📖Keyboard Settings
Let your keys do their magic
Last updated
Let your keys do their magic
Last updated
The Keyboard section of the System Settings allows you to manage and customize various aspects related to your keyboard functionality. You can add and configure keyboard layouts, set up shortcuts for different functions, control the keys and cursor behavior, and many more.
During the elementary OS installation process, you select the system language and the keyboard layout you are going to use. Still you may need to add more layouts to switch between multiple languages, or between layouts even for a single language.
To add keyboard layouts and configure switching between them:
Open the System Settings and navigate to Keyboard --> Layout.
In the bottom-left, click ➕ icon, select the language with the layout you need, and click Add Layout.
Repeat step 2 to add as many keyboard layouts as you need.
From the Switch layout drop-down list on the right, select the shortcut you want to use for switching between the keyboard layouts.
Once two or more layouts are added, you can see the Keyboard system indicator appeared in the Panel. You can use this indicator or the shortcut you have configured to switch between layouts.
Click the Keyboard system indicator in the Panel to view the actual keyboard layout.
On your keyboard, you have some special keys you can configure in the System Settings (Keyboard --> Layout).
Compose key (or multi key) is a modifier key on a computer keyboard that allows you to combine two keys to create another special character not found on the keyboard.
In the Keyboard section of the System Settings, assign a key on your keyboard to serve as a compose key, or you can disable the compose key at all.
This key is found on the bottom-left of your keyboard, next to the Alt key, and with the Windows logo on. If you have an Apple keyboard, the super key is labeled with ⌘ symbol.
In the Keyboard section of the System Settings, select the action the super key must perform when pressed. You can assign one of the following functions:
Switch to the Multitasking View
Open the actual Shortcut Overlay
Disable the Super key
By default, the Caps Lock key is used to switch between lower and upper cases when typing, still you can configure the Caps Lock key to behave as one of some other keys on the keyboard, such as Backspace, Ctrl, Esc, etc.
Do not assign Caps Lock for double functions, for it will not work as you wish. For example, if you assign it both as a switcher between keyboard layouts, and as the Backspace key, it will work as Backspace but will not switch between keyboard layouts.
elementary OS has a built-in On-screen Keyboard that you can use instead of a physical keyboard.
In case you need to use the onscreen keyboard:
Open the System Settings, and navigate to Keyboard --> Layout.
Enable the Show on-screen keyboard toggle.
Click On-screen keyboard settings, and configure the on-screen keyboard options (Window, Layout, Theme, etc.).
Additionally, you can navigate to Keyboard --> Shortcuts --> Universal Access, and set up the shortcut to toggle the on-screen keyboard.
It's a useful option in case you do not have light indicators for Caps Lock and Num Lock on your physical keyboard.
Open the System Settings, and navigate to Keyboard --> Layout.
Enable or disable Show in Panel indicators for Caps Lock and/or Num Lock.
If enabled, the indicators will be shown in the Panel when Caps Lock and Num Lock are activated respectively.
Even for the same language, there can be multiple keyboard layouts (e.g. Dvorak, and so on). Your keyboard can behave like the one with a different layout, no matter what characters the keys have on them.
As for some eastern languages (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, etc.), they require a more complex input method than just a straightforward key-to-character method.
To add and configure an input method:
Open the System Settings, and navigate to Keyboard --> Input Method.
In the bottom-left, click ➕ icon, select the engine you need, and click Add Engine. If there is no necessary input method engine in the list, click Install Unlisted Engines, and install an extra one available.
Select the shortcut to switch between the engines.
Choose the property panel behavior.
If you want to embed the preedit text in the application window, enable the associated toggle.
You can also select an added input method by clicking the Keyboard system indicator in the Panel.
If the keyboard layout is active, it's possible to switch between layouts and input methods with the Switch layout shortcut.
The Shortcuts section of the System Settings allows you to customize keyboard shortcuts for various system functions and applications. This customization helps you personalize your workflow and increase productivity by providing quick access to frequently used functions.
You can assign specific key combinations (or single keys) to perform actions like launching applications, navigating menus, controlling windows, or executing custom commands.
Open the System Settings, and navigate to Keyboard --> Shortcuts.
On the left, select the category.
On the right, click the gear icon against the action needed, and select Set New Shortcut.
Press the key combination (or a single key) you want to use for the action.
You can always reset a shortcut to default, or disable the shortcut at all. Click the gear icon next to the shortcut you need, and select the corresponding menu item.
Open the System Settings, and navigate to Keyboard --> Shortcuts.
On the left, select Custom.
In the bottom, click +Add Shortcut.
In the new field appeared, enter the command, and assign a new shortcut for it.
You can always disable or remove a shortcut for the command. Click the gear icon next to the shortcut you need, and select the corresponding menu item.
NEEDS UPDATE
In the Behavior section of the System Settings, you can control how quickly a key repeats when held down, and specify the rate at which the cursor blinks in text editors or input fields.
To set up this keyboard behavior:
Open the System Settings, and navigate to Keyboard --> Behavior.
Enable the Repeat Keys toggle, and adjust the Delay and Interval sliders.
Enable the Cursor Blinking toggle, and adjust the Speed and Duration sliders.
In the field below, type something to test your settings.
