Ubuntu – VirtualBox traps CTRL-ALT when focused, interferes with workspace switching

shortcut-keysvirtualboxworkspaces

Setup: I have VirtualBox running, my guest OS is Windows 7. I also have multiple Ubuntu workspaces which I navigate with Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys.

The problem is that when the virtual machine window gets focus, it traps the Ctrl+Alt keys (actually it traps all keys, which is technically correct behavior), but then those keys no longer perform my host OS workspace switching.

I'd like the workspace switch shortcut key to continue working even if my VM is focused. I suppose I wouldn't mind if both OSes receive the Ctrl+Alt+Arrow and process them (though my VM doesn't use these shortcut keys.)

My current workaround is to click outside (unfocus) the VM, but I don't want to have to do this.

There may be no solution to this, but I thought I'd ask.

Best Answer

At present there is no option to customize the capture behavior of host keystrokes in VirtualBox. It is either always "Auto Capture Keyboard" or never so. This can be defined in the application preferences from Virtual Box Manager preferences dialog.

A convenient way to temporarily toggle host keyboard capturing is pressing the Host-key once. By default this is set to RightCtrl but on my system I set it to RightShift as shown below:

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If auto-capture was enabled we can use the host keys until we toggle back.

In case we had used AltTab application switcher the guest restores the default keyboard capture state when the guest windows gets focus again.

Override

There is an escape override built into VMware which overrides the breakout combination, by tapping Space while holding down the breakout combination, before hitting your desired key So for example, if you wanted to go to the right workspace you would hold down Ctrl+Alt, tap Space and then tap Right.

Change the Combination

Change the breakout combination. To do this, edit preferences.ini (in Windows 7 it's in C:\Users\$YOUR_USERNAME$\AppData\Roaming\VMware, if you can't find it search) and add:

pref.hotkey.shift = "true"
pref.hotkey.alt = "true"
pref.hotkey.control = "true"

This remaps the breakout combination to Ctrl+Alt+Shift.

Before you say anything, yes, I realise that this is also used in Ubuntu, to move windows between workspaces. Unfortunately, that is the best I've been able to come up with so far. You are supposed to be able to be as specific as left or right control, but they don't work for me, leftControl etc just maps back to both.

References:

Ubuntu – Keyboard shortcut for switch to workspace 11 doesn’t work

I have no idea why this doesn't work, but I ran into the same problem myself and I have a workaround.

First, you need to find a command which lets you switch to workspace 11 (and in my case, also workspace 12)

Take a look at this answer to know how to do that.

For instance, on my system the command to switch to workspace 11 was wmctrl -o 3840,2160. This is resolution dependent, so I'd suggest looking at the original answer to find the command that reliably works for you.

Once you have the command, go to

System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Custom Shortcuts

And add these commands as custom shortcuts. Now assign any key to them and it should work.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – Workspace switcher keyboard shortcuts for left and right workspaces not responding

Override

Change the Combination

Ubuntu – Keyboard shortcut for switch to workspace 11 doesn’t work

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