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I have Ubuntu 18.04 installed with GNOME.

My left alt key opens application menu while right alt works as expected (left alt + F4 doesn't work for example, right alt + F4 works perfectly).

How can I fix the left alt behavior so that it works like right alt?

Zanna
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ingvar
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  • i'm not sure you really want the same behavior between left and right `Alt`; the right isn't called `Alt Gr` for nothing, it's because he has a behavior that the basic `Alt` hasn't; for example, if `Alt Gr` would have the same behavior as `Alt`, on an azerty keyboard, we couldn't type characters like '@', '{' or '#' (and i'm pretty sure it can't be possible to type some character too on a qwerty keyboard) and think about the character which can be displayed by typing the ASCII code – damadam Jun 15 '18 at 09:29
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    See also: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-shell/+bug/1508146 for a bug regarding `Alt+Left` and `Alt+Right`. The fix is: `sudo kbd_mode -s` – Dave Jarvis Aug 28 '18 at 18:37

1 Answers1

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The terms we are discussing here are "keyboard shortcuts" and "keybindings". They are useful when searching for help.

First, run xev in a terminal to see if the key works.
If it works, open Settings > Devices > Keyboard for a list of shortcuts. If it says Alt without specifying right or left they should both work. Replace any that specify a side and make sure it only says Alt.

If you have trouble making the settings do that, install dconf-editor 

sudo apt install dconf-editor

and launch it from the terminal

dconf-editor

Locate the search icon and type keybinding and look through the paths for what you need. In your example navigate to 

org/gnome/desktop/vm/keybindings/close

If the default value is on it should be set to 

['<Alt>F4']

If it's not, switch default to off and enter exactly the above as a custom entry.

My Alt shortcuts seem to be the same for each side, so maybe yours got reconfigured somehow.

Zanna
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jordy
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  • Close combination is set to`['F4']`, but on alt press window losts focus. If restore focus (click in window) `F4` works and closes window. – ingvar Jun 15 '18 at 16:42
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    What happens when you quickly tap left Alt and nothing else? What happens when you hold it down for a couple seconds? (Make sure some windows are open) – jordy Jun 16 '18 at 00:59
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    Also, install Gnome Tweak tool. Under Keyboard & Mouse -> Overview Shortcut -> Additional Layout Options. Explore that and see if left Alt is set to anything. It's possible that a "hide window on focus loss" setting is enabled, possibly because the Alt_L is activating the top bar. – jordy Jun 16 '18 at 01:22
  • Quick tap on left alt opens application menu. On holding alt active window losts focus. And I don't have any combinations with Alt – ingvar Jun 16 '18 at 11:20