Xfconf-query is a Command Line Interface (CLI) tool for accessing configuration data stored in Xfconf. Settings can be displayed and changed in real time. In most cases, any modifications will immediately be propagated to respective applications. Similarly, xfconf-query can display most current configuration options set by the applications or monitor configuration channels for any changes.

xfconf-query [OPTION...]

-h, --help

Show help options

-V, --version

Version information

-c, --channel

The channel to query/modify

-p, --property

The property to query/modify

-s, --set

The new value to set for the property

-l, --list

List properties (or channels if -c is not specified)

-v, --verbose

Verbose output

-n, --create

Create a new property if it does not already exist

-t, --type

Specify the property value type

-r, --reset

Reset property

-R, --recursive

Recursive (use with -r)

-a, --force-array

Force array even if only one element

-T, --toggle

Invert an existing boolean property

-m, --monitor

Monitor a channel for property changes

List all available configuration channels:

xfconf-query -l

List all available properties in the channel xfce4-panel:

xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -l

List all available properties and their values in the channel xfce4-panel:

xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -l -v

List all properties and their values in the channel xfce4-panel below the property /panels (including it):

xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels -l -v

Create a new property /test1 in the channel test, holding an integer value 1:

xfconf-query -c test -p /test1 -n -t int -s 1

Reset (and remove) property /test1 in the channel test (this preserves any properties under /test1, for example /test1/test):

xfconf-query -c test -p /test1 -r

Reset (and remove) property /test1 in the channel test and all properties under it:

xfconf-query -c test -p /test1 -r -R

Create a new property /test2 in the channel test, holding an array of two integers and two strings ([int,int,string,string]), and preset it with an array [4,5,“6”,“8”]:

xfconf-query -c test -p /test2 -n -t int -t int -t string -t string -s 4 -s 5 -s 6 -s 8

Create a new property /test3 in the channel test, holding an array of a single string value ([string]), and preset it with an array [“123”] (note that without -a the property type would be string):

xfconf-query -c test -p /test3 -n -t string -s 123 -a

Monitor changes in the xfce4-panel channel:

xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -m

Monitor changes in the xfce4-panel channel while displaying values of properties being set:

xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -m -v

Hide Suspend and Hibernate from the logout dialog:

 xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -np '/shutdown/ShowSuspend' -t 'bool' -s 'false'
 xfconf-query -c xfce4-session -np '/shutdown/ShowHibernate' -t 'bool' -s 'false'