VM Management

• Shut down selected window's VM - [dom0] Create /bin/halt-vm-by-window containing the code below, run chmod +x /bin/halt-vm-by-window, then map to shortcut @tasket [details="halt-vm-by-window"]

  #!/bin/bash
  
  CUR_WIN_ID=`xdotool getwindowfocus`
  CUR_VM=`xprop _QUBES_VMNAME -id $CUR_WIN_ID |cut -d \" -f2`
  
  qvm-run $CUR_VM 'xdotool search --name "Mozilla Firefox" key ctrl+q'
  qvm-run $CUR_VM 'xdotool search --name "Mozilla Thunderbird" key ctrl+q'
  sleep 4
  /usr/bin/qvm-shutdown $CUR_VM  --wait --timeout=40
  

  [/details]

• Memory warning notifications - [dom0] Create the files below as needed, then for each file: chmod +x [FILENAME], enter crontab -e, then add */5 * * * * [FILENAME] and save @ddevz [details="/bin/dom0-Memory-Notification"]

  #!/bin/bash
  
  FREE_MEMORY=$((`free -m | grep '^Mem' | awk '{print $7}'`))
  if (( $FREE_MEMORY < 500 )); then
      notify-send  --expire-time=360000 --urgency=critical 'dom0: Low memory' "Remaining: $FREE_MEMORY MBs"
  fi
  

  [/details] [details="/bin/Xen-Memory-Notification"]

  #!/bin/bash
  
  FREE_MEMORY=$((`xl info | grep free_memory | sed 's/^.*:\([0-9]*\)/\1/'` / 1000))
  if (( $FREE_MEMORY < 8 )); then
      notify-send --expire-time=360000 --urgency=critical 'Xen: Low memory' "Remaining: 
  $FREE_MEMORY GBs"
  fi
  

  [/details]

Input Devices

• Prevent loss of control from sys-usb shutdown - [dom0] crontab -e, then enter * * * * * qvm-start --skip-if-running sys-usb > /dev/null 2>&1 and save. Reverse the change by commenting out that line @SteveC

• Create a toggle to hide the cursor - [dom0] Install unclutter, run the code below (expandable), then map toggle-unclutter.sh to a key @ludovic vecna13 from the 2676 issue

[details="Hide cursor (dom0)"]

mkdir $HOME/bin
cat << 'EOF' | tee $HOME/bin/toggle-unclutter.sh

#! /bin/sh
if pgrep unclutter &> /dev/null 2>&1
then
   killall unclutter
else
   unclutter -idle 1 &
fi
EOF

chmod +x $HOME/bin/toggle-unclutter.sh

Storage - Send files directly to external storage mounted in other qube - [AppVM] Run the code below (expandable), then copy/move your file(s) @SteveC

[details="In destination qube:"] In the following instructions [ORIGIN QUBE] is the qube name without brackets or slashes!

mkdir ~/QubesIncoming
mv ~/QubesIncoming/[ORIGIN QUBE] ~/QubesIncoming/[ORIGIN QUBE]_backup
ln -s [MOUNT POINT] ~/QubesIncoming/[ORIGIN QUBE]

WiFi

• Keep WiFi off by default on boot - [TemplateVM] In sys-net's template, create /var/lib/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.state containing the code below (expandable) @Bearillo [details="NetworkManager.state"]

  [main]
  WirelessEnabled=false
  

  [/details]

• Soft toggle WiFi - [dom0] qvm-run sys-net -- "if nmcli radio wifi | head -c1 | egrep 'e'; then nmcli radio wifi off; else nmcli radio wifi on; fi" (can be mapped to shortcut) @Bearillo

Video playback - Reduce VLC's CPU usage - [AppVM] In VLC's preferences, open 'Video' and change 'Output' to 'X11 video output (XCB)' @solene - Reduce mpv's CPU usage (link includes guide for YouTube too) - [TemplateVM] In /etc/mpv/mpv.conf, insert vo=x11 and profile=sw-fast as separate lines @Bearillo

Etc. - Disable notifications per VM - Fedora-XFCE only - [AppVM] Run xfce4-notifyd-config, then xfconf-query -c xfce4-notifyd -p /do-not-disturb --set true @solene

This is a thread where we collect quick tips and tricks that can improve the Qubes experience.

Feel free to add your tip to this wiki post (anyone can edit this)

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