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Currently have a GUI version of GNU Emacs v.26.3 (on MacOS Catalina, also have a similar version on Ubuntu 16.04), and because I'm just getting started with the editor, I have this question: how do I configure it to start up in the middle of the screen, and not in top-left corner?

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3 Answers 3

Reset to default
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Customize default-frame-list to have values for frame parameters top and left that put it in the middle of your screen. (Use M-x customize-option default-frame-alist.)

If that doesn't do the job then try the same thing with initial-frame-alist instead (or in addition).

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  • thank you, I'll try that!
    – wintermute
    Commented Mar 18, 2020 at 1:45
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Here is a function that can be called to center the current frame.

(defun frame-center ()
  "Center the current frame."
  (interactive)
  (let* ((dw (display-pixel-width))
         (dh (display-pixel-height))
         (f  (selected-frame))
         (fw (frame-pixel-width f))
         (fh (frame-pixel-height f))
         (x  (- (/ dw 2) (/ fw 2)))
         (y  (- (/ dh 2) (/ fh 2))))
    (message (format "dw %d dh %d fw %d fh %d x %d y %d" dw dh fw fh x y))
    (set-frame-position f x y)))

It can be called interactively via M-x frame-center or it can be placed in your config file to center your emacs on startup.

(frame-center)
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    I followed this very readable example and it (, like, totally :-) worked! Note: I had to make sure to double check my own typing and, in my case, I wanted to move one of two frames to another monitor. But highly similar use case.
    – davernator
    Commented Apr 13 at 18:37
  • @davernator I forgot that I wrote this function. I'm glad it worked for you, though.
    – g-gundam
    Commented Apr 14 at 23:21
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I tried both methods and still not centring on the screen.

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    I tried posting as a question to but was unable as said to fix the error I tried changing the tag name but was unsuccessful. I want to ask the same question as the answer given did not work.
    – James Cobb
    Commented Oct 24, 2022 at 17:49
  • Check out the frame-center function I wrote as an answer to this question.
    – g-gundam
    Commented Oct 24, 2022 at 21:09
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    Thank-you G Gundam, That's what I needed and works. Shame it was so difficult to find an answer and not much on the web about it. Many thanks James
    – James Cobb
    Commented Oct 26, 2022 at 19:51
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    Hi again, The centring works when called with M-x frame-center but not on emacs loading, I have to call it. I put your code in my emacs config and tried adding (frame-center t) but that did not work. Any thoughts, much appreciated. James
    – James Cobb
    Commented Oct 26, 2022 at 20:38
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    I checked through my config and other settings for the size and placing of default window, I took them out and now my window open just off center, then when I run frame-center it corrects to the center. This is good enough for me, for now , many thanks.
    – James Cobb
    Commented Oct 26, 2022 at 22:14

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