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Disable Caps Lock in Linux
21st of October 2004
I never use the Caps Lock button. Never. The only time I "use" it is when I accidently press it and start typing things in UPPERCASE. To disable it in Linux all you have to do is enter this on the command line:
$ xmodmap -e "remove lock = Caps_Lock"
To set this permanently, just stick the above line in your ~/.bashrc file (or /etc/bash.bashrc if you're root) so that it looks something like this:
if [ "$PS1" ]; then
# Disables the bloody CapsLock button
xmodmap -e "remove lock = Caps_Lock"
...
fi
Comment
29 comments so farRoar Granerud -
24th March 2006
[«« Reply to this]
Wonderfull. Utterly wonderful. Now I only need to replace the physical button that I threw away yesterday. Death to CAPS LOCK
Wonderfull. Utterly wonderful. Now I only need to replace the physical button that I threw away yesterday. Death to CAPS LOCK
Caps Lock Sucks Goats -
8th May 2006
[«« Reply to this]
Thank you thank you thank you. This rocks big time. NO MORE LOOKING LIKE SOME POWERPOINT-USING MORON!
Thank you thank you thank you. This rocks big time. NO MORE LOOKING LIKE SOME POWERPOINT-USING MORON!
Anonymous -
18th July 2006
[«« Reply to this]
Many thanks for this tip...can't tell you how many times I've boned something up b/c of the friggin' capslock!
Many thanks for this tip...can't tell you how many times I've boned something up b/c of the friggin' capslock!
Peter -
26th September 2006
[«« Reply to this]
JUCHU!!!!! DRECKDING!!!! SCHEISSE CAPSLOCK ENDLICH WEG!!!
JUCHU!!!!! DRECKDING!!!! SCHEISSE CAPSLOCK ENDLICH WEG!!!
RANDY J. ROGERS -
29th November 2006
[«« Reply to this]
WHY THE ATTACK ON CAPS-LOCK? I COMPOSE ALL MY CODE AND CORRESPONDENCE IN CAPS SO THAT I AM MORE EASILY UNDERSTOOD AND GET THE ATTENTION I DESERVE. I APPLIED YOUR SILLY PATCH AND NOW I MUST HOLD DOWN THE SHIFT KEY WHENEVER I TYPE. WHAT A PAIN!
WHY THE ATTACK ON CAPS-LOCK? I COMPOSE ALL MY CODE AND CORRESPONDENCE IN CAPS SO THAT I AM MORE EASILY UNDERSTOOD AND GET THE ATTENTION I DESERVE. I APPLIED YOUR SILLY PATCH AND NOW I MUST HOLD DOWN THE SHIFT KEY WHENEVER I TYPE. WHAT A PAIN!
Larry Phillips -
29th December 2006
[«« Reply to this]
I love it! After applying your line in my .bashrc, I went looking for a way to disable the Num Lock key, wanting it to always be in numeric mode. I could not find any way to do it, but I did discover that you can do the same thing by using a line something like..
xmodmap -e "keycode 79 = KP_7 KP_7"
This doesn't disable the Num_Lock, but it doesn't matter.
Use "xmodmap -pke" first, to check which keycodes are relevant.
I love it! After applying your line in my .bashrc, I went looking for a way to disable the Num Lock key, wanting it to always be in numeric mode. I could not find any way to do it, but I did discover that you can do the same thing by using a line something like..
xmodmap -e "keycode 79 = KP_7 KP_7"
This doesn't disable the Num_Lock, but it doesn't matter.
Use "xmodmap -pke" first, to check which keycodes are relevant.
Cedric -
10th December 2007
[«« Reply to this]
Thank you for this tip. I however wanted to let caps lock do the same as shift. This did the trick for me:
xmodmap -e "remove lock = Caps_Lock"
xmodmap -e "add shift = Caps_Lock"
I've linked to this page from my homepage:
http://home.tiscali.nl/cedric/Linux/Software/linux-trics/linuxtricsindex.html
Thank you for this tip. I however wanted to let caps lock do the same as shift. This did the trick for me:
xmodmap -e "remove lock = Caps_Lock"
xmodmap -e "add shift = Caps_Lock"
I've linked to this page from my homepage:
http://home.tiscali.nl/cedric/Linux/Software/linux-trics/linuxtricsindex.html
NicoLarve -
11th January 2008
[«« Reply to this]
Just G.R.E.A.T. !
... As I used to remove the caps lock keys on my keyboards !
I can now restaure them to their original places !
Just G.R.E.A.T. !
... As I used to remove the caps lock keys on my keyboards !
I can now restaure them to their original places !
Nick Ring -
17th February 2008
[«« Reply to this]
Good work!
Alternatively, for the vi/vim users, turn your Caps Lock into an Escape key. Now you can switch modes without any stretching off the home row.
Add the following to ~/.Xmodmap
remove Lock = Caps_Lock
keysym Caps_Lock = Escape
and the following to ~/.bashrc
if [ "$PS1" ]; then
xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap
...
fi
Good work!
Alternatively, for the vi/vim users, turn your Caps Lock into an Escape key. Now you can switch modes without any stretching off the home row.
Add the following to ~/.Xmodmap
remove Lock = Caps_Lock
keysym Caps_Lock = Escape
and the following to ~/.bashrc
if [ "$PS1" ]; then
xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap
...
fi
hosiawak -
18th February 2008
[«« Reply to this]
For Emacs's users: it's better to swap CTRL with Caps Lock, to do this, just put:
Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps"
inside Section "InputDevice" of your xorg.conf
For Emacs's users: it's better to swap CTRL with Caps Lock, to do this, just put:
Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps"
inside Section "InputDevice" of your xorg.conf
InYourBase -
19th February 2008
[«« Reply to this]
If you use KDE, go to Control Center-> Regional & Accessibility-> Keyboard Layout-> xkb options, click "Enable xkb options" and there are some options under "Ctrl key position"
If you use KDE, go to Control Center-> Regional & Accessibility-> Keyboard Layout-> xkb options, click "Enable xkb options" and there are some options under "Ctrl key position"
Alf -
23rd July 2009
[«« Reply to this]
Thanks InYourBase for the KDE tip!
I am xmodmap aware, but KDE supercedes XModmap modifications, and I would never haved found these options by myself.
You made my day :-)
Thanks InYourBase for the KDE tip!
I am xmodmap aware, but KDE supercedes XModmap modifications, and I would never haved found these options by myself.
You made my day :-)
Anonymous -
13th April 2008
[«« Reply to this]
So cool! So nice to get rid of the blasted caps lock (especially for someone like me who cannot type (blindly) and hence cannot see what (s)he's typing. So nice :-)
So cool! So nice to get rid of the blasted caps lock (especially for someone like me who cannot type (blindly) and hence cannot see what (s)he's typing. So nice :-)
Anonymous -
13th April 2008
[«« Reply to this]
And it carry's over to my rdesktopped Windows window. So much value for so little work :-)
And it carry's over to my rdesktopped Windows window. So much value for so little work :-)
p -
7th October 2008
[«« Reply to this]
I used to be removing the bloody CL key from all keyboards that I worked on manually, but that is not possible on laptops. Now this trick saves my day! Thanks!
I used to be removing the bloody CL key from all keyboards that I worked on manually, but that is not possible on laptops. Now this trick saves my day! Thanks!
KG -
18th February 2009
[«« Reply to this]
Ugh - thank you. My Eee PC laptop keyboard was damaged and the CL key was stuck on - this makes my laptop usable again until the new keyboard arrives...
Ugh - thank you. My Eee PC laptop keyboard was damaged and the CL key was stuck on - this makes my laptop usable again until the new keyboard arrives...
kalpesh -
27th March 2009
[«« Reply to this]
wonderful abt Caps Lock...But I can you disable any key using same command.......
wonderful abt Caps Lock...But I can you disable any key using same command.......
Peter Bengtsson -
28th March 2009
[«« Reply to this]
I actually don't know. I only just worked on the Caps Lock and haven't had a need to disable any other key. But I have thought about the Ctrl and Alt keys on the RIGHT because I never use them and perhaps they can be used for something else like to change language or something.
I actually don't know. I only just worked on the Caps Lock and haven't had a need to disable any other key. But I have thought about the Ctrl and Alt keys on the RIGHT because I never use them and perhaps they can be used for something else like to change language or something.
fred -
19th May 2009
[«« Reply to this]
First, thanks to Peter!
@kalpesh: maybe not exactly the answer you are looking for but I believe it's "yes, you can". No HowTo provided here, though... But combining "man xmodmap" and xev, you can probably do miracles with your keyboard ;-)
First, thanks to Peter!
@kalpesh: maybe not exactly the answer you are looking for but I believe it's "yes, you can". No HowTo provided here, though... But combining "man xmodmap" and xev, you can probably do miracles with your keyboard ;-)
gavin -
18th March 2010
[«« Reply to this]
How do I toggle the capslock on and off? What I mean is, if I type `LS` or `CD` in bash, I'd like LS and CD alias to turn off caps and send `ls` or `cd` commands. I don't want to deactivate caps completely, I just want to be able to toggle it off when I forget I have it on.
How do I toggle the capslock on and off? What I mean is, if I type `LS` or `CD` in bash, I'd like LS and CD alias to turn off caps and send `ls` or `cd` commands. I don't want to deactivate caps completely, I just want to be able to toggle it off when I forget I have it on.
Oz DiGennaro -
2nd August 2010
[«« Reply to this]
I believe we need a new world-wide movement. The only possible use of caps lock is for lawyers-who-shout-to-make-it-seem-important and other misguideds. We will sneak into the keyboard factories and modify the production hardware to omit the caps lock key. A hole like a missing tooth. Finally we'll be able to stop all this effort disabling something that should NEVER have been there.
I believe we need a new world-wide movement. The only possible use of caps lock is for lawyers-who-shout-to-make-it-seem-important and other misguideds. We will sneak into the keyboard factories and modify the production hardware to omit the caps lock key. A hole like a missing tooth. Finally we'll be able to stop all this effort disabling something that should NEVER have been there.
jody -
17th September 2010
[«« Reply to this]
I am also an intense hater of CapsLock,
and was happy to find your excellent tip, which has worked well so far. But on my new Installation, whenever i open a new terminal (Ctrl-Alt-T) from an open xterm, i get a message like the following in the new window
xmodmap: please release the following keys within 2 seconds:
Control_L (keysym 0xffe3, keycode 37)
Shift_L (keysym 0xffe1, keycode 50)
before the fist prompt appears (BTW; i hadn't pressed any of those keys). This message does not appear when xterm is started from the menu. When i remove the xmodmap-command, this message does not occur. Does anybody know what this means?
I am also an intense hater of CapsLock,
and was happy to find your excellent tip, which has worked well so far. But on my new Installation, whenever i open a new terminal (Ctrl-Alt-T) from an open xterm, i get a message like the following in the new window
xmodmap: please release the following keys within 2 seconds:
Control_L (keysym 0xffe3, keycode 37)
Shift_L (keysym 0xffe1, keycode 50)
before the fist prompt appears (BTW; i hadn't pressed any of those keys). This message does not appear when xterm is started from the menu. When i remove the xmodmap-command, this message does not occur. Does anybody know what this means?
Colin -
1st October 2010
[«« Reply to this]
Yes you did: you've just told us you pressed Ctrl, and I'm guessing that you pressed Shift as well (rather than Alt) if you're in Gnome.
I get
t (keysym 0x74, keycode 28)
as well.
I don't know the answer yet, but it's clear what's going on.
Yes you did: you've just told us you pressed Ctrl, and I'm guessing that you pressed Shift as well (rather than Alt) if you're in Gnome.
I get
t (keysym 0x74, keycode 28)
as well.
I don't know the answer yet, but it's clear what's going on.
must say that a i love your work. Once i tried to sleep with caps lock, but he was too tight i'm afraid.
Yeah, that is great for vi