Niri 25.11 has been released and comes with previews, modular configuration, and more.

Key points:
  • Niri 25.11 release, the infinite scrolling Wayland compositor.
  • New Alt-Tab selector with smart previews and filters.
  • Support for true window maximization without borders or gaps.
  • Modular configuration with "include" and support for DisplayLink.
  • Horizontal scrolling by dragging the title bar (PaperWM style).
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Niri Linux

After three months of intense development, The release of Niri 25.11 has been officially announced., a new version of this compose server for Wayland that has gained popularity for its unique approach.

This update comes packed with visual and functional improvements, especially highlighting a complete overhaul of window and transition managementas well as new improvements for multi-monitor setups and hardware support.

Main new features in Niri 25.11

One of the most visible improvements for the end user is the new Alt-Tab window selectorThe developers have worked to offer an interface that displays thumbnail previews as you scrollallowing you to quickly identify which window you want to bring to the front.

And that is because of Niri's infinite displacement nature, The selector is intelligent and avoids "contaminating" the list with intermediate windows. which you only pass through briefly while browsing. It also allows you to filter window switching: you can switch between all windows, only those in the current workspace (by pressing "w"), or those on the current monitor (by pressing "o").

Real Maximization and Smoothed Animations

Another notable change in this new version of Niri 25.11 is the implementation of "true maximization" for WaylandHistorically, Niri only expanded windows to the width of the column, preserving margins. Now, with the new maximize-window-to-edges action, The window occupies absolutely the entire available area, eliminating borders and spaces., just as users expect when they double-click on the title bar.

From an aesthetic point of view, the experience feels much more modern thanks to the fact that Animation effects have been added for full-screen transitionsPreviously, windows could jump abruptly when resized; now, the black background and rounded corners have a smooth transition, eliminating flickering even if you choose to disable global animations.

 Niri server compound wayland

Improvements in usability and configuration

With those who use mice or touchscreens in mind, Horizontal scrolling has been added by dragging the window titleThis simplifies navigation through the infinite ribbon without relying exclusively on keyboard shortcuts.

For advanced users who require complete control over their environment, Niri 25.11 introduces significant technical changes to the configuration:

  • Modular configuration files: The "include" directive is now implemented, which allows the configuration to be divided into several files and contents to be replaced in an orderly manner.
  • Configuration per device: It is possible to define specific window layouts linked to a specific monitor or a virtual desktop.
  • DisplayLink support: Support has been added for external monitors connected via DisplayLink ports, crucial for users of certain docking stations.
  • Custom video modes: Resolution and refresh rates can now be forced (e.g., "1920x1080@100") even if the monitor's EDID does not officially transmit them.
  • WSL Support: It is permitted to run a Niri session in a window within the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

How to install or update Niri

If you are already a Niri user, the update process will depend on how you initially installed it, as this compositor is usually distributed through your distribution's official repositories or by compilation.

To install Niri on your system, simply open a terminal and run the following commands:

 sudo add-apt-repository ppa:avengemedia/danklinux
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:avengemedia/dms
sudo apt install niri dms

En caso de que prefieras <strong>instalarlo desde cero o compilar la última versión</strong> directamente desde el código fuente (requiere tener Rust y Cargo instalados), puedes utilizar el siguiente comando genérico para obtener la versión más reciente:
<pre>[sourcecode text="bash"]cargo install --locked niri-config cargo install --locked niri

After running these commands, log out, select Niri in your display manager, and log back in. Or, if you're not using a display manager, run `niri-sessionen` on a TTY.

The default niri configuration will run Waybar, so you might see two bars on the screen. To fix this, stop Waybar with

 pkill waybar

Now open the command:

 ~/.config/niri/config.kdl

and remove the line

 spawn-at-startup "waybar"

For more details on the initial setup and specific dependencies, it is recommended to review the official project documentation. The link is this.