LinuxCommandLibrary

xkill

Force-close X11 windows by clicking

TLDR

Kill window by clicking

$ xkill
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Kill specific window ID
$ xkill -id [window_id]
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Kill all with matching name
$ xkill -frame
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Show button to use
$ xkill -button any
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SYNOPSIS

xkill [-id windowid] [-button button] [-frame] [options_]

DESCRIPTION

xkill forcibly closes X11 windows. After running, the cursor changes and the next clicked window is killed.
The tool sends a kill request to the X server. This is more forceful than asking the window to close normally.
Window manager frames can be targeted. Using -frame kills the window even if clicking the decoration rather than content.
Any mouse button can trigger the kill. By default, only button 1 (left click) works. The -button option changes this.
Pressing any key cancels xkill without killing a window. This provides an escape if started accidentally.
The tool is useful when applications become unresponsive and normal close methods fail.

PARAMETERS

-id WINDOWID

Kill specific window by ID.
-button BUTTON
Button to use (any, 1, 2, 3).
-frame
Include window frame.
-all
Kill all matching clients.
-display DISPLAY
X server display.

CAVEATS

X11 only - doesn't work on Wayland. May lose unsaved data. Doesn't gracefully close applications. Some windows may resist.

HISTORY

xkill has been part of the X.Org utilities since the early days of X11. It provides a simple way to deal with misbehaving X applications.

SEE ALSO

kill(1), killall(1), xwininfo(1), xdotool(1)

> TERMINAL_GEAR

Curated for the Linux community

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> TERMINAL_GEAR

Curated for the Linux community