[GH-ISSUE #630] Adding section to Wiki/documentation about how to get AltGr-working #498

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opened 2026-05-05 06:32:46 -06:00 by gitea-mirror · 4 comments

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:32:46 -06:00

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Originally created by @dd1982 on GitHub (Apr 19, 2020).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/debauchee/barrier/issues/630

Adding this trick helped me finally get barrier to a useable state on a Ubuntu-server with a Windows 10-client - with my keyboard layout the following keys are accessible via AltGr: @${}[]~| so you can imagine my frustration trying to write code until I figured this out.

By saving the config to a file, adding the lines with the arrows below to the config and starting barrier with barrier --config /path/to/config.file I finally got AltGr working.

section: screens
    linux:
    windows7:
        meta = altgr    <----
        altgr = shift     <----
end

Props to @wjtk4444 that spelled it out clearly in #438 - I was to thick to get it to work the first time around.

Originally created by @dd1982 on GitHub (Apr 19, 2020). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/debauchee/barrier/issues/630 Adding this trick helped me finally get barrier to a useable state on a Ubuntu-server with a Windows 10-client - with my keyboard layout the following keys are accessible via AltGr: @${}[]\~| so you can imagine my frustration trying to write code until I figured this out. By saving the config to a file, adding the lines with the arrows below to the config _**and**_ starting barrier with _barrier --config /path/to/config.file_ I finally got AltGr working. ``` section: screens linux: windows7: meta = altgr <---- altgr = shift <---- end ``` Props to @wjtk4444 that spelled it out clearly in #438 - I was to thick to get it to work the first time around.

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:32:49 -06:00

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@wjtk4444 commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2020):

Well, it's just a hack that happens to work for some reason. Windows still sees the Alt key in a weird way, for example PrintScreen is getting captured as Alt+PrintScreen (and some other mild annoyances).

~~I also can't get Ctrl+Alt+Delete to work, and it's a surprisingly essential shortcut when a fullscreen application stops responding...~~

EDIT: got it working!

Go to the Local Group Policy Editor (Type "gpedit.msc" in the run menu)
Dig down to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Logon Options
Open up the "Disable or enable software Secure Attention Sequence" option
Set it to "Enabled" and then select "Services and Ease of Access applications" below, click OK

Sources (last url is already dead, so I copy-pasted the contents above):
https://superuser.com/questions/267532/
https://superuser.com/a/974906
http://www.robertwrose.com/2012/06/enabling-ctrl-alt-del-in-windows-7-over-synergy.html

@dd1982, could you confirm if it works on Windows 10 as well?

@wjtk4444 commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2020): Well, it's just a hack that happens to work for some reason. Windows still sees the Alt key in a weird way, for example PrintScreen is getting captured as Alt+PrintScreen (and some other mild annoyances). ~I also can't get Ctrl+Alt+Delete to work, and it's a surprisingly essential shortcut when a fullscreen application stops responding...~ EDIT: got it working! * Go to the Local Group Policy Editor (Type "gpedit.msc" in the run menu) * Dig down to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Logon Options * Open up the "Disable or enable software Secure Attention Sequence" option * Set it to "Enabled" and then select "Services and Ease of Access applications" below, click OK Sources (last url is already dead, so I copy-pasted the contents above): https://superuser.com/questions/267532/ https://superuser.com/a/974906 http://www.robertwrose.com/2012/06/enabling-ctrl-alt-del-in-windows-7-over-synergy.html @dd1982, could you confirm if it works on Windows 10 as well?

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:32:51 -06:00

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@dd1982 commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2020):

Yes - I'm running the server on Ubuntu 19.10 and the client on Win 10 Enterprise 1809 and so far so good.

I have a vague recall of Windows using ctrl-alt-del as a special combo that is not supposed to be interceptable by running software - so that might be a tough one. Even when using MS Remote Desktop ctrl-alt-del is intercepted by the local machine rather than the one you're interacting with.

If any dev wants to try and make a proper fix for AltGr on Windows - the reason people are having trouble can be found in the links below - in Windows pressing AltGr results in funny keycodes;

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/inputdev/wm-syskeyup?redirectedfrom=MSDN
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12252651/right-alt-sends-two-virtual-key-codes

@dd1982 commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2020): Yes - I'm running the server on Ubuntu 19.10 and the client on Win 10 Enterprise 1809 and so far so good. I have a vague recall of Windows using ctrl-alt-del as a special combo that is not supposed to be interceptable by running software - so that might be a tough one. Even when using MS Remote Desktop ctrl-alt-del is intercepted by the local machine rather than the one you're interacting with. If any dev wants to try and make a proper fix for AltGr on Windows - the reason people are having trouble can be found in the links below - in Windows pressing AltGr results in funny keycodes; https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/inputdev/wm-syskeyup?redirectedfrom=MSDN https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12252651/right-alt-sends-two-virtual-key-codes

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:32:56 -06:00

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@github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Sep 24, 2020):

This issue has been automatically marked as stale due to inactivity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

@github-actions[bot] commented on GitHub (Sep 24, 2020): This issue has been automatically marked as stale due to inactivity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:32:59 -06:00

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@mclang commented on GitHub (Sep 10, 2021):

I think it would be good to add this also:
https://github.com/debauchee/barrier/issues/134

@mclang commented on GitHub (Sep 10, 2021): I think it would be good to add this also: https://github.com/debauchee/barrier/issues/134