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This happens only in Skype on Ubuntu 18.04. I have used Skype on other platforms (Ubuntu and others) and this does not happen. I use ALT+SHIFT to switch keyboard layout to another language. When I use Skype on Ubuntu 18.04 and press ALT+SHIFT the language is changed but also the focus is moved to the application menu (as if I had pressed ALT only).

Any help is welcome!

user9839468
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  • It seems to have already been fixed (I wrote to them several times via "Help -> Report a Problem..."). Ubuntu 20.04.4, Skype 8.83.0.408. – Roman Grinyov May 07 '22 at 08:27

2 Answers2

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I guess the way you have set-up your ALT+SHIFT shortcut is via gnome-tweak-tool?

If that's the case - I have the same issue with slack, after some digging found out that there is another way to change the keyboard layout w/o using gnome-tweak-tool which wont cause this side effect of losing the focus.

The solution is to use gsettings as explained here

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings switch-input-source "['<Shift>Alt_L']"
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.keybindings switch-input-source-backward "['<Alt>Shift_L']"

UPDATE: As mentioned in the comments, make sure to also uncheck the ALT+SHIFT shortcut from gnome-tweak-tool.

Todor
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  • Thank you for your response @Todor. However I am afraid the result is the same for me at skype no matter if I use gnome-tweaks or gsettings. – user9839468 Jan 28 '20 at 14:06
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    @user9839468 make sure to also uncheck the "alt+shift" from "Switching to another layout" in the "keyboard and mouse" from the gnome-tweak-tool. I just had to fix it on one more machine and only applying the gsettings commands was not enough when I had "alt+shift" in gnome-tweak-tool. I also tested in on skype and it seems to work for me. – Todor Feb 28 '20 at 07:13
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    Yes, That worked! Thank you so much @Todor! – user9839468 Feb 29 '20 at 16:00
  • Hey, in my case it worked for the current session, but after I restarted the computer, the language indicator would change, but I could only type with the default keyboard – lefterav Apr 06 '20 at 15:30
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That was an odd issue. It looks like pressing only Alt is a Skype specific shortcut. Alt+Shift, OTOH, is an XKB shortcut. One way to avoid that Skype is affected is to make sure you press Shift first and then press Alt while still holding the Shift key.

Or, of course, using the default Super+Space is another way to avoid the conflict.

Gunnar Hjalmarsson
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    thank you for your answer. Both alternatives you propose involve changing the way of switching keyboard which is something I would like to avoid as I use it for longer than the last 20 years. As for all applications Alt is a shortcut to move to the menu, it is really odd as you say that this is the first time Alt+Shift has the side-effect of changing focus. – user9839468 Oct 04 '19 at 03:23