Linux: How to Switch to Dvorak Keyboard Layout

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

To switch keyboard layout in linux, the easiest way is using your system's control panel.

Xfce

In xfce, open the keyboard app in your control panel.

linux xfce keyboard dvorak layout
Linux xfce keyboard control panel

LXDE

  1. Right-click on taskbar
  2. Choose “Add / Remove Panel Items”
  3. Choose “Add”
  4. Choose “Keyboard Layout handler”
  5. Right-click on the newly added “Keyboard Layout handler” icon, and get a setting panel.
  6. Just follow the graphical user interface.
lxde keyboard layout handler 2016-06-18
Linux LXDE Keyboard Layout handler

http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Change_keyboard_layouts

xkb, setxkbmap

You can also use command line.

# set keyboard layout to dvorak
setxkbmap -layout us,us -variant ,dvorak

Here's command to see your settings.

setxkbmap -print -verbose 10

Here's command to switch to dvorak, but also using Alt+Space to toggle.

# switch to dvorak, and alt+space to toggle
setxkbmap -layout us,us -variant ,dvorak -option "lv3:rwin_switch,grp:alt_space_toggle"

Here's how to reset options.

# reset options
setxkbmap -layout us,us -variant ,dvorak -option

Set System Keyboard Layout

Linux: Set System Keyboard Layout

See also: Dvorak Keyboard Layout