From 11dd7eeb8ecadecdce99f1490d366e8bd18eba2f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Kovid Goyal <kovid@kovidgoyal.net>
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2025 17:42:26 +0530
Subject: [PATCH] Have the --start-as flag be respected when used with
 --single-instance

Fixes #9228
---
 docs/changelog.rst              | 3 +++
 kitty/boss.py                   | 3 ++-
 kitty/simple_cli_definitions.py | 9 ++++++---
 3 files changed, 11 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 2235f28f4..610fa93c6 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -165,6 +165,9 @@ Detailed list of changes
 
 - kitten @ ls: Also output the neighbors for every window (:disc:`9225`)
 
+- Have the :option:`kitty --start-as` flag be respected when used with
+  :option:`kitty --single-instance` (:iss:`9228`)
+
 
 0.44.0 [2025-11-03]
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 5dbcee872..d1d3efb87 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -941,9 +941,10 @@ class Boss:
                                 assert isinstance(window.launch_spec, LaunchSpec)
                                 launch(get_boss(), window.launch_spec.opts, window.launch_spec.args)
                     continue
+                wstate = args.start_as if args.start_as and args.start_as != 'normal' else None
                 os_window_id = self.add_os_window(
                     session, wclass=args.cls, wname=args.name, opts_for_size=opts, startup_id=startup_id,
-                    override_title=args.title or None)
+                    override_title=args.title or None, window_state=wstate)
                 if session.focus_os_window:
                     focused_os_window = os_window_id
                 if opts.background_opacity != get_options().background_opacity:
diff --git a/kitty/simple_cli_definitions.py b/kitty/simple_cli_definitions.py
index 1c73964ab..af40b4614 100644
--- a/kitty/simple_cli_definitions.py
+++ b/kitty/simple_cli_definitions.py
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ system-wide defaults for all users. You can use either :code:`-` or
 
 def kitty_options_spec() -> str:
     if not hasattr(kitty_options_spec, 'ans'):
-        OPTIONS = '''
+        OPTIONS = """
 --class --app-id
 dest=cls
 default={appname}
@@ -484,7 +484,10 @@ without an actual window, use :option:`{appname} --start-as`=hidden.
 type=choices
 default=normal
 choices=normal,fullscreen,maximized,minimized,hidden
-Control how the initial kitty window is created.
+Control how the initial kitty OS window is created. Note that
+this is applies to all OS Windows if you use the :option:`{appname} --session`
+option to create multiple OS Windows. Any OS Windows state in
+specified in the session file gets overriden.
 
 
 --position
@@ -552,7 +555,7 @@ This option is deprecated in favor of the :opt:`watcher` option in
 --execute -e
 type=bool-set
 !
-'''
+"""
         setattr(kitty_options_spec, 'ans', OPTIONS.format(
             appname=appname, conf_name=appname, listen_on_defn=listen_on_defn,
             grab_keyboard_docs=grab_keyboard_docs, wait_for_single_instance_defn=wait_for_single_instance_defn,