Alex Shvid

# How to map MacOs shortcuts in Ubuntu

I have amazing Apple keyboard that I am using at the same time in Ubuntu and MacOs. Switching between shortcuts in two different OS is inconvenient, therefore I found a solution how to map MacOs keyboard to Ubuntu.

First step is to change Left Command (Left Super) mapping to Right Command. Need to do following steps:

  • Install Tweaks
  • If it not starting make sure that /usr/bin/gnome-tweaks first like points to python3.6 instead of python3 (if you have python 3.7 like me)
  • Go to Keyboard & Mouse -> Overview Shortcut change from Left Super to Right Super. It would remove layout overview to another key.
  • Click Additional Options and change Switching to another layout to Win+Space. This would make keyboard language selection like in Mac OS.

# Global settings

Run application Settings Open Settings -> keyboard Scroll to the block 'System' Replace shortcuts:

  • Show notification list -> Super+N
  • Show the overview -> Super+O

# GTK-3.0

Change shortcut bindings for GTK-3.0, text edit fields, firefox and etc.

mkdir -p ~/.themes/macos/gtk-3.0/
cp /usr/share/themes/Emacs/gtk-3.0/gtk-keys.css ~/.themes/macos/gtk-3.0/
nano ~/.themes/macos/gtk-3.0/gtk-keys.css

Find the block

bind "<ctrl>w" { "cut-clipboard" () };
bind "<ctrl>y" { "paste-clipboard" () };

Insert after that

bind "<super>x" { "cut-clipboard" () };
bind "<super>v" { "paste-clipboard" () };
bind "<super>c" { "copy-clipboard" () };

Apply settings

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-key-theme 'macos'

# Terminal

Open in Terminal -> Preferences -> Shortcuts

Edit.Copy   Super+C
Edit.Paste  Super+V

Or in command line

dconf write /org/gnome/terminal/legacy/keybindings/copy  \'"<Super>c"\'
dconf write /org/gnome/terminal/legacy/keybindings/paste \'"<Super>v"\'

# Atom editor

  • Open Edit -> Preferences -> Keybindings
  • Click your keymap file
  • Paste
'body':
  'cmd-c': 'core:copy'
  'cmd-v': 'core:paste'
  'cmd-s': 'core:save'
  'cmd-z': 'core:undo'
  'cmd-y': 'core:redo'