> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.monarchlinux.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.monarchlinux.com/basics/noctalia.md).

# Noctalia

Configure and recover Monarch's Noctalia v5 desktop shell.

Noctalia v5 provides Monarch's bar, application launcher, notifications, control center, lock screen, on-screen displays, wallpaper handling, and several Monarch panels. It is a native desktop shell and is controlled with the `noctalia` command.

{% hint style="info" %}
Documentation for the older Qt/Quickshell-based Noctalia v4 does not apply to Monarch's Noctalia v5.
{% endhint %}

## Open Noctalia

| Interface              | Shortcut                  |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------- |
| Application launcher   | **SUPER + Space**         |
| Control center         | **SUPER + Comma**         |
| Settings               | **SUPER + SHIFT + Comma** |
| Clipboard history      | **SUPER + SHIFT + V**     |
| Session and power menu | **SUPER + SHIFT + L**     |

The settings panel is the easiest place to change the bar, widgets, appearance, wallpaper, notifications, idle behavior, and plugins.

## Configuration files

Noctalia merges every `*.toml` file in `~/.config/noctalia/`.

* `config.toml` contains Monarch's main defaults.
* `monarch-workspaces.toml` and `monarch-widgets.toml` contain Monarch integration.
* Extra TOML files can hold your manual overrides separately from the managed files.
* Changes made by the Noctalia settings UI are kept in `~/.local/state/noctalia/settings.toml`.

For an upgrade-safe manual customization, add a separate file such as `~/.config/noctalia/user.toml`, then reload the configuration:

```bash
noctalia config validate
noctalia msg config-reload
```

You can also open the main file from **Monarch Menu → Settings → Config → Noctalia**.

## Restart or restore Noctalia

Restart the shell without changing its configuration:

```bash
monarch restart noctalia
```

Restore the Monarch-managed Noctalia files, restart the shell, and reapply the wallpaper:

```bash
monarch refresh noctalia
```

The refresh command saves changed managed files as `.bak.<timestamp>` before replacing them. It does not delete separate TOML overlays or Noctalia's mutable settings state, so inspect those too if an override continues to apply.

Check whether the running shell is responding with:

```bash
noctalia msg status
```

For colors, wallpaper, and application templates, see [Themes](/basics/themes.md).


---

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