Is there any way to swap the fn (function) and control keys in linux on an macbook pro?

Question

I don't care if this is done in the bios or a kernel module or software. Is there any way at all to do make the 'fn' key act as 'control' and the 'control' key act as 'fn' in linux running on a macbook pro?

PS. You can do this with software in OSX with the application KeyRemap4MacBook.

Use this kernel module: https://github.com/free5lot/hid-apple-patched — Aleksandr Dubinsky, Nov 13 '19 at 12:08
Precisely what I needed to do (on elementaryOS 6.0) was documented here: https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/156629/278323, where it _is_ "on topic." — TheDudeAbides, Aug 15 '21 at 11:19

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 08 '18 at 10:54

2

Try the command "xev" and press the Fn key.

On my computer (Lenovo T60), I see this in the terminal when I press the Fn key:

KeyPress event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x3c00001,
    root 0x6d, subw 0x0, time 2266123481, (652,782), root:(655,915),
    state 0x10, keycode 151 (keysym 0x1008ff2b, XF86WakeUp),

So the Fn key is keycode 151. My left control is 37. Then you can remap, now knowing the key codes they generate.

https://web.archive.org/web/20090202093048/http://www.columbia.edu/~djv/docs/keyremap.html

edited Apr 08 '18 at 10:54

Stephen Kennedy

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answered Feb 13 '11 at 22:48

Arno Teigseth

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The Fn key on a Mac does not generate an event in xev. – Chad A. Davis Jul 10 '11 at 11:27
The link does not work – Jimmy Kane Jul 25 '13 at 19:00
@JimmyKane, Try this link https://web.archive.org/web/20090202093048/http://www.columbia.edu/~djv/docs/keyremap.html – nanangarsyad Apr 08 '18 at 01:22
If the key does not generate any event, what should I do? Any ideas. – thenakulchawla Apr 18 '18 at 20:48
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This project solved the issue for me: https://github.com/free5lot/hid-apple-patched – Mikael Valot Sep 04 '18 at 07:52

Is there any way to swap the fn (function) and control keys in linux on an macbook pro?

1 Answers1