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jNumbers

Member

Registered: 2017-12-01

Posts: 11

[Solved] Macbook 12,1 not detecting brightness keys

I'm running i3 as a WM and I'm unable to use my brightness keys. In my i3 config file, I have the following:

bindsym xf86monbrightnessup exec light -A 5
bindsym xf86monbrightnessdown exec light -U 5

Nothing will happen when the keys are pressed. However, if the change the code above to:

bindsym $mod+period exec light -A 5
bindsym $mod+comma exec light -U 5

The brightness level will change as expected, so I'm certain the exec portion is correct.
I've tried running xev to ensure I'm using the right keys, but when I run it it won't detect any keys from my keyboard. It will only detect my touch pad inputs.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Last edited by jNumbers (2018-03-17 17:50:04)

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 19,797

Re: [Solved] Macbook 12,1 not detecting brightness keys

Does xev see those keys?

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jNumbers

Member

Registered: 2017-12-01

Posts: 11

Re: [Solved] Macbook 12,1 not detecting brightness keys

Does xev see those keys?

No, xev doesn't detect a single key from my keyboard. It will only detect my mouse unless I'm using it incorrectly.

When I run exev and I execute the following command:

xev | grep button

This should display the buttons on my terminal except for I don't see anything. Just my mouse inputs.

jNumbers

Member

Registered: 2017-12-01

Posts: 11

Re: [Solved] Macbook 12,1 not detecting brightness keys

Somehow  xev randomly began detecting my keyboard. For those who have similar problems, just type xev and it "should" work.

My issue was the capitalization of the brightness keys. They should be this:

bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp exec light -A 5 # increase screen brightness
bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec light -U 5 # decrease screen brightness