How to change the keyboard layout using Kali Linux Terminal

In Kali Linux, altering the keyboard layout can be quite important, particularly when utilizing various languages or layouts. Thankfully, the terminal makes it simple to swap between keyboard layouts. You will be guided step-by-step through the process by this guide.

Method 1: Using setxkbmap Command

Step 1: Check Current Keyboard Layout

Understanding the current layout is crucial before making any changes to the keyboard layout. You can use the following command in the terminal to see the current keyboard layout:

setxkbmap -query

This command will display information about the current keyboard layout, including the layout variant and options.

Step 2: List Available Keyboard Layouts

To see a list of available keyboard layouts, you can use the following command:

cat /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/xorg.lst

This command will display a list of keyboard layouts supported by your system. Note down the layout you want to switch to.

Step 3: Change Keyboard Layout

Now that you are aware of the various keyboard layouts, you can use the setxkbmap command to alter the layout. For instance, you would use the following command to change to the US keyboard layout:

setxkbmap us

Replace us with the layout code of the desired layout. For instance, us for US layout, gb for UK layout, de for German layout, etc.

Step 4: Verify New Keyboard Layout

It’s a good idea to make that the keyboard layout modification has taken effect after making the adjustment. To make sure the keyboard layout you are using matches the one you chose, you can run the setxkbmap -query command once more.

Step 1: Open the terminal

Launch the terminal in Kali Linux. The terminal symbol can usually be found in the application menu choice or by a shortcut key combination like `Ctrl + Alt + T`.

Step 2: Access Root Privileges:

To edit system configuration files such as /etc/default/keyboard, you will need to use an administrator account.

Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo nano /etc/default/keyboard

Step 3 : Locate the XKBLAYOUT Line:

Search the file for a line that starts with XKBLAYOUT=. The keyboard layout that is in use is described in this line. As an illustration, it could resemble this:

XKBLAYOUT="us"

Once the required adjustments have been made, save the file by hitting Ctrl + O (to write out) and then Enter. Next, use Ctrl + X to close Nano.

Step 1: Open the terminal

Launch the terminal in Kali Linux. The terminal symbol can usually be found in the application menu choice or by a shortcut key combination like `Ctrl + Alt + T`.

Step 2: With the keyboard-configuration package installed, this command will launch the dpkg-reconfigure utility.

sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

Choose your desired keyboard layout and press Ok.

How do I revert to the default keyboard layout?

To revert to the default keyboard layout, you can simply use the setxkbmap command without specifying a layout. This will reset the layout to the default one configured for your system.

Can I change the keyboard layout for a specific user only?

Indeed, you may add the setxkbmap command to a user’s shell configuration file (e.g., ~/.bashrc, ~/.bash_profile) to modify that user’s keyboard layout.

Why is my keyboard layout not changing after running the command?

Make sure you are using the correct layout code if the setxkbmap command does not change your keyboard layout. Additionally, after executing the command, look for any problems or warnings that appear in the terminal.

Using the terminal, changing the keyboard layout in Kali Linux is an easy task that can be completed fast with a few short commands. You can quickly switch between keyboard layouts to accommodate your tastes or linguistic needs by following the instructions provided in this article.To be sure the modification was implemented correctly, don’t forget to check the new keyboard layout after making the adjustment. Try looking through the FAQs or asking the Kali Linux community for help if you run into any problems.