An introduction to editing xorg.conf
On Display
Understanding xorg.conf makes it easy to tweak your graphical display setup.
Only a few years ago, if you wanted a graphical display on your Linux system, an xorg.conf file, or its predecessor XFree86-Config, was a necessity. Today, hotplugging and the XRandR extension have made screen display automatic on most Linux systems. However, now and then – just often enough that you feel a sense of betrayal – a keyboard or a video card might not be detected, or the maximum resolution for a video card isn’t being used. When such problems appear, you can usually solve them by creating and editing an xorg.conf file on your system. You might also want to use an xorg.conf file to make specific settings the default.
xorg.conf is not the only way to set up your graphical display. You can also set it up using the Xorg or XRandR command or via your environment. But, because xorg.conf is a well-organized text file that you can edit when logged in as root user, it is by far the easiest way to make adjustments. Just make sure you back up any existing xorg.conf file so that you can easily recover from any mistakes.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.