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I use the following command to remap the Caps Lock key to Esc:

setxkbmap -option caps:escape

Unfortunately, I have to type the command every time I create a new session. I tried putting it in my .bashrc but it did not work. I guess the keyboard settings must be getting overwritten somehow after the .bashrc has run.

How can make the key binding automatically occur?

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    Typically, you would put it in your X initialisation file (~/.xinitrc), but if you are using a display manager, that may not get read. How do you start X?
    – jasonwryan
    May 17, 2016 at 3:16
  • @jasonwryan I don't know it is ubuntu. I just start ubuntu then press Ctrl-Shift-T
    – Tyler Durden
    May 17, 2016 at 3:48
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    Doesn't Ubuntu have some sort of keyboard utility: you probably need to define it there. This should probably be migrated to AU...
    – jasonwryan
    May 17, 2016 at 3:57
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    did you try adding the command to startup applications?
    – the_velour_fog
    May 17, 2016 at 4:49

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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If your ubuntu is not too old (? probably at least 15.04), you should have a command locatectl which on its own will list some current settings eg:

System Locale: LANG=en_US.UTF-8
    VC Keymap: us
   X11 Layout: us
    X11 Model: pc105

Note the values for layout, model, variant, and options if any and provide them to sudo localectl in that order, with your new option added with a comma to any existing options. If the model is missing it is probably pc105 (see also setxkbmap -print). Eg

sudo localectl set-x11-keymap us pc105 '' caps:escape

You only need to use the command once, as it changes global files and is preserved across reboots. localectl is part of systemd. See man localectl.

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  • this does not persist through the computer sleeping; when it comes back from sleep the escape key is no longer changed even it says it is changed in localectl
    – Tyler Durden
    May 20, 2016 at 17:55
  • that seems unusual. there really must be something which has another config file it is using to restore a different setting. Edit your question with which version of Ubuntu you are using, in case that helps someone find an answer.
    – meuh
    May 20, 2016 at 18:13

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