Linux X command
Updated: 11/06/2021 by Computer Hope
On Unix-like operating systems, X, typically located at /usr/bin/X, is the original X server executable of MIT's X Window System.
Typically, you do not need to run X manually.
If what you'd like to do is start a new X Window session, use the startx command instead.
History of X and Xorg
In 2009, due to changes in its license, the codebase of X was forked to a new version called Xorg, and is included on systems at the default location /usr/bin/Xorg.
The X executable is still included as a compatibility layer for programs which expect it to be there. So, for all intents and purposes, X passes commands to Xorg.
Syntax
X [:display] [option]
Options
| -a # | Default pointer acceleration. |
| -ac | Disable access control restrictions. |
| -audit int | Set audit trail level. |
| -auth file | Select authorization file. |
| -br | Create root window with black background. |
| +bs | Enable any backing store support. |
| -bs | Disable any backing store support. |
| -c | Turns off key-click. |
| c # | Key-click volume (0-100). |
| -cc int | Default color visual class. |
| -nocursor | Disable the cursor. |
| -core | Generate core dump on fatal error. |
| -dpi int | Screen resolution in dots per inch, |
| -dpms | Disables VESA DPMS (Energy Star) monitor control. |
| -deferglyphs [none|all|16] | Defer loading of [no|all|16-bit] glyphs. |
| -f # | Dbell base (0-100). |
| -fc string | Cursor font. |
| -fn string | Default font name. |
| -fp string | Default font path. |
| -help | Prints message with these options. |
| -I | Ignore all remaining arguments. |
| -ld N | Limit data space to N Kb. |
| -lf N | Limit number of open files to N. |
| -ls N | Limit stack space to N Kb. |
| -nolock | Disable the locking mechanism. |
| -nolisten string | Don't listen on protocol string. |
| -noreset | Don't reset after last client exists. |
| -background | Create root window with no background. |
| -reset | Reset after last client exists. |
| -p # | Screen-saver pattern duration (minutes). |
| -pn | Accept failure to listen on all ports. |
| -nopn | Reject failure to listen on all ports. |
| -r | Turns off auto-repeat. |
| r | Turns on auto-repeat. |
| -render [default|mono|gray|color] | Set render color alloc policy. |
| -retro | Start with classic stipple and cursor. |
| -s # | Screen-saver timeout (minutes). |
| -seat string | Seat to run on. |
| -t # | Default pointer threshold (pixels/t). |
| -terminate | Terminate at server reset. |
| -to # | Connection time out. |
| -tst | Disable testing extensions. |
| ttyxx | Server started from init on /dev/ttyxx. |
| v | Video blanking for screen-saver. |
| -v | Screen-saver without video blanking. |
| -wm | WhenMapped default backing-store. |
| -wr | Create root window with white background. |
| -maxbigreqsize | Set maximal bigrequest size. |
| +xinerama | Enable XINERAMA extension. |
| -xinerama | Disable XINERAMA extension. |
| -dumbSched | Disable smart scheduling, enable old behavior. |
| -schedInterval int | Set scheduler interval in milliseconds. |
| -sigstop | Enable SIGSTOP based startup. |
| +extension name | Enable extension. |
| -extension name | Disable extension. |
| -query host-name | Contact named host for XDMCP. |
| -broadcast | Broadcast for XDMCP. |
| -multicast [addr [hops]] | IPv6 multicast for XDMCP. |
| -indirect host-name | Contact named host for indirect XDMCP. |
| -port port-num | UDP port number to send messages. |
| -from local-address | Specify the local address to connect from. |
| -once | Terminate server after one session. |
| -class display-class | Specify display class to send in manage. |
| -cookie xdm-auth-bits | Specify the magic cookie for XDMCP. |
| -displayID display-id | Manufacturer display ID for request. |
| [+-]accessx [ timeout [ timeout_mask [ feedback [ options_mask] ] ] ] | Enable/disable accessx key sequences. |
| -ardelay | Set XKB autorepeat delay. |
| -arinterval | Set XKB autorepeat interval. |
Device-dependent options
| -modulepath paths | Specify the module search path. |
| -logfile file | Specify a log file name. |
| -configure | Probe for devices and write an xorg.conf. |
| -showopts | Print available options for all installed drivers. |
| -config file | Specify a configuration file, relative to the xorg.conf search path; only root can use absolute. |
| -configdir dir | Specify a configuration directory, relative to the xorg.conf.d search path; only root can use absolute. |
| -verbose [n] | Verbose startup messages. |
| -logverbose [n] | Verbose log messages. |
| -quiet | Minimal startup messages. |
| -pixmap24 | Use 24bpp pixmaps for depth 24. |
| -pixmap32 | Use 32bpp pixmaps for depth 24. |
| -fbbpp n | Set bpp for the framebuffer. Default: 8. |
| -depth n | Set colour depth. Default: 8. |
| -gamma f | Set gamma value (0.1 - 10.0) Default: 1.0. |
| -rgamma f | Set gamma value for red phase. |
| -ggamma f | Set gamma value for green phase. |
| -bgamma f | Set gamma value for blue phase. |
| -weight nnn | Set RGB weighting at 16 bpp. Default: 565. |
| -layout name | Specify the ServerLayout section name. |
| -screen name | Specify the Screen section name. |
| -keyboard name | Specify the core keyboard InputDevice name. |
| -pointer name | Specify the core pointer InputDevice name. |
| -nosilk | Disable Silken Mouse. |
| -flipPixels | Swap default black/white pixel values. |
| -disableVidMode | Disable mode adjustments with xvidtune. |
| -allowNonLocalXvidtune | Allow xvidtune to be run as a non-local client. |
| -allowMouseOpenFail | Start server even if the mouse can't be initialized. |
| -ignoreABI | Make module ABI mismatches non-fatal. |
| -isolateDevice bus_id | Restrict device resets to bus_id (PCI only). |
| -version | Show the server version. |
| -showDefaultModulePath | Show the server default module path. |
| -showDefaultLibPath | Show the server default library path. |
| -novtswitch | Don't automatically switch VT at reset & exit. |
| -sharevts | Share VTs with another X server. |
| -mir MirID | Run nested in a Mir compositor with app id MirID. |
| vtXX | Use the specified VT number. |
| -keeptty | Don't detach controlling tty (for debugging purposes). |
Related commands
startx — Start an X Window System session.
Xorg — The executable of the X Window System server.