# xrandr

Related articles

- Xorg
- Multihead

xrandr is an official configuration utility to the RandR X Window System extension. It can be used to set the size, orientation or reflection of the outputs for a screen. For configuring multiple monitors see the Multihead page.

## Installation

Install xorg-xrandr. A graphical front end such as arandr or lxrandr is also available.

## Testing configuration

When run without any option, xrandr shows the names of different outputs available on the system (`LVDS`, `VGA-0`, etc.) and resolutions available on each, with a * after the current one and a + after the preferred one :

    xrandr

    Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1440 x 900, maximum 8192 x 8192
    VGA disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
    LVDS connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
       1440x900       59.9*+
       1280x854       59.9
       1280x800       59.8
    ...

You can use xrandr to set different resolution (must be present in the above list) on some output:

    $ xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1280x800

When multiple refresh rates are present in the list (not in the example above), it may be changed by the `--rate` option, either at the same time or independently. For example:

    $ xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1280x800 --rate 75

The `--auto` option will turn the specified output on if it is off and set the preferred (maximum) resolution:

    $ xrandr --output LVDS --auto

It is possible to specify multiple outputs in one command, e.g. to turn off `LVDS` and turn on `HDMI-0` with preferred resolution:

    $ xrandr --output LVDS --off --output HDMI-0 --auto

Note:

- Changes you make using xrandr will only last through the current session.
- xrandr has a lot more capabilities - see xrandr(1) for details.

## Configuration

xrandr is just a simple interface to the RandR extension and has no configuration file. However, there are multiple ways of achieving persistent configuration:

1. The RandR extension can be configured via X configuration files, see Multihead#RandR for details. This method provides only static configuration.
2. If you need dynamic configuration, you need to execute xrandr commands each time X server starts. See Autostarting#Graphical for details. This method has the disadvantage of occurring fairly late in the startup process, thus it will not alter the resolution of the display manager if you use one.
3. Custom scripts calling xrandr can be bound to events (for example when external monitor is plugged in), see acpid for details. The #Scripts section provides you with some example scripts that might be useful for this purpose.

Tip: Both KDM and GDM have startup scripts that are executed when X is initiated. For GDM, these are in `/etc/gdm/`, while for KDM this is done at `/usr/share/config/kdm/Xsetup` and for SDDM at `/usr/share/sddm/scripts/Xsetup`. This method requires root access and mucking around in system config files, but will take effect earlier in the startup process than using xprofile.

### Scripts

#### Toggle external monitor

This script toggles between an external monitor (specified by `$EXT`) and a default monitor (specified by `$IN`), so that only one monitor is active at a time.

The default monitor (specified by `$IN`) should be connected when running the script, which is always true for a laptop.

    #!/bin/bash
    intern=LVDS1
    extern=VGA1

    if xrandr | grep "$extern disconnected"; then
        xrandr --output "$extern" --off --output "$intern" --auto
    else
        xrandr --output "$intern" --off --output "$extern" --auto
    fi

Note: To leave the external monitor enabled, replace the else clause with `xrandr --output "$intern" --primary --auto --output "$extern" --right-of "$intern" --auto`.

#### Example 3

The factual accuracy of this article or section is disputed.

Reason: Basic shell mistakes: relying on quoting errors to relay arguments (instead of using arrays), convoluted grep+sed pipes (instead of awk), echo -e (instead of printf), ancient backtick format (instead of `$()`) (Discuss in Talk:Xrandr#)

This script iterates through connected monitors, selects currently active monitor, turns next one on and the others off:

    # get info from xrandr
    connectedOutputs=$(xrandr | grep " connected" | sed -e "s/\([A-Z0-9]\+\) connected.*/\1/")
    activeOutput=$(xrandr | grep -E " connected (primary )?[1-9]+" | sed -e "s/\([A-Z0-9]\+\) connected.*/\1/")

    # initialize variables
    execute="xrandr "
    default="xrandr "
    i=1
    switch=0

    for display in $connectedOutputs
    do
    	# build default configuration
    	if [ $i -eq 1 ]
    	then
    		default=$default"--output $display --auto "
    	else
    		default=$default"--output $display --off "
    	fi

    	# build "switching" configuration
    	if [ $switch -eq 1 ]
    	then
    		execute=$execute"--output $display --auto "
    		switch=0
    	else
    		execute=$execute"--output $display --off "
    	fi

    	# check whether the next output should be switched on
    	if [ $display = $activeOutput ]
    	then
    		switch=1
    	fi

    	i=$(( $i + 1 ))
    done

    # check if the default setup needs to be executed then run it
    echo "Resulting Configuration:"
    if [ -z "$(echo $execute | grep "auto")" ]
    then
    	echo "Command: $default"
    	`$default`
    else
    	echo "Command: $execute"
    	`$execute`
    fi
    echo -e "\n$(xrandr)"

#### Avoid X crash with xrasengan

Use this workaround to turn on connected outputs that may be in suspend mode and hence shown as disconnected, as is often the case of DisplayPort monitors:

    declare -i count=2
    declare -i seconds=1

    while ((count)); do
        xrandr >/dev/null
        sleep $seconds
        ((count--))
    done

xrasengan is an xrandr wrapper with this workaround built in.

    $ xrasengan --force -on DisplayPort-0 -off HDMI-0

With the `--force` option, xrasengan will update status of all outputs before HDMI-0 is turned off, avoiding an X crash if they were the only connected/active outputs.

To force reload current settings, xrasengan provides a `--try-reload-active-layout` option, which uses `--force` and unxrandr from the arandr package to assemble the command line:

    $ xrasengan --try-reload-active-layout

This can be used in systemd unit or in a keyboard binding to avoid blank screen when resuming DisplayPort monitors from suspend.

## Troubleshooting

### Adding undetected resolutions

Due to buggy hardware or drivers, your monitor's correct resolutions may not always be detected by xrandr. For example, the EDID data block queried from the monitor may be incorrect. However, we can add the desired resolutions to xrandr.

First we run `gtf` or `cvt` to get the Modeline for the resolution we want:

For some LCD screens (samsung 2343NW), the command "cvt -r" (= with reduced blanking) is to be used.

    $ cvt 1280 1024

    # 1280x1024 59.89 Hz (CVT 1.31M4) hsync: 63.67 kHz; pclk: 109.00 MHz
    Modeline "1280x1024_60.00"  109.00  1280 1368 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync

Note: If the Intel video driver xf86-video-intel is used, it may report the desired resolution along with its properties in `/var/log/Xorg.0.log` — use that first if it is different from the output of `gtf` or `cvt`. For instance, the log and its use with xrandr:

    [    45.063] (II) intel(0): clock: 241.5 MHz   Image Size:  597 x 336 mm
    [    45.063] (II) intel(0): h_active: 2560  h_sync: 2600  h_sync_end 2632 h_blank_end 2720 h_border: 0
    [    45.063] (II) intel(0): v_active: 1440  v_sync: 1443  v_sync_end 1448 v_blanking: 1481 v_border: 0

    xrandr --newmode "2560x1440" 241.50 2560 2600 2632 2720 1440 1443 1448 1481 -hsync +vsync

Then we create a new xrandr mode. Note that the Modeline keyword needs to be ommited.

    $ xrandr --newmode "1280x1024_60.00"  109.00  1280 1368 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync

After creating it we need an extra step to add this new mode to our current output (VGA1). We use just the name of the mode, since the parameters have been set previously.

    $ xrandr --addmode VGA1 1280x1024_60.00

Now we change the resolution of the screen to the one we just added:

    $ xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1280x1024_60.00

Note that these settings only take effect during this session.

If you are not sure about the resolution you will test, you may add a `sleep 5` and a safe resolution command line following, like this:

    $ xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1280x1024_60.00 && sleep 5 && xrandr --newmode "1024x768-safe" 65.00 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -HSync -VSync && xrandr --addmode VGA1 1024x768-safe && xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1024x768-safe

Also, change `VGA1` to correct output name.

#### EDID checksum is invalid

If the previous method results in an `*ERROR* EDID checksum is invalid` error during boot, see KMS#Forcing modes and EDID and [1].

Or `xrandr --addmode` might give you the error `X Error of failed request: BadMatch`. NVIDIA users should read NVIDIA/Troubleshooting#xrandr BadMatch. `BadMatch` could indicate an invalid EDID checksum. To verify that this is the case, run X in verbose mode (e.g. `startx -- -logverbose 6`) and check your Xorg log for messages about a bad EDID.

#### Screen resolution reverts back after a blink

If you use GNOME and your monitor doesn't have an EDID, above #Adding undetected resolutions might not work, with your screen just blinking once, after `xrandr --output`.

Poke around with `~/.config/monitors.xml`, or delete the file completely, and then reboot.

It is better explained in this article.

### Permanently adding undetected resolutions

Once a suitable resolution is found using `xrandr`, the mode can be permanently added by creating an entry in `/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/`:

    /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-monitor.conf

    Section "Monitor"
        Identifier "VGA1"
        Modeline "1280x1024_60.00"  109.00  1280 1368 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync
        Option "PreferredMode" "1280x1024_60.00"
    EndSection

    Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Monitor "VGA1"
        DefaultDepth 24
        SubSection "Display"
            Modes "1280x1024_60.00"
        EndSubSection
    EndSection

    Section "Device"
        Identifier "Device0"
        Driver "intel"
    EndSection

Replace `intel` with the right driver, e.g. `nvidia`.

### Resolution lower than expected

Tip: Try #Adding undetected resolutions first, if it doesn't work, you may try this method.

If you video card is recognized but the resolution is lower than you expect, you may try this.

Background: ATI X1550 based video card and two LCD monitors DELL 2408(up to 1920x1200) and Samsung 206BW(up to 1680x1050). Upon first login after installation, the resolution default to 1152x864. xrandr does not list any resolution higher than 1152x864. You may want to try editing /etc/X11/xorg.conf, add a section about virtual screen, logout, login and see if this helps. If not then read on.

Change xorg.conf

    /etc/X11/xorg.conf

    Section "Screen"
            ...
            SubSection "Display"
                    Virtual 3600 1200
            EndSubSection
    EndSection

About the numbers: DELL on the left and Samsung on the right. So the virtual width is of sum of both LCD width 3600=1920+1680; Height then is figured as the max of them, which is max(1200,1050)=1200. If you put one LCD above the other, use this calculation instead: (max(width1, width2), height1+height2).

### Full RGB in HDMI

It may occur that the Intel driver will not configure correctly the output of the HDMI monitor. It will set a limited color range (16-235) using the Broadcast RGB property, and the black will not look black, it will be grey.

To see if it is your case:

    $ xrandr --output HDMI1 --set "Broadcast RGB" "Full"

## See also

- https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution
- RandR 1.2 tutorial
- Xorg RandR 1.2 on ThinkWiki
- FAQVideoModes - more information about modelines

Category:

- X server

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