How can I disable the Super button so that it won't bring up the Search window?

Question

I know this question may have been asked before but the solutions are all out of date or don't work.

I am running Ubuntu as a VM in VMWare on a Mac. If I try to switch from Ubuntu (in VMWare) to the host computer's OS (Mac OS X) but pressing command-tab, it almost always brings up the search box as I switch since the "command" button is the "super" key. When I command-tab back to Ubuntu the search box is now up cover my app and I have to manually click the window I was working on to get back to it. This is very frustrating and makes switching from Ubuntu to a Mac OS X app very difficult.

I've tried using Compiz Config Settings Manager. I've tried changing the keyboard settings. I've tried a variety of command line fixes, but NOTHING seems to disable the super key.

Possible duplicate of How do I disable the Unity keyboard shortcut overlay? — Fabby, Jan 20 '16 at 17:52

score 5 · Answer 1 · edited May 06 '15 at 08:47

5

I finally found something that worked:

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

edited May 06 '15 at 08:47

A.B.

90,397

answered May 05 '15 at 23:47

Mike

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Worked on Ubuntu 16.04 – tyleha Jan 23 '18 at 22:23
Note that post Ubuntu 17, this won't work because of the switch to Gnome as the UI shell. The new approach (which worked for me in Ubuntu 20.04) is gsettings set org.gnome.mutter overlay-key ''. – antun Jan 09 '24 at 18:40

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 20 '16 at 07:56

0

Do not use previous advice in Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS:

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

It works! But it gives some bad behaviour: i cann't type a "space" symbol, unexpected resets to login screen with disabled keyboard.

answered Jan 20 '16 at 07:56

kalessind

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Look here to find a correct answer fo Ubuntu 12.04 – kalessind Jan 20 '16 at 08:00
Noted and original question duplicated... Your answer will be deleted automatically in a few days time... – Fabby Jan 20 '16 at 17:53

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 21 '16 at 22:04

0

For anybody else using VMware:

Go to "Virtual Machine" -> "Settings" -> "Keyboard & mouse" -> "Edit Profile..." for "Mac Profile" -> "Mac Host Shortcuts" -> Check "Enable Mac OS Host Keyboard Shortcuts"

Tested using VMWare v7.1.3 and Ubuntu 14.04

edited Apr 21 '16 at 22:04

kyrofa

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answered Apr 21 '16 at 16:35

Juan Carlos

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How can I disable the Super button so that it won't bring up the Search window?

3 Answers3