How do I enable Scroll Lock?

Question

I need to enable scroll lock so I can toggle lights on my keyboard. This works on Arch.Funny thing it doesn't work on Ubuntu.

http://linuxtechie.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/getting-scroll-lock-to-work-in-ubuntu/

$ xmodmap -e ‘add mod3 = Scroll_Lock’
xmodmap:  unknown command on line commandline:1
xmodmap:  unable to open file 'mod3' for reading
xmodmap:  unable to open file '=' for reading
xmodmap:  unable to open file 'Scroll_Lock’' for reading
xmodmap:  4 errors encountered, aborting.

score 31 · Answer 1 · edited Aug 10 '12 at 22:45

31

xmodmap -e 'add mod3 = Scroll_Lock'

(Note the difference in the single-quotes!)

Copy this and paste it in a terminal.

Then the error will no longer occur.

I have used this command successfully on my Ubuntu 12.04 system.

edited Aug 10 '12 at 22:45

Community

1

answered Jun 29 '12 at 17:28

user74063

367
3
4

2

This won't work anymore on Gnome 3.10 since it will reset keyboard map after every login and screen lock/unlock – Giovanni Toraldo Jan 25 '16 at 20:35
How do you do this with just xkb instead of xmodmap? – CMCDragonkai Jan 27 '16 at 04:52
7

To any archaeologists: Still works on Ubuntu 16.04 – foxite Mar 03 '17 at 13:27
1

Worked on Mint 18! – falconR Aug 16 '17 at 05:33
Works great on pure debian (testing, latest stable kernel etc) with K700 keyboard – Scott Hather Feb 08 '21 at 12:24
thank you, it helps me a lot. S2 – Guilherme Jun 09 '22 at 15:24

score 25 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 02 '12 at 09:55

25

Or you can switch the lights with these:

On:

xset led named "Scroll Lock"

Off:

xset -led named "Scroll Lock"

Works on Ubuntu 12.04 x86 for my SpeedLink illuminated keyboard (SL-6453-SSV-A).

edited Jul 02 '12 at 09:55

Eliah Kagan

117,780

answered Jul 02 '12 at 01:38

SenorGrande

251
3
4

How can you use setxkbmap to have scroll lock just work? – Pykler Mar 17 '15 at 03:58
How can you do this automatically when linux boot? – falconR Dec 26 '17 at 23:45
Worked like a charm. Thanks. – Gaurang Arora Oct 23 '21 at 12:31

score 11 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 25 '16 at 21:07

11

Found the permanent way after a long night up with lots of half baked solutions.

# backup your symbols file
sudo cp /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/us{,.distribution}

Add the following line in the xkb_symbols "basic" { section. do not worry if that second line is not there, it is only there for some languages and was not there for us on my system.

...
    modifier_map Mod3   { Scroll_Lock }; <==<< Add this line

    include "level3(ralt_switch)" <==<< before this line
};

You may have to do the same in your other layouts if you switch between languages

Also, there is a cache where xkb layouts live. You should clear it before restarting your X server to check the new keyboard symbol file(s).

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xkb-data

edited Jan 25 '16 at 21:07

Giovanni Toraldo

520

answered Mar 17 '15 at 06:01

Pykler

667

1

Works on ubuntu 14.04 too (tested with Cooler Master Devastator keyboard) – Giovanni Toraldo Jan 25 '16 at 20:34
ps: you must remove the '<==<< Add this line' part or else you will not have a functional keyboard upon x restart :) – Then Enok Dec 11 '16 at 19:03
This worked for me on Ubuntu 16.10. Thanks a bunch, it's been driving me nuts for ages! – NotKyon Feb 04 '17 at 16:45
Works on Ubuntu 16.04 too – rneves Feb 27 '18 at 13:58
The right place is actually /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc. If you edit it, you don't need to edit any layouts files. – yanychar Dec 08 '20 at 17:34

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 09 '22 at 22:47

0

If you just modify the

/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc

you should use a command like

sudo gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc

and add the line

 modifier_map Mod3   { Scroll_Lock };

inside the

xkb_symbols "pc105" {

It's enough

answered Jun 09 '22 at 22:47

Guilherme

146

How do I enable Scroll Lock?

4 Answers4

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