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Created by Grzegorz Kozub@grzegorz.kozub

Connecting external keyboard while Gnome is running does not make AltGr (right Alt) work on that keyboard

Issue

I'm on Arch running Gnome 3.38.1 on a laptop. I have only one input source, Polish, which is using AltGr (or right Alt) modifier to input e.g. national characters.

image

Since Gnome 3.38, when I connect my external keyboard then AltGr modifier does not work on that external keyboard, meaning hitting AltGr + l no longer inputs ł but something like Esc + l. It still works on the internal laptop keyboard.

Also, when Gnome starts with the keyboard connected there's no issue. It just happens when I plug it in while Gnome is running.

I tested this on a USB keyboard and another Bluetooth keyboard. The issue is the same.

Steps to reproduce

  1. Restart the laptop and launch Gnome
  2. Hit AltGr + l on the laptop keyboard and see that ł appears, OK
  3. Connect the external keyboard
  4. Hit AltGr + l on the external keyboard and see that nothing appears, issue
  5. Restart the laptop and launch Gnome again without disconnecting the external keyboard
  6. Hit AltGr + l on the either keyboard and see that ł appears, OK

Workaround

Issues #1125 and #918 are potentially related since I'm able to work around this by executing these two commands in no specific order after I plug in my keyboard:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.input-sources xkb-options "['lv3:ralt_switch']"
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.input-sources xkb-options "[]"

Thanks!