Ubuntu – Switch keyboard layout hotkeys doesn’t work on lockscreen

There are many shortcuts to choose to switch between keyboard layouts, but none fits with what you want.

Anyway, it can be done using a bash scripts and two custom shortcuts.

First, create the script, let's call it change_layouts:

#!/bin/bash
#script to switch between two keyboard layouts

if [ $# -ne 2 ];then
    echo "Usage: `basename $0` first_layout second_layout"
    echo "   ex: change_layouts us ru"
    exit
fi

first_layout=$1
second_layout=$2

if [ -z "$(ls -l /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols | grep ^- | awk '{print $9}' | grep $first_layout)" ]; then
    echo "Error: Doesn't exists ant keyboard layout called '$first_layout'."
    exit
fi

if [ -z "$(ls -l /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols | grep ^- | awk '{print $9}' | grep $second_layout)" ]; then
    echo "Error: Doesn't exists ant keyboard layout called '$second_layout'."
    exit
fi

if [ "$first_layout" = "$second_layout" ]; then
    echo "Error: The arguments (keyboard layouts) must to be different."
    exit
fi

current_layout=$(gsettings get org.gnome.libgnomekbd.keyboard layouts)

if [ "$current_layout" = "['$first_layout', '$second_layout']" ]; then
    gsettings set org.gnome.libgnomekbd.keyboard layouts "['$second_layout', '$first_layout']"
else 
    gsettings set org.gnome.libgnomekbd.keyboard layouts "['$first_layout', '$second_layout']"
fi

Save the script in your ~/bin directory and don't forget to make it executable:

chmod +x ~/bin/change_layouts

Now you can test the script in terminal. Run it more times to see how it works.

Second, add your custom shortcuts. Go to System Setting → Keyboard → Shortcuts → Custom Shortcuts and follow the instructions from the below image:

When I had Xubuntu I had the same issue just for Hebrew. But playing with settings fixed it.

1. Check that your system settings are correct (Settings -> Text Entry).
2. Make sure also that shortcut is not taken in Keyboard Shortcuts and that no key associated with Next input method. Try to remove everything from Input Methods settings.
3. Go to keyboard settings, and change layout configurations.
4. Try to clean/reset mapping settings: How do I clear xmodmap settings?

If it still doesn't work try:

4. Check that the plugin xfce4-xkb-plugin is installed (just run sudo apt-get install xfce4-xkb-plugin)
5. try to map manually sudo setxkbmap -optiongrp:switch,grp:alt_shift_toggle us,ru