xsetroot

Set solid background color

$ xsetroot -solid [blue]

$ xsetroot -gray

$ xsetroot -bitmap [pattern.xbm]

$ xsetroot -mod [4] [4] -fg [red] -bg [white]

$ xsetroot -cursor_name [left_ptr]

$ xsetroot -def

$ xsetroot -name "[status text]"

xsetroot [options]

xsetroot configures the appearance of the X root window (desktop background). It can set solid colors, patterns, bitmap tiles, and the root window cursor.
The tool is commonly used in window manager startup scripts to set initial background appearance. Only one background option (-solid, -gray, -bitmap, or -mod) can be used at a time.
The -name option sets the root window's WM_NAME property, which some window managers use for status display (e.g., dwm displays it in the status bar).
For more sophisticated backgrounds, consider using tools like feh or nitrogen.

-solid color

Set background to solid color.

Set background to gray mesh pattern.

Tile background with bitmap file.

Create plaid pattern (x, y: 1-16).

Foreground color for patterns.

Background color for patterns.

Swap foreground and background colors.

Set cursor from font glyphs.

Set cursor by standard X cursor name.

Set cursor from Xcursor file.

Reset to default settings.

Set root window name property.

X server to connect to.

Display help.

Display version.

Bitmap files must be in XBM format. Colors use X color names or hex values (#RRGGBB). Some compositing window managers may override root window appearance. The -name option is used by dwm for status bar text.

xsetroot has been part of the X Window System since early releases. It provides basic root window customization following the Unix philosophy of simple, focused tools. Many users now prefer more feature-rich tools like feh for wallpapers.

feh(1), nitrogen(1), xwallpaper(1), hsetroot(1)