After an evaluation, GNOME has moved from Bugzilla to GitLab. Learn more about GitLab.
No new issues can be reported in GNOME Bugzilla anymore.
To report an issue in a GNOME project, go to GNOME GitLab.
Do not go to GNOME Gitlab for: Bluefish, Doxygen, GnuCash, GStreamer, java-gnome, LDTP, NetworkManager, Tomboy.
Bug 662580 - Shell monopolises "Super" button
Shell monopolises "Super" button
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Product: gnome-shell
Classification: Core
Component: general
3.3.x
Other All
: Normal normal
: ---
Assigned To: gnome-shell-maint
gnome-shell-maint
: 662772 win-key-shortcuts 675325 678149 680507 694248 (view as bug list)
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
 
Reported: 2011-10-24 06:18 UTC by Eugueny Kontsevoy
Modified: 2013-08-16 13:26 UTC
See Also:
GNOME target: ---
GNOME version: ---



Description Eugueny Kontsevoy 2011-10-24 06:18:38 UTC
I use "super" button in many different apps as part of a shortcut. The Gnome3 shell eats those hotkeys now and there is no way to stop this.

For example: Super+B launches the browser here, but for some reason first "b" gets eaten and I need to do Super+B B (2nd 'b') to make it work.

But Super+T works without problems. Same with Super+C - sometimes it works, but sometimes I need to press "c" twice.

Basically Gnome3 shell screws up 'Super' button for EVERYONE else on the computer.
Comment 1 Alex 2011-12-06 11:38:57 UTC
I can confirm this problem. I'm using the Windows Shortcuts Super+L for locking the screen and Super+E for opening nautlius.

When I press Super+L nothing happens, but when I hit L again (while still holding the Super key) the screen gets locked (same for Super+E and nautilus).

So basically I always need to double click the key that is combined with Super.

This only happens for the left Super Key. The right Super key works without problems.
Comment 2 Jean Delvare 2012-01-20 18:19:46 UTC
I'm seeing exactly the same problem here (Gnome 3.2.1 on openSUSE 12.1.) I always repeat my shortcuts which involve the Meta4 (Win / Super) key twice to make sure they'll work. This is a regression from Gnome 2, where the same shortcuts were working just fine.
Comment 3 Wu Jun 2012-02-05 15:12:52 UTC
This is a very annoying bug, existing from GNOME3 first release version. 


gnome-shell should not hijack keydown event. Hopefully, as a workaround easier to implement, gnomeshell will have a option to redefine the 'activity' hot key in future.
Comment 4 Florian Müllner 2012-02-05 15:19:47 UTC
(In reply to comment #3)
> gnome-shell should not hijack keydown event. Hopefully, as a workaround easier
> to implement, gnomeshell will have a option to redefine the 'activity' hot key
> in future.

This option exists (and has existed since 3.0) - "gsettings set org.gnome.mutter overlay-key 'Whatever'" in master, "gconftool-2 set -t string /apps/mutter/general/overlay_key whatever" for stable versions. Note bug 665547 for an existing issue with the setting though.
Comment 5 Wu Jun 2012-02-05 16:11:51 UTC
(In reply to comment #4)
> (In reply to comment #3)
> > gnome-shell should not hijack keydown event. Hopefully, as a workaround easier
> > to implement, gnomeshell will have a option to redefine the 'activity' hot key
> > in future.
> 
> This option exists (and has existed since 3.0) - "gsettings set
> org.gnome.mutter overlay-key 'Whatever'" in master, "gconftool-2 set -t string
> /apps/mutter/general/overlay_key whatever" for stable versions. Note bug 665547
> for an existing issue with the setting though.

Thanks for the quick reply!

I notice that the description for /apps/mutter/general/overlay_key contains "It's expected that this binding either the default or set to the empty string."

Seems [super] key is somehow hardcoded somewhere.

When I set it to "Control_R" and restart gnomeshell, it works: press Ctrl_R enters activity. I expect press Ctrl_R agian to exit activity view. But it doesn't work, press [super] or [esc] exits the activity view.

I think it is not easy to fix all the gnome-shell hijacking [super] bugs without bringing new bugs. How about another approach with gnome-shell hijacking feature totally disabled by setting overlay_key to empty? See Bug 669418 just opened by me.

hopefully
Comment 6 Wu Jun 2012-02-05 16:13:56 UTC
sorry, "hopefully" at the end of previous message is mistyped and should be deleted.
Comment 7 Florian Müllner 2012-02-05 16:19:55 UTC
(In reply to comment #5)
> Seems [super] key is somehow hardcoded somewhere.

Yes, this is what the aforementioned bug 665547 is about.
Comment 8 Jean Delvare 2012-02-05 16:26:02 UTC
I set /apps/mutter/general/overlay_key to an empty string and my custom shortcuts are working again. Thank you!
Comment 9 Florian Müllner 2012-03-18 13:58:01 UTC
*** Bug 672343 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 10 Michal Ambroz 2012-03-18 14:21:18 UTC
Description of problem:
It seems that some of the gnome-shell keyboard shortcuts using the value
containing the Win key (Mod4) will not work, while others won't.

The Super+key shortcut is possible to set for most of the actions in the
setting of Personal Menu/System Settings/Keyboard/Shortcuts.
Problem is that Super (Win, Mod4) key works only for very few of them.
Currently (gnome 3.3.x) it works only for the mutter actions
(Shortcuts/Windows).

In previous versions is used to work for the old metacity keyboards shortcuts
settings, but this stopped working with gnome 3.3.

For example: 
1) WORKS 
Shortcuts/Windows - setting for "Window split left", "Window split right" to
Super+left resp. Super+right.
Shortcuts/Navigation - Hide all normal windows on Super+D

2) DESNT WORK - 
Shortcuts/Launchers - "Launch Web Browser" on Super+F
Shortcuts/Screenshots - 
Shortcuts/Sound an Media - "Volume Down" "Volume Up" on Super+[ resp. Super+]
Shortcuts/System - "Lock Screen" on Super+L
Shortcuts/Custom Shortcuts - custom shortcut for running gnome-terminal on
Super+T


Best regards
Michal Ambroz
Comment 11 Renato Garcia 2012-03-27 04:50:43 UTC
Same issue here using GNOME Shell 3.3.92/Ubuntu Precise
Comment 12 Michal Ambroz 2012-03-27 13:33:01 UTC
Please what is the right procedure? Should be the version changed to 3.3.x or should there be second bug filled for version 3.3.x?
Comment 13 André Klapper 2012-03-27 14:47:25 UTC
Bumping the version field. Please no duplicates. :)
Comment 14 Toby Haynes 2012-04-09 19:43:10 UTC
Looks like this is present in 3.4.0 (Fedora 17, as of 9 April 2012)
Comment 15 Stijn Hoop 2012-04-09 20:54:41 UTC
Seeing this in F17 Beta RC3 as well.
Comment 16 Olivier Crête 2012-04-24 05:11:08 UTC
This is a regression from 3.2, confirming.  Probably is the same as #659699
Comment 17 Raphael Rochet 2012-04-29 22:14:48 UTC
It's still present in 3.4.1
Comment 18 Florian Müllner 2012-05-02 19:33:37 UTC
*** Bug 675325 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 19 qmax 2012-05-02 19:59:22 UTC
Seems like in 3.4.1 NEITHER of user-defined shortcuts with <Super>, <Hyper>, <Mod3>, <Mod4> are working, except of built-in stuff.
Comment 20 Jasper St. Pierre (not reading bugmail) 2012-05-05 18:56:23 UTC
*** Bug 662772 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 21 Florian Müllner 2012-08-30 01:54:39 UTC
*** Bug 678149 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 22 Florian Müllner 2012-08-30 01:55:04 UTC
*** Bug 680507 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 23 sfystone 2012-10-18 05:33:34 UTC
 had this same problem after upgrading. The dconf path is org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys. The predefined shortcuts live there. Custom shortcuts live further down under custom-keybindings/custom0 (or custom1, and so on).

Changing <Super> to <Mod4> in my shortcuts fixed the problem.
http://superuser.com/questions/415675/gnome-shell-3-4-and-a-super-key-related-shortcut
Comment 24 Johannes Berg 2012-10-18 06:56:54 UTC
Hmm, that doesn't work for me either, but anyway the UI should insert the right configuration.
Comment 25 Florian Müllner 2013-02-20 11:14:35 UTC
*** Bug 694248 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 26 Johannes Berg 2013-08-14 11:36:16 UTC
Can anyone even tell us where to look? I find it pretty sad that this has been open for close to two years.
Comment 27 sfystone 2013-08-16 07:52:46 UTC
(In reply to comment #23)
>  had this same problem after upgrading. The dconf path is
> org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys. The predefined shortcuts live
> there. Custom shortcuts live further down under custom-keybindings/custom0 (or
> custom1, and so on).
> 
> Changing <Super> to <Mod4> in my shortcuts fixed the problem.
> http://superuser.com/questions/415675/gnome-shell-3-4-and-a-super-key-related-shortcut

Well, After some updates and reinstall, this don't work neither. Now I switch to Xfce and feel good with it. XD
Comment 28 Olivier Crête 2013-08-16 13:26:49 UTC
This is fixed in 3.8, now non-shell users ask for their bindings from the shell.