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Asked: 2020-07-31 03:42:27 +0800 CST

Can't create keyboard shortcuts utilizing the `Esc` key

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In Ubuntu I used to be able to go to Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts and set a shortcut such as Super+Esc, but that no longer seems to be the case in Ubuntu 20.04. Any shortcut involving the Esc key doesn't seem to work. I imagine this is because the Esc key is used to cancel the shortcut entry routine @ Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts.

Is there a manual way to define keyboard shortcuts in the terminal, or some other way to assign a keyboard shortcut such as Super+Esc?

keyboard keyboard-layout shortcut-keys system-settings

2 Answers

  1. To add a keyboard shortcut that is disallowed by the sanity checking in the GUI, add via the command-line instead. See "https://techwiser.com/custom-keyboard-shortcuts-ubuntu/".

    Check first for an already existing custom list:

    gsettings get org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys custom-keybindings

    If the list doesn't already exist, then create one:

    gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys custom-keybindings "['/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/']"

    Then add your shortcut:

    gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys.custom-keybinding:/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/ name "'my_new_shortcut'"
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys.custom-keybinding:/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/ binding "'<Super><Esc>'"
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys.custom-keybinding:/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/ command "'<path/thing to execute>'"
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  2. Best Answer

    The combination you are looking for is a default keyboard shortcut for "Restore the keyboard shortcuts"

    enter image description here

    Disable it first to use the combination for your custom keyboard shortcut.

    enter image description here

    enter image description here

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