kovidgoyal · antoinecellerier · Feb 8, 2026
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -214,6 +214,11 @@ Detailed list of changes
 
 - edit-in-kitty: Handle connection drop more gracefully (:pull:`9480`)
 
+- Wayland: Add support for :code:`titlebar-only` in
+  :opt:`hide_window_decorations` to hide the titlebar while keeping shadow
+  borders for resizing. On compositors that use server-side decorations (such as
+  GNOME), this forces client-side decoration mode (:pull:`9486`)
+
 
 0.45.0 [2025-12-24]
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

diff --git a/glfw/glfw.py b/glfw/glfw.py
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ def generate_wrappers(glfw_header: str) -> None:
     const char* glfwWaylandMissingCapabilities(void)
     void glfwWaylandRunWithActivationToken(GLFWwindow *handle, GLFWactivationcallback cb, void *cb_data)
     bool glfwWaylandSetTitlebarColor(GLFWwindow *handle, uint32_t color, bool use_system_color)
+    void glfwWaylandSetTitlebarHidden(GLFWwindow *handle, bool hidden)
     void glfwWaylandRedrawCSDWindowTitle(GLFWwindow *handle)
     bool glfwWaylandIsWindowFullyCreated(GLFWwindow *handle)
     bool glfwWaylandBeep(GLFWwindow *handle)

diff --git a/glfw/wl_client_side_decorations.c b/glfw/wl_client_side_decorations.c
@@ -469,12 +469,14 @@ render_shadows(_GLFWwindow *window) {
 static bool
 create_shm_buffers(_GLFWwindow* window) {
     decs.mapping.size = 0;
+    const bool has_titlebar = !decs.titlebar_hidden;
+    const int side_height = window->wl.height + (has_titlebar ? decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height : 0);
 #define bp(which, width, height) decs.mapping.size += init_buffer_pair(&decs.which.buffer, width, height, decs.for_window_state.fscale);
-    bp(titlebar, window->wl.width, decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height);
+    if (has_titlebar) bp(titlebar, window->wl.width, decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height);
     bp(shadow_top, window->wl.width, decs.metrics.width);
     bp(shadow_bottom, window->wl.width, decs.metrics.width);
-    bp(shadow_left, decs.metrics.width, window->wl.height + decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height);
-    bp(shadow_right, decs.metrics.width, window->wl.height + decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height);
+    bp(shadow_left, decs.metrics.width, side_height);
+    bp(shadow_right, decs.metrics.width, side_height);
     bp(shadow_upper_left, decs.metrics.width, decs.metrics.width);
     bp(shadow_upper_right, decs.metrics.width, decs.metrics.width);
     bp(shadow_lower_left, decs.metrics.width, decs.metrics.width);
@@ -497,10 +499,11 @@ create_shm_buffers(_GLFWwindow* window) {
     close(fd);
     size_t offset = 0;
 #define Q(which) alloc_buffer_pair(window->id, &decs.which.buffer, pool, decs.mapping.data, &offset)
-    all_surfaces(Q);
+    if (has_titlebar) Q(titlebar);
+    all_shadow_surfaces(Q);
 #undef Q
     wl_shm_pool_destroy(pool);
-    render_title_bar(window, true);
+    if (has_titlebar) render_title_bar(window, true);
     render_shadows(window);
     debug("Created decoration buffers at scale: %f\n", decs.for_window_state.fscale);
     return true;
@@ -578,6 +581,7 @@ csd_should_window_be_decorated(_GLFWwindow *window) {
 static bool
 ensure_csd_resources(_GLFWwindow *window) {
     if (!window_is_csd_capable(window)) return false;
+    const bool has_titlebar = !decs.titlebar_hidden;
     const bool is_focused = window->id == _glfw.focusedWindowId;
     const bool focus_changed = is_focused != decs.for_window_state.focused;
     const double current_scale = _glfwWaylandWindowScale(window);
@@ -588,34 +592,47 @@ ensure_csd_resources(_GLFWwindow *window) {
         !decs.mapping.data
     );
     const bool state_changed = decs.for_window_state.toplevel_states != window->wl.current.toplevel_states;
-    const bool needs_update = focus_changed || size_changed || !decs.titlebar.surface || decs.buffer_destroyed || state_changed;
+    const bool titlebar_state_changed = (has_titlebar && !decs.titlebar.surface) || (!has_titlebar && decs.titlebar.surface);
+    const bool needs_update = focus_changed || size_changed || titlebar_state_changed || decs.buffer_destroyed || state_changed;
     debug("CSD: old.size: %dx%d new.size: %dx%d needs_update: %d size_changed: %d state_changed: %d buffer_destroyed: %d\n",
             decs.for_window_state.width, decs.for_window_state.height, window->wl.width, window->wl.height, needs_update,
             size_changed, state_changed, decs.buffer_destroyed);
     if (!needs_update) return false;
     decs.for_window_state.fscale = current_scale;  // used in create_shm_buffers
-    if (size_changed || decs.buffer_destroyed) {
+    if (size_changed || decs.buffer_destroyed || titlebar_state_changed) {
         free_csd_buffers(window);
         if (!create_shm_buffers(window)) return false;
         decs.buffer_destroyed = false;
     }
 
+    const int top_y = has_titlebar ? -(int)decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height : 0;
+
 #define setup_surface(which, x, y) \
     if (!decs.which.surface) create_csd_surfaces(window, &decs.which); \
         position_csd_surface(&decs.which, x, y);
 
-    setup_surface(titlebar, 0, -decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height);
-    setup_surface(shadow_top, decs.titlebar.x, decs.titlebar.y - decs.metrics.width);
-    setup_surface(shadow_bottom, decs.titlebar.x, window->wl.height);
-    setup_surface(shadow_left, -decs.metrics.width, decs.titlebar.y);
+    if (has_titlebar) {
+        setup_surface(titlebar, 0, -decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height);
+    } else {
+        free_csd_surface(&decs.titlebar);
+        if (decs.focus == CSD_titlebar) {
+            decs.focus = CENTRAL_WINDOW;
+            decs.dragging = false;
+        }
+    }
+    setup_surface(shadow_top, 0, top_y - decs.metrics.width);
+    setup_surface(shadow_bottom, 0, window->wl.height);
+    setup_surface(shadow_left, -decs.metrics.width, top_y);
     setup_surface(shadow_right, window->wl.width, decs.shadow_left.y);
     setup_surface(shadow_upper_left, decs.shadow_left.x, decs.shadow_top.y);
     setup_surface(shadow_upper_right, decs.shadow_right.x, decs.shadow_top.y);
     setup_surface(shadow_lower_left, decs.shadow_left.x, decs.shadow_bottom.y);
     setup_surface(shadow_lower_right, decs.shadow_right.x, decs.shadow_bottom.y);
 
-    if (focus_changed || state_changed) update_title_bar(window);
-    damage_csd(titlebar, decs.titlebar.buffer.front);
+    if (has_titlebar) {
+        if (focus_changed || state_changed) update_title_bar(window);
+        damage_csd(titlebar, decs.titlebar.buffer.front);
+    }
 #define d(which) damage_csd(which, is_focused ? decs.which.buffer.front : decs.which.buffer.back);
     d(shadow_left); d(shadow_right); d(shadow_top); d(shadow_bottom);
     d(shadow_upper_left); d(shadow_upper_right); d(shadow_lower_left); d(shadow_lower_right);
@@ -659,17 +676,18 @@ csd_change_title(_GLFWwindow *window) {
 void
 csd_set_window_geometry(_GLFWwindow *window, int32_t *width, int32_t *height) {
     const bool include_space_for_csd = csd_should_window_be_decorated(window);
+    const bool has_titlebar = include_space_for_csd && !decs.titlebar_hidden;
     bool size_specified_by_compositor = *width > 0 && *height > 0;
     if (!size_specified_by_compositor) {
         *width = window->wl.user_requested_content_size.width;
         *height = window->wl.user_requested_content_size.height;
         if (window->wl.xdg.top_level_bounds.width > 0) *width = MIN(*width, window->wl.xdg.top_level_bounds.width);
         if (window->wl.xdg.top_level_bounds.height > 0) *height = MIN(*height, window->wl.xdg.top_level_bounds.height);
-        if (include_space_for_csd) *height += decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height;
+        if (has_titlebar) *height += decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height;
     }
     decs.geometry.x = 0; decs.geometry.y = 0;
     decs.geometry.width = *width; decs.geometry.height = *height;
-    if (include_space_for_csd) {
+    if (has_titlebar) {
         decs.geometry.y = -decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height;
         *height -= decs.metrics.visible_titlebar_height;
     }

diff --git a/glfw/wl_platform.h b/glfw/wl_platform.h
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ typedef struct _GLFWwindowWayland
     } pointerLock;
 
     struct {
-        bool serverSide, buffer_destroyed, titlebar_needs_update, dragging;
+        bool serverSide, buffer_destroyed, titlebar_needs_update, dragging, titlebar_hidden;
         _GLFWCSDSurface focus;
 
         _GLFWWaylandCSDSurface titlebar, shadow_left, shadow_right, shadow_top, shadow_bottom, shadow_upper_left, shadow_upper_right, shadow_lower_left, shadow_lower_right;

diff --git a/glfw/wl_window.c b/glfw/wl_window.c
@@ -813,6 +813,8 @@ apply_xdg_configure_changes(_GLFWwindow *window) {
     if (window->wl.pending_state & PENDING_STATE_DECORATION) {
         uint32_t mode = window->wl.pending.decoration_mode;
         bool has_server_side_decorations = (mode == ZXDG_TOPLEVEL_DECORATION_V1_MODE_SERVER_SIDE);
+        // Force CSD when decorations are hidden or titlebar is hidden
+        if (!window->decorated || window->wl.decorations.titlebar_hidden) has_server_side_decorations = false;
         window->wl.decorations.serverSide = has_server_side_decorations;
         window->wl.current.decoration_mode = mode;
     }
@@ -960,8 +962,14 @@ static void
 setXdgDecorations(_GLFWwindow* window)
 {
     if (window->wl.xdg.decoration) {
-        window->wl.decorations.serverSide = true;
-        zxdg_toplevel_decoration_v1_set_mode(window->wl.xdg.decoration, window->decorated ? ZXDG_TOPLEVEL_DECORATION_V1_MODE_SERVER_SIDE: ZXDG_TOPLEVEL_DECORATION_V1_MODE_CLIENT_SIDE);
+        if (window->wl.decorations.titlebar_hidden) {
+            window->wl.decorations.serverSide = false;
+            zxdg_toplevel_decoration_v1_set_mode(window->wl.xdg.decoration, ZXDG_TOPLEVEL_DECORATION_V1_MODE_CLIENT_SIDE);
+            csd_set_visible(window, csd_should_window_be_decorated(window));
+        } else {
+            window->wl.decorations.serverSide = true;
+            zxdg_toplevel_decoration_v1_set_mode(window->wl.xdg.decoration, window->decorated ? ZXDG_TOPLEVEL_DECORATION_V1_MODE_SERVER_SIDE: ZXDG_TOPLEVEL_DECORATION_V1_MODE_CLIENT_SIDE);
+        }
     } else {
         window->wl.decorations.serverSide = false;
         csd_set_visible(window, csd_should_window_be_decorated(window));
@@ -1707,7 +1715,8 @@ void _glfwPlatformGetWindowFrameSize(_GLFWwindow* window,
     if (window->decorated && !window->monitor && !window->wl.decorations.serverSide)
     {
         if (top)
-            *top = window->wl.decorations.metrics.top - window->wl.decorations.metrics.visible_titlebar_height;
+            *top = window->wl.decorations.titlebar_hidden ? 0 :
+                window->wl.decorations.metrics.top - window->wl.decorations.metrics.visible_titlebar_height;
         if (left)
             *left = window->wl.decorations.metrics.width;
         if (right)
@@ -3034,6 +3043,16 @@ GLFWAPI void glfwWaylandRedrawCSDWindowTitle(GLFWwindow *handle) {
     if (csd_change_title(window)) commit_window_surface_if_safe(window);
 }
 
+GLFWAPI void glfwWaylandSetTitlebarHidden(GLFWwindow *handle, bool hidden) {
+    _GLFWwindow* window = (_GLFWwindow*) handle;
+    if (window->wl.decorations.titlebar_hidden != hidden) {
+        window->wl.decorations.titlebar_hidden = hidden;
+        setXdgDecorations(window);
+        inform_compositor_of_window_geometry(window, "SetTitlebarHidden");
+        commit_window_surface_if_safe(window);
+    }
+}
+
 const GLFWLayerShellConfig*
 _glfwPlatformGetLayerShellConfig(_GLFWwindow *window) {
     return &window->wl.layer_shell.config;

diff --git a/kitty/glfw-wrapper.c b/kitty/glfw-wrapper.c
diff --git a/kitty/glfw-wrapper.h b/kitty/glfw-wrapper.h
diff --git a/kitty/glfw.c b/kitty/glfw.c
@@ -1308,6 +1308,10 @@ apply_window_chrome_state(GLFWwindow *w, WindowChromeState new_state, int width,
     // Need to resize the window again after hiding decorations or title bar to take up screen space
     if (window_decorations_changed) glfwSetWindowSize(w, width, height);
 #else
+        if (global_state.is_wayland && glfwWaylandSetTitlebarHidden) {
+            bool titlebar_only = (new_state.hide_window_decorations & 2) != 0;
+            glfwWaylandSetTitlebarHidden(w, titlebar_only);
+        }
         if (window_decorations_changed) {
             bool hide_window_decorations = new_state.hide_window_decorations & 1;
             glfwSetWindowAttrib(w, GLFW_DECORATED, !hide_window_decorations);
@@ -1587,6 +1591,10 @@ create_os_window(PyObject UNUSED *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kw) {
     if (temp_window) { glfwDestroyWindow(temp_window); temp_window = NULL; }
     if (glfw_window == NULL) glfw_failure;
 #undef glfw_failure
+    // Set titlebar-only mode before the window becomes visible
+    if (global_state.is_wayland && (OPT(hide_window_decorations) & 2) && glfwWaylandSetTitlebarHidden) {
+        glfwWaylandSetTitlebarHidden(glfw_window, true);
+    }
     glfwMakeContextCurrent(glfw_window);
     if (is_first_window) gl_init();
     bool is_semi_transparent = glfwGetWindowAttrib(glfw_window, GLFW_TRANSPARENT_FRAMEBUFFER);

diff --git a/kitty/options/definition.py b/kitty/options/definition.py
@@ -1341,9 +1341,13 @@
     long_text='''
 Hide the window decorations (title-bar and window borders) with :code:`yes`. On
 macOS, :code:`titlebar-only` and :code:`titlebar-and-corners` can be used to only hide the titlebar and the rounded corners.
+On Wayland, :code:`titlebar-only` can be used to hide the titlebar while keeping
+the window shadow borders for resizing. On compositors that use server-side
+decorations (such as GNOME), both :code:`yes` and :code:`titlebar-only` force
+client-side decoration mode.
 Whether this works and exactly what effect it has depends on the window manager/operating
 system. Note that the effects of changing this option when reloading config
-are undefined. When using :code:`titlebar-only`, it is useful to also set
+are undefined. When using :code:`titlebar-only` on macOS, it is useful to also set
 :opt:`window_margin_width` and :opt:`placement_strategy` to prevent the rounded
 corners from clipping text. Or use :code:`titlebar-and-corners`.
 '''