xrefresh

xrefresh [-display display] [-geometry WxH+X+Y] [-root] [-help] [-version]

-display host:dpy
    Specifies the X server display to connect to.

-geometry WxH+X+Y
    Defines a specific rectangular region of the screen to refresh. If omitted, the entire screen is refreshed.

-root
    Forces refreshment of only the root window. This is the default behavior when no geometry is specified.

-help
    Displays a brief usage message and exits.

-version
    Prints the program's version information and exits.

xrefresh is a fundamental utility within the X Window System, serving to explicitly force a redraw of all or part of an X screen. Its primary function is to resolve visual glitches such as "ghost" windows, screen tearing, or artifacts left behind by applications that crash or terminate improperly without correctly unmapping their graphical elements. The command achieves this by unmapping and then immediately remapping the root window, which effectively signals the X server to repaint all content on the display.

While modern compositing desktop environments and window managers often handle screen redrawing more robustly, xrefresh remains a valuable diagnostic and cleanup tool, especially in simpler X setups or when troubleshooting issues with legacy applications. It ensures that the display accurately reflects the current state of the X server's window hierarchy, providing a quick way to clear visual clutter and restore a clean screen without needing to restart the X server itself.

Historically, a common caveat for xrefresh noted that the functionality it provides "should be part of the server." This implies that forcing a screen redraw was seen as a fundamental operation that ideally should be managed internally by the X server itself rather than requiring an external client utility.

While xrefresh is effective for visual cleanup, it does not address the root cause of applications misbehaving or failing to correctly manage their windows. Furthermore, in modern desktop environments utilizing compositing window managers (e.g., GNOME, KDE Plasma, MATE), xrefresh's direct effect on redrawing might be less apparent or necessary, as compositors often handle screen updates more dynamically. However, it remains valuable in simpler, non-composited X setups or for diagnosing specific display issues.

In modern X environments, especially those using compositing window managers (like GNOME's Mutter, KDE's KWin, or Picom), the direct visual impact of xrefresh might be less pronounced. Compositors manage screen updates and redrawing more dynamically, often preventing the types of artifacts xrefresh is designed to clear. However, xrefresh can still be useful for forcing a refresh at a lower level or for troubleshooting when the compositor itself is behaving unexpectedly.

While primarily used for cleaning up visual artifacts, xrefresh can occasionally be employed in scripts to ensure a display update after certain programmatic changes to X resources or configurations. Although more specific Xlib or XCB calls are typically preferred for precise control within applications, xrefresh offers a quick and simple command-line method for a full or partial screen repaint.

xrefresh has been a standard utility within the X Window System distribution since its early versions, typically bundled as part of the x11-utils or xorg-apps packages. Its consistent inclusion reflects a long-standing need for a simple, client-side tool to force screen redrawing in X environments. Its development has remained stable, primarily focused on maintaining compatibility with evolving X server versions rather than introducing new features. Its existence underscores common challenges in earlier X implementations regarding window management and artifact cleanup, issues that modern compositing techniques aim to mitigate automatically.

X(7), xdpyinfo(1), xkill(1), xrandr(1), xsetroot(1)