybar font sizes in ~/.config/waybar/styles/ (not styles.css, which is a symlink)
6. For Kitty, edit ~/.config/kitty/kitty.conf

Monitor Rotation

Use the transform extra argument:

monitor = DP-1, 1920x1080@60, 0x0, 1, transform, 1

Value	Rotation
0	Normal (no rotation)
1	90° clockwise
2	180°
3	270° clockwise (90° counter-clockwise)
4	Flipped
5	Flipped + 90°
6	Flipped + 180°
7	Flipped + 270°

Extra Arguments

Extra arguments are appended after the scale:

monitor = name, resolution, position, scale[, keyword, value ...]

Common extra args:

Keyword	Example	Description
mirror	mirror, DP-1	Mirror another monitor onto this one
vrr	vrr, 1	Enable Variable Refresh Rate (FreeSync / G-Sync)
bitdepth	bitdepth, 10	Enable 10-bit color
transform	transform, 1	Rotate the monitor

Example combining multiple args:

monitor = DP-1, 2560x1440@165, 0x0, 1.5, vrr, 1, bitdepth, 10

Note

For advanced extra args (color management, ICC profiles, HDR, monitorv2 syntax, etc.), see the official wiki.

Assigning Workspaces to Monitors

Use workspace rules in ~/.config/hypr/UserConfigs/WorkspaceRules.conf:

workspace = 1, monitor:DP-1
workspace = 2, monitor:DP-1
workspace = 3, monitor:HDMI-A-1
workspace = 4, monitor:HDMI-A-1

Saving Monitor Profiles

After you have adjusted your monitors, copy ~/.config/hypr/monitors.conf into
~/.config/hypr/Monitor_Profiles/ and name it as you wish.
Reload profiles via the KooL Settings Menu (SUPER + SHIFT + E) → Monitor Profiles.

Tip

Do NOT delete ~/.config/hypr/Monitor_Profiles/default.conf so you can always revert to it.

Closed-Lid Laptops May Wake Display After Settings or Wallpaper Changes

See notes on Laptops.conf and LaptopDisplay.conf in ~/.config/hypr/UserConfigs/
One solution if you have an external monitor: mirror your laptop display to the external monitor.

Laptop Brightness Control May Need Driver-Specific Tweaks

This might work for you especially if you have NVIDIA: LINK
Or this might help: Arch Wiki — Backlight

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Note

For the full official Hyprland monitor configuration reference, visit:
https://wiki.hypr.land/Configuring/Monitors/