Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: error on xmodmap modifier for Control_R

Fix Xmodmap modifier issue for Control_R key on Linux with GNOME.

Quick Answer: Check if the keycode is correct and try using a different method to bind the Insert key to Ctrl, such as using xbindkeys or adding a custom keyboard layout.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. 🚀 How to Resolve This Issue
  3. 💡 Conclusion

This error affects users who are trying to map the Insert key as a Control key on their keyboard, but it's frustrating because the mapping is not working despite setting up the ~/.Xmodmap file correctly.

The issue can be resolved by troubleshooting the Xmodmap settings and applying alternative fixes if necessary.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the keycode 118 for Insert key is not being recognized as a Control key in the Xmodmap settings. This could be due to the incorrect mapping of the keycode or an issue with the Xmodmap configuration file.
  • An alternative cause could be that the Xmodmap settings are not being applied correctly, which might be due to the logout/login cycle not updating the settings.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Re-configure the Xmodmap settings

  1. Step 1: Run the command `xmodmap -pm` and verify the Control key mapping.
  2. Step 2: Check if the keycode 118 for Insert key is correctly mapped to Control_R by running `grep 'Control_R' ~/.Xmodmap` in the terminal.
  3. Step 3: If necessary, edit the ~/.Xmodmap file to correct any typos or incorrect mappings.
  4. Step 4: Save the changes to the Xmodmap file and try mapping the Insert key again.
  5. Step 5: Verify that the Xmodmap settings are being applied correctly by running `xev` on the Insert key press event.
  6. Step 6: Repeat the steps until the Insert key is mapped as a Control key.

Use the `xset -r` command to reset Xmodmap settings

  1. Step 1: Run the command `xset -r` in the terminal to reset all Xmodmap settings.
  2. Step 2: Check if the keycode 118 for Insert key is correctly mapped to Control_R by running `grep 'Control_R' ~/.Xmodmap` in the terminal.
  3. Step 3: If necessary, edit the ~/.Xmodmap file to correct any typos or incorrect mappings.
  4. Step 4: Save the changes to the Xmodmap file and try mapping the Insert key again.
  5. Step 5: Verify that the Xmodmap settings are being applied correctly by running `xev` on the Insert key press event.

💡 Conclusion

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it may be necessary to seek further assistance from a Linux administrator or the openSUSE community. In any case, updating the Xmodmap file and verifying its correctness is essential for resolving this error.

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