Tilde key on Mac Air with Ubuntu

Question

By default, no layout on my Macbook Air allows me to print backtick (`) and tilde (~) symbols. Instead, I get backslash, pipe or whatever, depending from the layout.

I changed the behavior of the key that I want to use to print tilde using the following commands:

xev
<press tilde button>
keycode <keycode from xev output> = grave asciitilde >~/.Xmodmap
xmodmap ~/.xmodmaprc

(instructions are based on these https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17757232/switch-tab-and-backtick-keys-ubuntu-linux)

But unfortunately, after I switch the layout, I get the default behavior again.

How to make these changes permanent?

This is a problem I'm searching a *simple* solution for too. Just to add, the issue is that with Ubuntu 14.04 xmodmap is no longer functional. Its changes gets overwritten periodically (after a few minutes in my case) by xkb. I'm not an expert on this and still searching for a solution as well. This is just to inform you of the reason for this problem. — Boaz Rymland, Nov 23 '14 at 07:39
@BoazRymland I solved the problem myself, just forgot to report. You may find the solution below, hope it helps you as well. — Timofey, Nov 24 '14 at 11:27
thanks! I'll try it later. I don't like the idea of editing system file (or files that are suspected as such, with lack of knowing better) but I'm curious and want to resolve this. Thanks again! — Boaz Rymland, Nov 24 '14 at 13:57
I don't even have tilde button on my Macbook Finnish keyboard. — jarno, Jan 22 '18 at 08:36

score 22 · Answer 1 · answered May 23 '15 at 21:42

22

The solution that worked for Timofey did not work for me for some reason. However, a solution which did work was to put the line

echo 0 > /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/iso_layout

into /etc/rc.local.

This suggestion comes from here:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1245081

via

https://stdio.sangwhan.com/backtick-tilde-problem-macbook-air/

answered May 23 '15 at 21:42

yasmar

321
2
4

3

also works in 16.04 – Richard Frank Apr 25 '16 at 12:58
Also works on MacBook Pro – Lambart Aug 20 '16 at 00:06
Works on Macbook Pro 12,1 w/ debian – jeremy Aug 20 '16 at 17:24
1

This long-established solution inexplicably stopped working for me. I'm no longer able to edit this file, and so placing the code into the `rc.local` has no effect. Has anyone else run into this issue? – Csteele5 Feb 14 '17 at 01:40

Timofey · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-24T16:05:13.427

7

Okay, I solved the problem.

First off, xmodmaprc doesn't work in Ubuntu 14.04. The solution is to edit xkb (X KeyBoard extension) config files.

Find the file /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc, backup it, then open and comment out the line:

key <LSGT> {    [ less, greater, bar, brokenbar ] };

And on the next line, add the following:

key <LSGT> { [ grave, asciitilde, grave, asciitilde ] };

If you need to change configuration for another locale, check the folder /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/ and find the file corresponding to the locale you want to change.

To apply the changes, you have to remove all xkb cache files:

rm -rf /var/lib/xkb/*

edited Nov 24 '14 at 16:05

answered Nov 24 '14 at 11:25

Timofey

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1
2
11

works after a reboot. Works on ubuntu 16.04LTS as well as on elementaryOS – Kajal Sinha Sep 17 '16 at 19:22
1

This is a more correct answer than @yasmar's as it corrects the system cofiguration rather than overriding it after it's applied. – bschlueter May 22 '17 at 03:08

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 22 '17 at 06:10

2

Another solution which works as an unpriviledged user is:

setxkbmap -option apple:badmap

As a priviledged user this can also be used to fix the issue in the X config of the keyboard device with something like:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/90-custom-kbd.conf
Section "InputClass"
    Identifier "keyboard defaults"
    MatchIsKeyboard "on"

    Option "XKbOptions" "apple:badmap"
EndSection

answered Dec 22 '17 at 06:10

bschlueter

151
5

None of the other solutions worked for me. This one did. I'm on a MBP late 2015 with US keyboard fixing Ubuntu 20.04 LTS running with Parallels Desktop 17. – Sebastian Sastre Feb 24 '22 at 00:59

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 30 '18 at 13:59

1

On Ubuntu 16.04 with a Mac keyboard you should be able to get a tilde symbol by pressing Right Alt + ] key.

answered Jun 30 '18 at 13:59

masitko

171
1
2

Wow, I found it on a French Apple keyboard where you normally press Alt + N on OSX. I don't have any ], but it worked with *Right* Alt + N (but not Left Alt + N!) – hsandt Aug 10 '20 at 12:42

Tilde key on Mac Air with Ubuntu

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