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I want to set my keyboard settings to Swedish, but on the Raspbian configuration tool my keyboard is not on the list.

Update: Changing XKBLAYOUT to "se" doesn't work. And internationalization in raspi-config doesn't either. My keyboard is a Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400r, if that might help.

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13 Answers 13

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Take a look at the Raspberry Pi wiki on re-mapping the keyboard with Debian Squeeze:

Re-mapping the keyboard with Debian Squeeze

If different letters appear on-screen from that which you typed, you need to reconfigure you keyboard settings. In Debian, from a command line type:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

Follow the prompts. To apply the changes type:

sudo setupcon

Or:
From the command line type:

sudo nano /etc/default/keyboard

Then find where it says

XKBLAYOUT=”gb”

and change the gb to the two letter code for your country.

Here is the list of current country codes from Wikipedia if you don't know your country code (use the codes in the column labeled alpha-2).


Another way you can try switching the keyboard layout:

$ setxkbmap de
$ setxkbmap fr
$ setxkbmap us
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  • 1
    none of these worked, any idea why? 'sudo: dkpg-reconfigure: command not found' and changing the keyboard defaults to 'se' did nothing even tho I saved before quiting. Oct 20, 2013 at 18:54
  • 1
    Did you restart after saving that file?
    – syb0rg
    Oct 21, 2013 at 3:26
  • Yeah I restarted. Oct 23, 2013 at 20:48
  • 1
    @hustlerinc I'm not sure why sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration isn't working for you. Are you working from a fully updated vanilla Raspbian OS?
    – syb0rg
    Oct 24, 2013 at 21:56
  • 1
    @syb0rg This setting resets on reboot, is there a command to save it so it's permanent? Tried google but no success. Oct 31, 2013 at 12:14
11

Here is one thing to try out:

Edit /etc/default/keyboard with your favorite editor (vim, nano,). Remember to use sudo:

sudo nano /etc/default/keyboard

Make the file look like this:

# KEYBOARD CONFIGURATION FILE

# Consult the keyboard(5) manual page.

XKBMODEL="pc105"
XKBLAYOUT="se"
XKBVARIANT=""
XKBOPTIONS="terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp"

BACKSPACE="guess"

Save the file, then reboot.

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  • This didn't work either. =( Oct 23, 2013 at 20:57
  • Exactly, what does not work? You do not get @ when pressing ALTGR+2? Or doesn't Ö show up in the terminal?
    – Sitron_NO
    Oct 24, 2013 at 6:23
  • It's not about the special characters, I know they have no place in terminal. The problem is your first example, always having to google "US keyboard layout" and have an image open to find the brackets, semi colon etc is starting to piss me off. :P Oct 24, 2013 at 9:37
  • Do you have these to packages installed? keyboard-configuration and kbd (Use dpkg -l to check)
    – Sitron_NO
    Oct 24, 2013 at 10:47
  • No it wasn't installed, atleast when trying dkpg -l, but apt-get install keyboard-configuration says "keyboard-configuration is already the newest version", same with kbd, but syb0rgs answer didn't work for some reason, says it's not installed. :S Oct 24, 2013 at 11:03
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sudo vim /etc/default/keyboard

XKBLAYOUT="se"
XKBOPTIONS="ctrl:swapcaps"
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  • Didn't work the only thing added though was ctrl:swapcaps. The problem seems to be it doesn't recognize "se". Oct 23, 2013 at 20:58
  • @hustlerinc You did both? Well it should work. Did you try at the initial configuration as well?
    – Loko
    Oct 23, 2013 at 21:00
  • Yeah, the "se" part was allready there. By initial configuration do you mean raspi-config? If so yeah, hundreds of times but my exact keyboard is not there, so I tried with a few other models by the same manufacturer. Oct 23, 2013 at 21:11
  • @hustlerinc Yeah I meant raspi-config... :S Sorry I couldn't be a help Goodluck man I dont think theres much I can do for you
    – Loko
    Oct 23, 2013 at 22:29
  • np, you get some bonus reputation for the effort. Oct 24, 2013 at 9:51
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My solution was to run "dpkg-reconfigure console-data" as root and select "select keymap from full list" from the appearing dialog window. No reboot needed.

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# KEYBOARD CONFIGURATION FILE
# Consult the keyboard(5) manual page. 

XKBMODEL="pc105"
XKBLAYOUT="us,gr"
XKBVARIANT=","
XKBOPTIONS="grp:alt_shift_toggle,terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp,grp_led:scroll"

BACKSPACE="guess"
1

I have an emulation of Raspbian in a Sony Vaio VGN-FW-11E in Spanish language.

I could solve the problem by runing in command prompt sudo raspi-config and then going to Advanced Setup and then "Update" (this tool to the latest version). This connects your computer to a raspberry pi server and download the latest version of the config tool, which assures that you have the most updated options and languages.

Then I could choose the language of my keyboard which is Spanish and everything went fine!

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It seems to have something to do with that speciffic keyboard (Logitech K400). I ran into the same problem when trying to use the Danish layout.

Everything seemed to be configured correctly, but the actual layout was still US. When I switched to another keyboard, the layout was Danish, without any further modifications...

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I suppose the problem disapears when you use a wired keyboard.

If it is the case, it seems linked to this bug: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=39460

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    You have got the beginnings of a great answer, just include some specifics on the bug and you'll be there!
    – Darth Vader
    May 31, 2016 at 15:18
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Gents, the best way if you want several keyboard layout available is to right click on your top panel icon (the hour for example) then go to : 'Add/Remove Panel Items' then go to : 'Panel Aplets' tab then 'Add' then select : 'Keyoard layout handler' then it will appear as an icon in your panel (it can be a flag or keyboard or country code). Right click on the keyboard icon go to 'kyboard layout settings' and then un-check the box 'system settings' and then add as many keyboard layout you want! Enjoy.

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None of the answers worked for me:

  1. editing /etc/default/keyboard
  2. using raspi-config
  3. using dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

The reason was that LXDE has its own config and it has overwritten config set by above ways. To change it once and for all I had to use keyboard and mouse configuration from "start menu" -> preferences.

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sudo raspi-config internationalisation options keyboard layout generic US 105 or 102 keys depending on your keyboard then choose US then choose what sort (eg. EU setup with a EURO sign on the 5 key)

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This issue is related to the logitech unifying receiver. See my answer given here

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  • Could you please include the information in the link in your answer?
    – Darth Vader
    Aug 28, 2016 at 11:10
  • Welcome to Raspberry Pi! Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference. Please take the tour and visit the helpcenter to see how things work here.
    – Ghanima
    Aug 28, 2016 at 12:00
  • We're trying a new policy with regard to informationless link-only answers here. If this post is not edited to contain information that can stand as an answer, however minimal, in 48 hours it will be converted to Community Wiki to simplify having it corrected by the community.
    – Ghanima
    Oct 16, 2016 at 17:55
  • This answer did it for me. Indeed, I'm also using a logitech K400 keyboard
    – bvdb
    Jun 4, 2017 at 13:16
-5

Go to Menu, Preferences, Mouse and Keyboard Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Layout.

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  • Welcome to Raspberry Pi! Please take the tour and visit the helpcenter to see how things work here. Note that the OP wrote but on the Raspbian configuration tool my keyboard is not on the list. suggesting that a GUI based solution did not work (maybe it now does).
    – Ghanima
    Oct 16, 2016 at 17:54

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