kwriteconfig5 is a command-line tool that allows users to write KConfig entries for KDE Plasma, the desktop environment used in the KDE project. KConfig is a system used by KDE applications to store configuration data, such as settings, preferences, and options.
kwriteconfig5 allows users to write specific values to the KConfig files, so that the change made by the user can be stored permanently. The tool can be used to change settings for a specific application or for the entire Plasma desktop environment. For example, it can be used to change the background color of the desktop, the font size of the system, or the default browser. It can also be used to change the settings of kwin (window manager of KDE) or plasma-desktop by editing its configuration files.
This tool can be useful for scripting or automating certain tasks related to configuring the KDE Plasma desktop environment, as well as for troubleshooting and debugging issues with the configuration. It’s a good choice for users who want to configure their KDE Plasma desktop environment in a more advanced way, or for system administrators who want to manage settings of KDE Plasma in a centralized way.
If you encounter the below error while running the command kwriteconfig5:
kwriteconfig5: command not found
you may try installing the below package as per your choice of distribution:
| Distribution | Command |
|---|---|
| Debian | apt-get install libkf5config-bin |
| Ubuntu | apt-get install libkf5config-bin |
| Arch Linux | pacman -S kconfig |
| Kali Linux | apt-get install libkf5config-bin |
| Fedora | dnf install kf5-kconfig-core |
| Raspbian | apt-get install libkf5config-bin |
kwriteconfig5 Command Examples
1. Display help:
# kwriteconfig5 --help
2. Set a global configuration key:
# kwriteconfig5 --group group_name --key key value
3. Set a key in a specific configuration file:
# kwriteconfig5 --file path/to/file --group group_name --key key value
4. Delete a key:
# kwriteconfig5 --group group_name --key key --delete
5. Use systemd to start the Plasma session when available:
# kwriteconfig5 --file startkderc --group General --key systemdBoot true
6. Hide the title bar when a window is maximized (like Ubuntu):
# kwriteconfig5 --file ~/.config/kwinrc --group Windows --key BorderlessMaximizedWindows true
7. Configure KRunner to open with the Meta (Command/Windows) global hotkey:
# kwriteconfig5 --file ~/.config/kwinrc --group ModifierOnlyShortcuts --key Meta "org.kde.kglobalaccel,/component/krunner_desktop,org.kde.kglobalaccel.Component,invokeShortcut,_launch"