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Inconsistent behavior when switching the keyboard layout #13384
Description
Distribution
Mint 22.3
Package version
6.6.4
Graphics hardware in use
NVIDIA 3080 TI
Frequency
Quite often
Bug description
Good day, Mint team!
In the new version of Linux Mint, I noticed inconsistent behavior when switching the keyboard layout. I reassigned the shortcut to Alt + Shift — the language does switch, but not consistently.
Sometimes it feels like the shortcut does not trigger at all. The switch only works reliably if I hold Alt for a moment and then press Shift.
I also noticed that in DuckDuckGo search, the focus is lost from the search input when switching the keyboard layout.
Steps to reproduce
Fast language switch with alt + shift
Expected behavior
Instantly language switch after pressing the keyboard shortcut
Additional information
No response
Activity
[-]Big delay on language switch[/-][+]Inconsistent behavior when switching the keyboard layout[/+]spont4e commentedon Jan 13, 2026
I have the same problem
chiplun1961-star commentedon Jan 13, 2026
It 's the same for many .the proposed solution to install the layout in XKB helps only before rebooting.then everything repeats again the cinnamon mint zen system I use xorg
n-at commentedon Jan 13, 2026
I have the same problem. When installed in Keyboard > Layouts, Alt + Shift is sometimes registering as single Alt press and moves input focus on application menu (in VSCode for example). It works properly when layout shortcut installed in XKB settings.
chiplun1961-star commentedon Jan 13, 2026
They replied from the official linux mint page Try to reconfigure your keyboard configuration. Type in Terminal (copy/paste):
Code: Select all
sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration
Follow the dialogs in TUI to reconfigure the keyboard. Step-by-step instructions on how to configure the keyboard in Terminal User Interface: https://linuxsystemcomputers.com/deskto ... -in-linux/
When you're done with this process, close Terminal and reboot your computer.
After you log-in again, you should see the chosen keyboard layout as an icon of the country flag in the notifications area of the panel.
If not, go to System Settings/Keyboard and enable 'Use country flag, if available, to represent keyboard layouts' slider under Options section.https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=461207
cravingforwind commentedon Jan 13, 2026
Same here, running a number of Mint installs - all of them went haywire with the last "upgrade".
Solution so far was to:
However - functionality remains absolutely horrid:
What went wrong? Things were working perfectly fine - except when iBus would re-apper for no valid reasons...
MrCapone commentedon Jan 14, 2026
Adding Alt+Shift combination at XKB options seems solve the problem, but partially. For example Alt+Shift still doesn't work when Menu is open. And after reboot Alt+Shift stop working everywhere. I don't understand why broke system that worked perfectly fine for nearly twenty years.
sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration doesn't help at all.
chiplun1961-star commentedon Jan 14, 2026
After sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration and debugging the keyboard with a reboot of the laptop, my problem disappeared, but now the language switch happens when you press just one button: either Alt or Shift. Although the layout is set when two buttons are pressed.
portokala123 commentedon Jan 14, 2026
It switches, but it’s extremely slow. You need to hold the keys for about 1–2 seconds for the combination to switch.
tanev commentedon Jan 16, 2026
In my case (I have the XKB option to switch by using the Caps lock-only) the delay is so large, that if I switch, the first one or two letters (depending on how fast I am typing) get "eaten", and I'd have to delete the word or return to its beginning and re-type them. Interestingly enough something changes moments ago when I've updated to cinnamon 6.6.5+gigi and restarted cinnamon, though unsure if the delay itself is fixed for good or it might reappear on the next boot.
portokala123 commentedon Jan 17, 2026
I upgraded to 6.6.5 and tested XKB options. It works way better than the main option.
I upgraded to 6.6.5 and tested XKB options. It works way better than the main option.
MrCapone commentedon Jan 17, 2026
After upgrading cinnamon to 6.6.5 XKB option seems to work after reboot. It work almost perfectly fine. But when I open menu it stows working until I close menu. It seems menu steals some input from XKB.
zhuravkovigor commentedon Feb 13, 2026
Fixed the issue with the layout changing via XKB and added a layout switch to the new menu using Alt + Shift. It works perfectly now, but I think it might not be very intuitive for new users. It would be great to see some improvements in the future, thanks all for helping with this question!
TicClick commentedon Feb 13, 2026
this still feels like a regression or improperly handled migration (which makes me concerned enough to hold off with the system update) -- @zhuravkovigor do you mind reopening the issue for visibility?
NeatNit commentedon Feb 13, 2026
Possibly off-topic but I got the sense that there was no migration at all from Mint 22.2 to 22.3. I have 2 keyboard layouts in use, Hebrew and English, but after the upgrade to 22.3 only English was enabled. I had to re-enable Hebrew as if it was never enabled.
So if there was any attempt at migration, it didn't do the bare minimum.
keyboardManager.js: Don't wait on ibus' set_global_engine_async()
zhuravkovigor commentedon Oct 23, 2026
Problem is fixed for me, thank you @mtwebster!