setxkbmap

TLDR

Set the keyboard layout to French AZERTY

$ setxkbmap fr

Set multiple layouts with switching option

$ setxkbmap -layout us,de -variant ,qwerty -option 'grp:alt_caps_toggle'

Query current keyboard settings

$ setxkbmap -query

Set keyboard model

$ setxkbmap -model pc105 -layout us

Print keymap components without applying

$ setxkbmap -layout us -print

Set layout for a specific input device

$ setxkbmap -device [device_id] -layout [layout]

SYNOPSIS

setxkbmap [args] [layout [variant [option...]]]

setxkbmap configures keyboard layouts for the X Window System using the X Keyboard Extension (XKB). It builds keymaps from components stored in /usr/share/X11/xkb and applies them to the current X session.
The command supports multiple keyboard layouts that can be switched using configurable key combinations (options). Common switching options include grp:alt_shift_toggle, grp:caps_toggle, and grp:win_space_toggle.

PARAMETERS

-layout name

Specifies layout name (comma-separated for multiple layouts)

-variant name

Specifies layout variant (comma-separated, matching layout order)

-model name

Specifies keyboard model (e.g., pc104, pc105, thinkpad)

-option name

Specifies XKB option (can be used multiple times)

-device device

Numeric device ID to update (default: core keyboard)

-display display

X display to update

-config file

XKB configuration file describing keyboard

-rules file

Rules file for resolving layout to components

-query

Display current rules, model, layout, variant, and options

-print

Output component names in xkbcomp format, then exit

-I directory

Add directory to search path for layout files

-v, -verbose [level]

Set verbosity level (0-10, default 5)

-help

Display usage information

-version

Print program version

CAVEATS

Changes are session-only and do not persist across X restarts. For permanent changes, configure through desktop environment settings, /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/, or systemd's localectl. Does not work in Wayland sessions; use compositor-specific tools instead. Layout names vary by distribution.

HISTORY

setxkbmap is part of the X Keyboard Extension (XKB), which was developed in the mid-1990s to replace the older core X keyboard protocol. XKB was integrated into XFree86 and later X.Org, becoming the standard keyboard configuration mechanism for X11. The tool is maintained as part of the xorg-x11-xkb-utils package.