Linux: Swap Control Alt Keys

This page shows you how to swap {Ctrl, Alt} keys on Linux.

Create a file at ~/.Xmodmap. The file content should be this:

! 2013-02-04

! swap Ctrl and Alt keys

! here's the default setting on special keys
!  xmodmap -pke | grep -P '(Control|Super|Alt|Menu)'

! keycode  37 = Control_L NoSymbol Control_L
! keycode  64 = Alt_L Meta_L Alt_L Meta_L
! keycode 105 = Control_R NoSymbol Control_R
! keycode 108 = Alt_R Meta_R Alt_R Meta_R
! keycode 133 = Super_L NoSymbol Super_L
! keycode 134 = Super_R NoSymbol Super_R
! keycode 135 = Menu NoSymbol Menu
! keycode 147 = XF86MenuKB NoSymbol XF86MenuKB
! keycode 204 = NoSymbol Alt_L NoSymbol Alt_L
! keycode 206 = NoSymbol Super_L NoSymbol Super_L

clear control
clear mod1
keycode 37 = Alt_L Meta_L
keycode 105 = Alt_R Meta_R
keycode 64 = Control_L
keycode 108 = Control_R
add control = Control_L Control_R
add mod1 = Alt_L Meta_L

Now, run this line in terminal:

xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap

That's it. When X11 starts, that file will be loaded automatically.