USBGuard Documentation Project-APT-Repository Previous page: USBGuard Index page: Documentation Next page: Project-APT-Repository Keyboard Layout

This wiki page provides information on keyboard layouts and how to configure them in Kicksecure.

Kicksecure

Desktop Environment

Kicksecure 18 and above.

System-wide configuration.

*System-wide Keyboard Layout Change for GUI (labwc) and virtual terminal (CLI)*
Platform	Steps
System-wide - TUI	Terminal User Interface (TUI) Interactive: sudo set-system-keymap --interactive
System-wide - CLI	command line interface (CLI) View available keymaps. localectl list-x11-keymap-layouts Syntax: sudo set-system-keymap keymap Example: Note: Replace `de` with the actual keymap to use. sudo set-system-keymap de Manually: See below.
Other Wayland compositors	Differs depending on the Wayland compositor in use. Usually can be set using DE-specific tools, may require editing a configuration file and then restarting the compositor to make changes take effect.

Per-user configuration. (Not system-wide configuration.)

*Desktop Keyboard Layout Change*
Platform	Steps
LXQt + labwc Wayland compositor - TUI	Terminal User Interface (TUI) Interactive: set-labwc-keymap --interactive
LXQt + labwc Wayland compositor - CLI	command line interface (CLI) View available keymaps. localectl list-x11-keymap-layouts Syntax: set-labwc-keymap keymap Example: Note: Replace `de` with the actual keymap to use. set-labwc-keymap de Manually: See footnote. ^[1]
Other Wayland compositors	Differs depending on the Wayland compositor in use. Usually can be set using DE-specific tools, may require editing a configuration file and then restarting the compositor to make changes take effect.

Multiple Keyboard Layouts

You can configure multiple keyboard layouts at the same time, and switch between them with a keyboard shortcut. ^[2] A maximum of four keyboard layouts can be configured simultaneously.

1. Open a terminal.

2. Run set-system-keymap or set-labwc-keymap with the --interactive option.

3. When prompted to enter the keyboard layouts to use, input a comma-separated list of layouts. For instance, to use US English and German keyboard layouts, type us,de, then press Enter.

4. When prompted to enter keyboard layout variants, press Enter to use the default layout variants. ^[3]

5. When prompted to enter keyboard layout options, type grp:alt_shift_toggle, then press Enter.

6. Done.

You can now press Alt + Shift to switch between the selected keyboard layouts.

Virtual Terminal

To change the keyboard layout.

Note: Changes keyboard layout for virtual terminals only. This does not effect the graphical environment. ^[4]

sudo set-console-keymap
or:
sudo set-system-keymap

^[5] ^[6]

sudo set-console-keymap

Simple

set-system-keymap sets both keyboard layouts for,

1) command line interface (CLI), and
2) graphical user interface (GUI).

With 1 command only. It can either be started from

A) System Maintenance Panel, or
B) from the command line.

Terminal User Interface (TUI):

sudo set-system-keymap --interactive

CLI:

sudo set-system-keymap

If installing Kicksecure using its ISO, Kicksecure's Calamares based installer) uses set-system-keymap internally to configure the keyboard layout.

Kicksecure-Qubes

To correctly apply changes system-wide via dom0: ^[7]

System Tools → Keyboard → Layout

Alternatively, language localization input can be configured on a per VM basis.

If problems are encountered, see: My keyboard layout settings are not behaving correctly. What should I do? in the Qubes FAQ.

Footnotes

↑
labwc uses the XKB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT environment variable, as documented at https://labwc.github.io/getting-started.html. To permanently change the keyboard layout, apply the following steps.
- Open a terminal → Run mkdir -p ~/.config/labwc → Run nano ~/.config/labwc/environment → Type XKB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT=zz, replacing zz with the code for your keyboard layout → Type Ctrl+S to save, then Ctrl+X to exit → Run labwc --reconfigure to load new settings.
↑ https://forums.kicksecure.com/t/transfer-kicksecure-to-another-computer-cant-see-grub/1382/5
↑ If you need non-standard keyboard layout variants, you may enter them here. You must specify the same number of layouts and layout variants. The layouts must be comma-separated. For instance, if you are using the layouts us,de, and want to use the Colemak layout for the US keyboard and the Dvorak layout for the German keyboard, specify colemak,dvorak as the variants.

If you need to use a default keyboard layout for a variant, you may omit the variant from the list. However, you must type any commas that would have been present otherwise. For instance, to use the Colemak layout for the US keyboard, and the default layout for the German keyboard, specify colemak, as the variants. To use the default layout for the US keyboard, and the Dvorak layout for the German keyboard, specify ,dvorak as the variants.
↑ Manually: sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration && sudo setupcon
French keyboards:
Perhaps an upstream bug. May no longer be applicable.
( https://web.archive.org/web/20160519163403/https://free.nchc.org.tw/clonezilla-live/stable/Known-issues-Clonezilla-live.txt )
If you are using French Keymap, remember to use "Select keymap from full list":
1. Select keymap from full list
2. pc / azerty / French / Same as X11 (latin 9) /Standard
↑
Alternative /etc/default/keyboard method:
Open file /etc/default/keyboard in an editor with root rights.
Select your platform.
Kicksecure

See Open File with Root Rights for detailed instructions on why using sudoedit improves security and how to use it.
Note: Featherpad (or the chosen text editor) must be closed before running the sudoedit command.
sudoedit /etc/default/keyboard

Kicksecure-Qubes

Notes:

When using Kicksecure-Qubes, this must be done inside the Template.

sudoedit /etc/default/keyboard

After applying this change, shut down the Template.

All App Qubes based on the Template need to be restarted if they were already running.

This is a general procedure required for Qubes and is unspecific to Kicksecure-Qubes.

Others and Alternatives

Notes:

This is just an example. Other tools could achieve the same goal.

If this example does not work for you, or if you are not using Kicksecure, please refer to Open File with Root Rights.

sudoedit /etc/default/keyboard
↑ Alternative loadkeys method:
Temporary until reboot. sudo loadkeys de
↑ The Qubes bug reporting the change does not propagate to other VMs has now been resolved.

USBGuard Documentation Project-APT-Repository Previous page: USBGuard Index page: Documentation Next page: Project-APT-Repository

Kicksecure

A secure by default operating system with the latest security research in place.

Dark mode

Supported by Power Up Privacy

Kicksecure is proudly supported until 2026 by Power Up Privacy, a privacy advocacy group that seeks to supercharge privacy projects with resources so they can complete their mission of making our world a better place. (Strictly subject to our sponsorship policy.)

At Kicksecure we value freedom and trust, supporting Open Source and Freedom Software

By using this website, you acknowledge you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these agreements: Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, E-Sign Consent, DMCA, Imprint

2012- 2025 ENCRYPTED SUPPORT LLC

Your support makes
all the difference!

We believe security software like Kicksecure needs to remain Open Source and independent. Would you help sustain and grow the project? Learn more about our 13 year success story and maybe DONATE!

[1] labwc uses the XKB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT environment variable, as documented at https://labwc.github.io/getting-started.html. To permanently change the keyboard layout, apply the following steps.
Open a terminal → Run mkdir -p ~/.config/labwc → Run nano ~/.config/labwc/environment → Type XKB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT=zz, replacing zz with the code for your keyboard layout → Type Ctrl+S to save, then Ctrl+X to exit → Run labwc --reconfigure to load new settings.

[2] Open a terminal → Run mkdir -p ~/.config/labwc → Run nano ~/.config/labwc/environment → Type XKB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT=zz, replacing zz with the code for your keyboard layout → Type Ctrl+S to save, then Ctrl+X to exit → Run labwc --reconfigure to load new settings.

[2] ttps://forums.kicksecure.com/t/transfer-kicksecure-to-another-computer-cant-see-grub/1382/5

[3] If you need non-standard keyboard layout variants, you may enter them here. You must specify the same number of layouts and layout variants. The layouts must be comma-separated. For instance, if you are using the layouts us,de, and want to use the Colemak layout for the US keyboard and the Dvorak layout for the German keyboard, specify colemak,dvorak as the variants.

If you need to use a default keyboard layout for a variant, you may omit the variant from the list. However, you must type any commas that would have been present otherwise. For instance, to use the Colemak layout for the US keyboard, and the default layout for the German keyboard, specify colemak, as the variants. To use the default layout for the US keyboard, and the Dvorak layout for the German keyboard, specify ,dvorak as the variants.

[4] Manually: sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration && sudo setupcon
French keyboards:
Perhaps an upstream bug. May no longer be applicable.
( https://web.archive.org/web/20160519163403/https://free.nchc.org.tw/clonezilla-live/stable/Known-issues-Clonezilla-live.txt )
If you are using French Keymap, remember to use "Select keymap from full list":
1. Select keymap from full list
2. pc / azerty / French / Same as X11 (latin 9) /Standard

[5] Alternative /etc/default/keyboard method:
Open file /etc/default/keyboard in an editor with root rights.

Select your platform.

Kicksecure

See Open File with Root Rights for detailed instructions on why using sudoedit improves security and how to use it.
Note: Featherpad (or the chosen text editor) must be closed before running the sudoedit command.
sudoedit /etc/default/keyboard

Kicksecure-Qubes

Notes:

When using Kicksecure-Qubes, this must be done inside the Template.

sudoedit /etc/default/keyboard

After applying this change, shut down the Template.

All App Qubes based on the Template need to be restarted if they were already running.

This is a general procedure required for Qubes and is unspecific to Kicksecure-Qubes.

Others and Alternatives

Notes:

This is just an example. Other tools could achieve the same goal.

If this example does not work for you, or if you are not using Kicksecure, please refer to Open File with Root Rights.

sudoedit /etc/default/keyboard

[7] When using Kicksecure-Qubes, this must be done inside the Template.

[8] After applying this change, shut down the Template.

[9] All App Qubes based on the Template need to be restarted if they were already running.

[10] This is a general procedure required for Qubes and is unspecific to Kicksecure-Qubes.

[11] This is just an example. Other tools could achieve the same goal.

[12] If this example does not work for you, or if you are not using Kicksecure, please refer to Open File with Root Rights.

[6] Alternative loadkeys method:
Temporary until reboot. sudo loadkeys de

[7] The Qubes bug reporting the change does not propagate to other VMs has now been resolved.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Keyboard Layout

Contents

Kicksecure

Desktop Environment

Multiple Keyboard Layouts

Virtual Terminal

Simple

Kicksecure-Qubes

See Also

Footnotes

Kicksecure

Kicksecure-Qubes

Others and Alternatives

Navigation menu

Keyboard Layout

Kicksecure

Desktop Environment

Multiple Keyboard Layouts

Virtual Terminal

Simple

Kicksecure-Qubes

See Also

Footnotes

Kicksecure

Kicksecure-Qubes

Others and Alternatives

Navigation menu

Search