Apply option's with setxkbmap to transform keyboard behaviour.
# Example:
setxkbmap -option caps:backspace
Useful if backspace is out of order, especially multi-function delete+backspace combinations like Macs.
When also using xmodmap to set alter layouts, apply setxkbmap -options before xmodmap.
Switching to another layout
| Option |
Description |
| grp:switch |
Right Alt (while pressed) |
| grp:lswitch |
Left Alt (while pressed) |
| grp:lwin_switch |
Left Win (while pressed) |
| grp:rwin_switch |
Right Win (while pressed) |
| grp:win_switch |
Any Win (while pressed) |
| grp:menu_switch |
Menu (while pressed), Shift+Menu for Menu |
| grp:caps_switch |
Caps Lock (while pressed), Alt+Caps Lock for the original Caps Lock action |
| grp:rctrl_switch |
Right Ctrl (while pressed) |
| grp:toggle |
Right Alt |
| grp:lalt_toggle |
Left Alt |
| grp:caps_toggle |
Caps Lock |
| grp:shift_caps_toggle |
Shift+Caps Lock |
| grp:shift_caps_switch |
Caps Lock to first layout; Shift+Caps Lock to last layout |
| grp:win_menu_switch |
Left Win to first layout; Right Win/Menu to last layout |
| grp:lctrl_rctrl_switch |
Left Ctrl to first layout; Right Ctrl to last layout |
| grp:alt_caps_toggle |
Alt+Caps Lock |
| grp:shifts_toggle |
Both Shift together |
| grp:alts_toggle |
Both Alt together |
| grp:ctrls_toggle |
Both Ctrl together |
| grp:ctrl_shift_toggle |
Ctrl+Shift |
| grp:lctrl_lshift_toggle |
Left Ctrl+Left Shift |
| grp:rctrl_rshift_toggle |
Right Ctrl+Right Shift |
| grp:ctrl_alt_toggle |
Alt+Ctrl |
| grp:alt_shift_toggle |
Alt+Shift |
| grp:lalt_lshift_toggle |
Left Alt+Left Shift |
| grp:alt_space_toggle |
Alt+Space |
| grp:menu_toggle |
Menu |
| grp:lwin_toggle |
Left Win |
| grp:win_space_toggle |
Win+Space |
| grp:rwin_toggle |
Right Win |
| grp:lshift_toggle |
Left Shift |
| grp:rshift_toggle |
Right Shift |
| grp:lctrl_toggle |
Left Ctrl |
| grp:rctrl_toggle |
Right Ctrl |
| grp:sclk_toggle |
Scroll Lock |
| grp:lctrl_lwin_rctrl_menu |
Left Ctrl+Left Win to first layout; Right Ctrl+Menu to second layout |
| grp:lctrl_lwin_toggle |
Left Ctrl+Left Win |
Key to choose the 2nd level
| Option |
Description |
| lv2:lsgt_switch |
The "< >" key |
Key to choose the 3rd level
| Option |
Description |
| lv3:switch |
Right Ctrl |
| lv3:menu_switch |
Menu |
| lv3:win_switch |
Any Win |
| lv3:lwin_switch |
Left Win |
| lv3:rwin_switch |
Right Win |
| lv3:alt_switch |
Any Alt |
| lv3:lalt_switch |
Left Alt |
| lv3:ralt_switch |
Right Alt |
| lv3:ralt_switch_multikey |
Right Alt; Shift+Right Alt as Compose |
| lv3:ralt_alt |
Right Alt never chooses 3rd level |
| lv3:enter_switch |
Enter on keypad |
| lv3:caps_switch |
Caps Lock |
| lv3:bksl_switch |
Backslash |
| lv3:lsgt_switch |
The "< >" key |
| lv3:caps_switch_latch |
Caps Lock; acts as onetime lock when pressed together with another 3rd-level chooser |
| lv3:bksl_switch_latch |
Backslash; acts as onetime lock when pressed together with another 3rd level chooser |
| lv3:lsgt_switch_latch |
The "< >" key; acts as onetime lock when pressed together with another 3rd level chooser |
Ctrl position
| Option |
Description |
| ctrl:nocaps |
Caps Lock as Ctrl |
| ctrl:lctrl_meta |
Left Ctrl as Meta |
| ctrl:swapcaps |
Swap Ctrl and Caps Lock |
| ctrl:swapcaps_hyper |
Caps Lock as Ctrl, Ctrl as Hyper |
| ctrl:ac_ctrl |
To the left of "A" |
| ctrl:aa_ctrl |
At the bottom left |
| ctrl:rctrl_ralt |
Right Ctrl as Right Alt |
| ctrl:menu_rctrl |
Menu as Right Ctrl |
| ctrl:swap_lalt_lctl |
Swap Left Alt with Left Ctrl |
| ctrl:swap_lwin_lctl |
Swap Left Win with Left Ctrl |
| ctrl:swap_rwin_rctl |
Swap Right Win with Right Ctrl |
| ctrl:swap_lalt_lctl_lwin |
Left Alt as Ctrl, Left Ctrl as Win, Left Win as Left Alt |
Use keyboard LED to show alternative layout
| Option |
Description |
| grp_led:num |
Num Lock |
| grp_led:caps |
Caps Lock |
| grp_led:scroll |
Scroll Lock |
Use keyboard LED to indicate modifiers
| Option |
Description |
| mod_led:compose |
Compose |
Layout of numeric keypad
| Option |
Description |
| keypad:legacy |
|
| keypad:oss |
Unicode arrows and math operators |
| keypad:future |
Unicode arrows and math operators on default level |
| keypad:legacy_wang |
Legacy Wang 724 |
| keypad:oss_wang |
Wang 724 keypad with Unicode arrows and math operators |
| keypad:future_wang |
Wang 724 keypad with Unicode arrows and math operators on default level |
| keypad:hex |
Hexadecimal |
| keypad:atm |
Phone and ATM style |
Numeric keypad Delete behavior
| Option |
Description |
| kpdl:dot |
Legacy key with dot |
| kpdl:comma |
Legacy key with comma |
| kpdl:dotoss |
Four-level key with dot |
| kpdl:dotoss_latin9 |
Four-level key with dot, Latin-9 only |
| kpdl:commaoss |
Four-level key with comma |
| kpdl:momayyezoss |
Four-level key with momayyez |
| kpdl:kposs |
Four-level key with abstract separators |
| kpdl:semi |
Semicolon on third level |
Caps Lock behavior
| Option |
Description |
| caps:internal |
Caps Lock uses internal capitalization; Shift "pauses" Caps Lock |
| caps:internal_nocancel |
Caps Lock uses internal capitalization; Shift does not affect Caps Lock |
| caps:shift |
Caps Lock acts as Shift with locking; Shift "pauses" Caps Lock |
| caps:shift_nocancel |
Caps Lock acts as Shift with locking; Shift does not affect Caps Lock |
| caps:capslock |
Caps Lock toggles normal capitalization of alphabetic characters |
| caps:shiftlock |
Caps Lock toggles Shift Lock (affects all keys) |
| caps:swapescape |
Swap Esc and Caps Lock |
| caps:escape |
Make Caps Lock an additional Esc |
| caps:escape_shifted_capslock |
Make Caps Lock an additional Esc, but Shift + Caps Lock is the regular Caps Lock |
| caps:backspace |
Make Caps Lock an additional Backspace |
| caps:super |
Make Caps Lock an additional Super |
| caps:hyper |
Make Caps Lock an additional Hyper |
| caps:menu |
Make Caps Lock an additional Menu key |
| caps:numlock |
Make Caps Lock an additional Num Lock |
| caps:ctrl_modifier |
Make Caps Lock an additional Ctrl |
| caps:none |
Caps Lock is disabled |
Alt and Win behavior
| Option |
Description |
| altwin:menu Add the standard behavior to Menu key |
|
| altwin:menu_win |
Menu is mapped to Win |
| altwin:meta_alt |
Alt and Meta are on Alt |
| altwin:alt_win |
Alt is mapped to Win and the usual Alt |
| altwin:ctrl_win |
Ctrl is mapped to Win and the usual Ctrl |
| altwin:ctrl_rwin |
Ctrl is mapped to Right Win and the usual Ctrl |
| altwin:ctrl_alt_win |
Ctrl is mapped to Alt, Alt to Win |
| altwin:meta_win |
Meta is mapped to Win |
| altwin:left_meta_win |
Meta is mapped to Left Win |
| altwin:hyper_win |
Hyper is mapped to Win |
| altwin:alt_super_win |
Alt is mapped to Right Win, Super to Menu |
| altwin:swap_lalt_lwin |
Left Alt is swapped with Left Win |
| altwin:swap_alt_win |
Alt is swapped with Win |
| altwin:prtsc_rwin |
Win is mapped to PrtSc and the usual Win |
Position of Compose key
| Option |
Description |
| compose:ralt |
Right Alt |
| compose:lwin |
Left Win |
| compose:lwin-altgr |
3rd level of Left Win |
| compose:rwin |
Right Win |
| compose:rwin-altgr |
3rd level of Right Win |
| compose:menu |
Menu |
| compose:menu-altgr |
3rd level of Menu |
| compose:lctrl |
Left Ctrl |
| compose:lctrl-altgr |
3rd level of Left Ctrl |
| compose:rctrl |
Right Ctrl |
| compose:rctrl-altgr |
3rd level of Right Ctrl |
| compose:caps |
Caps Lock |
| compose:caps-altgr |
3rd level of Caps Lock |
| compose:102 |
The "< >" key |
| compose:102-altgr |
3rd level of the "< >" key |
| compose:paus |
Pause |
| compose:prsc |
PrtSc |
| compose:sclk |
Scroll Lock |
Compatibility options
| Option |
Description |
| numpad:pc |
Default numeric keypad keys |
| numpad:mac |
Numeric keypad always enters digits (as in macOS) |
| numpad:microsoft |
Num Lock on: digits; Shift for arrows. Num Lock off: arrows (as in Windows) |
| numpad:shift3 |
Shift does not cancel Num Lock, chooses 3rd level instead |
| srvrkeys:none |
Special keys (Ctrl+Alt+) handled in a server |
| apple:alupckeys |
Apple Aluminium emulates Pause, PrtSc, Scroll Lock |
| shift:breaks_caps |
Shift cancels Caps Lock |
| misc:typo |
Enable extra typographic characters |
| misc:apl |
Enable APL overlay characters |
| shift:both_capslock |
Both Shift together enable Caps Lock |
| shift:both_capslock_cancel |
Both Shift together enable Caps Lock; one Shift key disables it |
| shift:both_shiftlock |
Both Shift together enable Shift Lock |
| keypad:pointerkeys |
Shift + Num Lock enables PointerKeys |
| grab:break_actions |
Allow breaking grabs with keyboard actions (warning: security risk) |
| grab:debug |
Allow grab and window tree logging |
Currency signs
| Option |
Description |
| eurosign:e |
Euro on E |
| eurosign:2 |
Euro on 2 |
| eurosign:4 |
Euro on 4 |
| eurosign:5 |
Euro on 5 |
| rupeesign:4 |
Rupee on 4 |
Key to choose 5th level
| Option |
Description |
| lv5:lsgt_switch |
The "< >" key chooses 5th level |
| lv5:ralt_switch |
Right Alt chooses 5th level |
| lv5:menu_switch |
Menu chooses 5th level |
| lv5:lsgt_switch_lock |
The "< >" key chooses 5th level and acts as a one-time lock if pressed with another 5th level chooser |
| lv5:ralt_switch_lock |
Right Alt chooses 5th level and acts as a one-time lock if pressed with another 5th level chooser |
| lv5:lwin_switch_lock |
Left Win chooses 5th level and acts as a one-time lock if pressed with another 5th level chooser |
| lv5:rwin_switch_lock |
Right Win chooses 5th level and acts as a one-time lock if pressed with another 5th level chooser |
| Option |
Description |
| nbsp:none |
Usual space at any level |
| nbsp:level2 |
Non-breaking space at the 2nd level |
| nbsp:level3 |
Non-breaking space at the 3rd level |
| nbsp:level3s |
Non-breaking space at the 3rd level, nothing at the 4th level |
| nbsp:level3n |
Non-breaking space at the 3rd level, thin non-breaking space at the 4th level |
| nbsp:level4 |
Non-breaking space at the 4th level |
| nbsp:level4n |
Non-breaking space at the 4th level, thin non-breaking space at the 6th level |
| nbsp:level4nl |
Non-breaking space at the 4th level, thin non-breaking space at the 6th level (via Ctrl+Shift) |
| nbsp:zwnj2 |
Zero-width non-joiner at the 2nd level |
| nbsp:zwnj2zwj3 |
Zero-width non-joiner at the 2nd level, zero-width joiner at the 3rd level |
| nbsp:zwnj2zwj3nb4 |
Zero-width non-joiner at the 2nd level, zero-width joiner at the 3rd level, non-breaking space at the 4th level |
| nbsp:zwnj2nb3 |
Zero-width non-joiner at the 2nd level, non-breaking space at the 3rd level |
| nbsp:zwnj2nb3s |
Zero-width non-joiner at the 2nd level, non-breaking space at the 3rd level, nothing at the 4th level |
| nbsp:zwnj2nb3zwj4 |
Zero-width non-joiner at the 2nd level, non-breaking space at the 3rd level, zero-width joiner at the 4th level |
| nbsp:zwnj2nb3nnb4 |
Zero-width non-joiner at the 2nd level, non-breaking space at the 3rd level, thin non-breaking space at the 4th level |
| nbsp:zwnj3zwj4 |
Zero-width non-joiner at the 3rd level, zero-width joiner at the 4th level |
Japanese keyboard options
| Option |
Description |
| japan:kana_lock |
Kana Lock key is locking |
| japan:nicola_f_bs |
NICOLA-F style Backspace |
| japan:hztg_escape |
Make Zenkaku Hankaku an additional Esc |
Korean Hangul/Hanja keys
| Option |
Description |
| korean:ralt_hangul |
Make right Alt a Hangul key |
| korean:rctrl_hangul |
Make right Ctrl a Hangul key |
| korean:ralt_hanja |
Make right Alt a Hanja key |
| korean:rctrl_hanja |
Make right Ctrl a Hanja key |
Esperanto letters with superscripts
| Option |
Description |
| esperanto:qwerty |
At the corresponding key in a QWERTY layout |
| esperanto:dvorak |
At the corresponding key in a Dvorak layout |
| esperanto:colemak |
At the corresponding key in a Colemak layout |
Old Solaris keycodes compatibility
| Option |
Description |
| solaris:sun_compat |
Sun key compatibility |
Key sequence to kill the X server
| Option |
Description |
| terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp |
Ctrl+Alt+Backspace |
Lifted from man xkeyboard-config.
