Mozilla Monitor website will be down for 2 hours starting 5/20/2025 at 6 AM PT. Visit our status site for updates.

Avatar for Username

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Some keyboard shortcuts do not work on Firefox debian

PierreThibault
PierreThibault

I am unable to use some shortcuts in Firefox. Like I cannot use Alt-Left or Alt-Right to go back or forward. I cannot type special characters like «»{}[] for example. But I can do Ctrl-O for Open. It seems both Alt-keys are not working.

I tried to reboot in safe mode and to repair Firefox but neither work. I tried with version 52.7.3 but I have the same problem.

The solution to my problem is to deactivate an option for my keyboard setup in Gnome Tweak (see image, sorry for the French). But I want this option and this option is only causing problem in Firefox and no other app has this problem.

How can I fix this issue?

Configuration: Firefox 59.0.2 on Debian 9.4 AMD-64

I am unable to use some shortcuts in Firefox. Like I cannot use Alt-Left or Alt-Right to go back or forward. I cannot type special characters like «»{}[] for example. But I can do Ctrl-O for Open. It seems both Alt-keys are not working. I tried to reboot in safe mode and to repair Firefox but neither work. I tried with version 52.7.3 but I have the same problem. The solution to my problem is to deactivate an option for my keyboard setup in Gnome Tweak (see image, sorry for the French). But I want this option and this option is only causing problem in Firefox and no other app has this problem. How can I fix this issue? Configuration: Firefox 59.0.2 on Debian 9.4 AMD-64
Attached screenshots

Modified by PierreThibault

Chosen solution

I think the problem was caused by a script I wrote to switch the Command and Option key on my Mac keyboard. I modified the script and I no longer experience the problem. It is curious it was only affecting Firefox. I'll keep you informed if the problem came back. Sorry for what seems to be a false alert.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (5)

PierreThibault
PierreThibault Question owner

Chosen Solution

I think the problem was caused by a script I wrote to switch the Command and Option key on my Mac keyboard. I modified the script and I no longer experience the problem. It is curious it was only affecting Firefox. I'll keep you informed if the problem came back. Sorry for what seems to be a false alert.

PierreThibault
PierreThibault Question owner

I still have a problem: my ISO_Level3_Shift key to access special characters sometimes do not work in Firefox. I have to change my keyboard disposition to make it work again. Again the problem occurs only with Firefox.

PierreThibault
PierreThibault Question owner

Can I create a ticket issue for this bug?

PierreThibault
PierreThibault Question owner

Here another guy having the same problem.

PierreThibault
PierreThibault Question owner

Right now my ISO_Level3_Shift key is not working in Firefox but I realize it does work for the only dead of my keyboard so I can type: `èÈàÀìÌòÒùÙ. But it does not work for any other key. Again this behaviour occurs only in Firefox. But sometimes it is working and I don't have this problem: the ISO key works perfectly. I really don't know why.