https://faq.i3wm.org/questions/Frequently asked questions and answers about the i3 window managerenCopyright i3, 2012Tue, 05 May 2015 12:12:40 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5942/using-modifer-key-as-a-binding/Hi, I've been trying to do a similar setup as in https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5429/stay-in-mode-only-while-key-is-pressed/?answer=5439#post-id-5439 with my Super_L/Windows/Mod4 key, i.e., I want to enter and stay in a mode as long as my window key is touched. When doing `bindsym Mod4 mode "foo"` with i3 (i3 version 4.10.2-145-g37bee99 (2015-04-26, branch "next")), it does not go into mode "foo". If I do `bindsym Mod4+f mode "foo"` then i3 enters the desired mode but then the `bindsym --release Mod4+f` within mode "foo" does not work anymore. Any advice ?Mon, 04 May 2015 11:23:04 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5942/using-modifer-key-as-a-binding/https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5942/using-modifer-key-as-a-binding/?answer=5945#post-id-5945 It does not work, because `Mod4` is the name of the modifier but not the name of the key (keysym). The correct name would probably be either `Super_L` or `Super_R`, for the left and right Windows key respectively. So this should work in your case: bindsym Super_L mode "foo" bindsym Super_R mode "foo" mode "foo" { # ... bindsym --release Super_L mode "default" bindsym --release Super_R mode "default" } Of course, you can drop the lines with either `Super_L` or `Super_R` in them, if you want to use only respective other key. To find out, what the keysym (or keycode for that matter) of a key is, you can use `xev`. ---- The modifier names `Mod1`, `Mod4`, `Shift`, etc. can only be used in conjunction with a keysym or keycode (e.g. `bindsym Mod4+f ...` or `bindcode Mod4+41 ...`) It is even possible to combine modifier keys that way. `bindsym Mod4+Super_L ...` will bind to the left Window key being pressed, while the right one is held down (but not the other way around). ---- **Note:** I would suggest using `bindcode` instead of `bindsym` when working with modifier-only keybindings. It seems that in some cases it does not work when using keysyms, at least for me. (e.g. `Shift+Shift_L`)Mon, 04 May 2015 13:50:31 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5942/using-modifer-key-as-a-binding/?answer=5945#post-id-5945https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5942/using-modifer-key-as-a-binding/?comment=5956#comment-5956Thanks for your help. It makes sense that I would need to set the key rather than the modifier. As you do I notice the Super_L release is not always detected. Your answer helped me do this: https://github.com/i3/i3/issues/1214#issuecomment-97453611Tue, 05 May 2015 12:12:40 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/5942/using-modifer-key-as-a-binding/?comment=5956#comment-5956