How to use the command unclutter (with examples)

Unclutter is a command-line utility that hides the mouse cursor. This can be useful in situations where the mouse cursor is distracting or unwanted, such as during presentations or when using a touchscreen. By using the unclutter command, you can easily hide the mouse cursor after a specified amount of idle time.

Use case 1: Hide mouse cursor after 3 seconds

Code:

unclutter -idle 3

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to automatically hide the mouse cursor after a certain period of inactivity. This can be helpful in scenarios where the cursor is not needed for a short period of time, such as when watching a video or reading a document.

Explanation:

• unclutter: The command itself.
• -idle 3: This argument specifies the amount of idle time (in seconds) before hiding the mouse cursor.

Example output: After running the command unclutter -idle 3, the mouse cursor will disappear after 3 seconds of inactivity. This can be seen when the cursor is left untouched for the specified amount of time.

Conclusion:

The unclutter command is a useful tool for hiding the mouse cursor in various situations. By specifying the desired idle time, you can easily control when the cursor disappears, providing a cleaner and more focused user experience. Whether you need to hide the cursor during a presentation or while using a touchscreen, the unclutter command provides a simple solution.