How do I disable the Super key?

Question

I want to disable the Super key, when I press Super nothing should happen.

How can I do that?

The "Super" key (a.k.a. "Windows" key) acts like a meta key such as Ctrl and Alt. In Unity, it's supposed to open the Launcher. To open the applications menu, use Alt + F1. I've no idea how to disable it though. — Lekensteyn, Feb 19 '12 at 12:10
See https://askubuntu.com/a/1039164/587882 to disable the super key for the launcher. — AnthonyC, Mar 31 '20 at 01:24

score 72 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 21 '18 at 13:36

72

You can change that in Compiz.

Install compizconfig-settings-manager

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Hit Alt+F2, type about:config and hit Enter to open the Unity configuration.

Or run ccsm on the command line.
Change or disable the shortcut for Key to show the launcher as you like to free your Super key:

enter image description here

edited Jun 21 '18 at 13:36

hmakholm left over Monica

415

answered Feb 19 '12 at 13:17

desgua

32,917

The tab layout is different now (in 13.04), but you click around you can still find the Launcher setting, and it still works. This is a blessing for Emacs users. – user100464 Aug 06 '13 at 14:32
This does not work anymore. I have no idea why but it appears like there is no way to disable the "Super" key showing the "search bar" in Ubuntu anymore (if there ever was a way). I've tried literally everything. – Mike May 05 '15 at 23:35
@Mike, it works for me (Ubuntu 15.04), it's like user100464 said, it's just in a different location – david-hoze Sep 07 '15 at 19:48
3

Works for me Ubuntu 15.10. The new location is "Ubuntu Unity Plugin > Launcher" – Nathanael Weiss Jan 24 '16 at 06:39
I disabled "Key to show the launcher", but now a new search felt pops up "type your command" when I press the super key. Ubuntu 17.04 – Peheje Sep 01 '17 at 08:34
@Peheje you an use compizconfig-settings-manager to search and disable or change yours keyboard shortcuts. – desgua Sep 02 '17 at 10:33
"Hit Alt+F2, type about:config and hit Enter" : That results in "Command not found" (18.04). – Nicolas Raoul May 18 '18 at 07:11
4

In 18.04 ccsm's advanced search does not find anything for "launcher". – Nicolas Raoul May 18 '18 at 07:26
@NicolasRaoul As noted above, this works for the latest install on ubuntu 16.04: in the filter box, type: "ubuntu unity plugin", and then you'll be in the "unity" meny. Then click the launcher tab. Or if you want more visual steps: https://www.faqforge.com/linux/make-super-key-launch-custom-program-rather-unity-search-ubuntu/ – FXQuantTrader Mar 20 '19 at 12:01

score 21 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 16 '14 at 01:53

21

Execute the following command and then log in Unity desktop environment again.

dconf write /org/compiz/profiles/unity/plugins/unityshell/show-launcher '""'

In Ubuntu 12.04 and later:

gconftool-2 --set "/apps/compiz-1/plugins/unityshell/screen0/options/show_launcher" --type string ""

edited Jan 16 '14 at 01:53

brandoncurtis

27
5

answered Jan 02 '13 at 06:53

FourDollars

997

This is great for those of us who don't want to have to install compiz-settings-manager! – Programster Jul 05 '13 at 21:04
Has the way keyboard shortcuts work changed between Ubuntu 12.04 and 14.04? – gonzobrains Jan 16 '15 at 19:33
1

On Ubuntu 14.04 (Trusty), I used gsettings set org.compiz.integrated show-hud "['']". – Mikel May 12 '15 at 23:43
4

The dconf write ... worked for me in 16.04. – mmoya Sep 01 '16 at 09:55
@mmoya checked on Ubuntu 16.10 - didn't work: dconf write.. – yetanothercoder Oct 03 '17 at 08:12
gconftool-2 ... has no effect in 18.04 it seems. – Nicolas Raoul May 18 '18 at 07:33
1

Is there a way to revert this? – linuxfan161 May 23 '21 at 11:14

score 20 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 05 '20 at 16:42

20

In Ubuntu 20.04, running this command works for me:

gsettings set org.gnome.mutter overlay-key ''

From https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2405352

answered Oct 05 '20 at 16:42

brianpeiris

439

3

This is the only answer here that worked for me on Ubuntu 20.04. – Codex24 Oct 09 '20 at 23:51
Use dconf-editor if you prefer a graphical tool to change the setting. I installed dconf-editor and changed org.gnome.mutter overlay-key from Super_L to Super_R and that solved my problems! – Viktor Kruglikov Oct 16 '20 at 09:22
This was painless for me in 21.10 impish. Thanks a ton brianpeiris! – zachaysan Nov 19 '21 at 14:05
Anyone happens to know the equivalent for Lubuntu ? – George Pligoropoulos Aug 15 '22 at 11:41

score 11 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 31 '12 at 06:04

11

Just putting the following lines into your ~/.Xmodmap and then log out and log in Unity again.

keycode 133 = NoSymbol
keycode 134 = NoSymbol

answered Dec 31 '12 at 06:04

FourDollars

997

3

I suspect that would prevent the user from assigning that key to any other function. – Edward Falk Nov 12 '14 at 01:02
Which is just what I needed. I actually add NoSymbol multiple times on each line in order to suppress its use with other modifier keys. Thanks! – gonzobrains Jan 08 '15 at 23:25
Perfect. I was really struggling to find these keycodes. – maicher Mar 16 '20 at 20:30

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 06 '23 at 15:33

As @user.dz has mentioned here, you can install gnome-tweaks either from Ubuntu Software or via apt.

Then, going through Keyboard & Mouse, under Keyboard, you can set Overview Shortcut to Right Super.

It happened to work for me since I almost always use the left Command key on my Mac.

How do I disable the Super key?

5 Answers5

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