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I used xev to check if my Meta key is working and it is, but

  • when using it in actual Linux it does not show, and
  • if I press it to do something like Meta+. to open emoji keyboard it does not show and nothing happens.
  • Same with when I use Meta+L to lock my screen; it does nothing.

All of the shortcuts that I mentioned all are set to use the Meta key in my settings and it does not work in both X11 or Wayland.

I even switched to anther distro but it didn't work. I'm now on CachyOS with KDE Desktop.

Can Somebody please help me try and figure out how I can get my Meta key to start working again, all of my shortcuts need it.

Here is my system:

  • Intel 12th gen 12700H
  • Nvidia RTX 4050 laptop gpu
  • 16 GB DDR4 ram

(I have only very recently changed to Linux and don't know much).

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    Please clarify your specific problem or provide additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it's hard to tell exactly what you're asking. Commented May 21 at 19:09
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    so, if xev says your meta key is working, then it's working. What's the problem, then? You forgot to describe what actually doesn't work! Commented May 22 at 7:17
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    as @MarcusMüller said, if you see the key under xev, so the key itself is working. You said "when I use Meta+L to lock my screen" ... that's the point. Obviously, your system configuration does not know about this shortcut. Try to find out where the short-cuts are configured. Commented May 24 at 11:40
  • @Serenity Just as an aside, that probably doesn't help you with your problem, but, if you're on Wayland, try wev instead of xev. Commented Jul 8 at 18:59

1 Answer 1

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I had the same issue in Nobara 41. Turned out, I had to go into the keyboard settings to check for key settings.

Somehow, the Hyper key was mapped to the Windows key. At the same time, the Windows key still was recognised as "Meta" when setting up key short cuts and it opened the start menu. (Yeah.. windows habit of calling it that... but frankly, no need to redefine just to be different)

I changed the setting for the Windows key back to being the Meta key. This still opens the start menu, but also opens Dolphin now, when using the "Meta + E" combination - as well as all other short cuts, linked to the Meta key in some combination.

I have no clue how the single key could simultaneously be Meta and Hyper, while being defined as Hyper in the keyboard settings.

I use the German Nobara distro... so I'm not certain, if screenshots would help.

Edit: I use the GNOME edition of Nobara 41.

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