Proper ~/.xinitrc File

This page is a short version of the original Arch Wiki page. For more information, look there.

It is only for advanced users, who know how to fix broken systems and know their way around the terminal.

General Information

The ~/.xinitrc file in your home directory is executed by the command startx. In general, it is used to start your Desktop Environment.

Usually, your Display/Login Managercalls startx, but you do not need a Display/Login Manager to do this.

~/.xinitrc File

The ~/.xinitrc file is located in your home directory and it is a hidden file. Here is an example of a default ~/.xinitrc file:

#!/bin/sh
#
# ~/.xinitrc
#
# Executed by startx (run your window manager from here)

if [ -d /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d ]; then
  for f in /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d/*; do
    [ -x "$f" ] && . "$f"
  done
  unset f
fi

# exec enlightenment_start
# exec i3
# exec mate-session
# exec xmonad
# exec startlxqt
# exec startlxde
# exec awesome
# exec bspwm
# exec gnome-session
# exec startkde
# exec startxfce4
# exec icewm
# exec fluxbox
# exec openbox-session
# exec cinnamon-session
# exec pekwm

Remove the # symbol at the beginning of the code line belonging to your Desktop Environment (beginning with # exec) and save the ~/.xinitrc file.

Troubleshooting

If you are using the Net Edition of Manjaro or a Community Edition, it can happen that the your ~/.xinitrc file is missing parts or contains wrong code. In this case, your system will show error messages and it will refuse to boot your Desktop Environment. It is even possible that your system is caught in a loop, in which it constantly keeps trying to execute startx.

If this happens, get a tty by pressing CTRL + ALT + F2 (or any other funktion key - try all function keys from F1 to F12). When you have a tty, you can log into your system, Install Display Managers or edit your ~/.xinitrc file using nano or vim (this might has to be installed before you can use it).