Can't use key combinations such as `Ctrl+Alt+F2` to switch to a different virtual console

On other wayland compositors (e.g. river, sway) and X11 window managers, I can use key combinations such as Ctrl+Alt+F2 to switch to a different virtual console. In Qtile, this key combination has no effect. I have verified that the problem occurs with the default configuration. Perhaps Qtile is somehow “grabbing” certain keys.

$ qtile -v
0.18.1

To investigate this issue, I launched wev from within Sway and pressed Ctrl+Alt+F2. Note that wev only reports the Ctrl and Alt press and release (at which point I was switched to virtual console 2).

[14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 602; time: 93610128; key: 37; state: 1 (pressed)
                      sym: Control_L    (65507), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] modifiers: serial: 0; group: 0
                      depressed: 00000004: Control
                      latched: 00000000
                      locked: 00000000
[14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 604; time: 93610376; key: 64; state: 1 (pressed)
                      sym: Alt_L        (65513), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] modifiers: serial: 0; group: 0
                      depressed: 0000000C: Control Mod1
                      latched: 00000000
                      locked: 00000000
[14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 606; time: 93610740; key: 37; state: 0 (released)
                      sym: Control_L    (65507), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] modifiers: serial: 0; group: 0
                      depressed: 00000008: Mod1
                      latched: 00000000
                      locked: 00000000
[14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 608; time: 93610740; key: 64; state: 0 (released)
                      sym: Alt_L        (65513), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] modifiers: serial: 0; group: 0
                      depressed: 00000000
                      latched: 00000000
                      locked: 00000000

Now compare this with what happens when I launched wev from within Qtile and pressed Ctrl+Alt+F2. Note that all three key press and release events are reported.

14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 144; time: 93748304; key: 37; state: 1 (pressed)
                      sym: Control_L    (65507), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] modifiers: serial: 0; group: 0
                      depressed: 00000004: Control
                      latched: 00000000
                      locked: 00000000
[14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 146; time: 93748695; key: 64; state: 1 (pressed)
                      sym: Alt_L        (65513), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] modifiers: serial: 0; group: 0
                      depressed: 0000000C: Control Mod1
                      latched: 00000000
                      locked: 00000000
[14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 148; time: 93749077; key: 68; state: 1 (pressed)
                      sym: XF86Switch_VT_2 (269024770), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 149; time: 93749184; key: 68; state: 0 (released)
                      sym: XF86Switch_VT_2 (269024770), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 150; time: 93749504; key: 64; state: 0 (released)
                      sym: Alt_L        (65513), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] modifiers: serial: 0; group: 0
                      depressed: 00000004: Control
                      latched: 00000000
                      locked: 00000000
[14:     wl_keyboard] key: serial: 152; time: 93749552; key: 37; state: 0 (released)
                      sym: Control_L    (65507), utf8: ''
[14:     wl_keyboard] modifiers: serial: 0; group: 0
                      depressed: 00000000
                      latched: 00000000
                      locked: 00000000

[mhwombat]

I’ve updated the wiki with this information: https://github.com/qtile/qtile/wiki/keys#switching-between-virtual-consoles-with-ctrlaltfn

[mhwombat]

It works! Thank you so much for the assistance. For the record, here’s the relevant snippet from the working configuration:

    Key(["mod1", "control"], "F1", lazy.change_vt(1), desc="Go to virtual console 1"),
    Key(["mod1", "control"], "F2", lazy.change_vt(2), desc="Go to virtual console 2"),
    Key(["mod1", "control"], "F3", lazy.change_vt(3), desc="Go to virtual console 3"),
    Key(["mod1", "control"], "F4", lazy.change_vt(4), desc="Go to virtual console 4"),
    Key(["mod1", "control"], "F5", lazy.change_vt(5), desc="Go to virtual console 5"),
    Key(["mod1", "control"], "F6", lazy.change_vt(6), desc="Go to virtual console 6"),
    Key(["mod1", "control"], "F7", lazy.change_vt(7), desc="Go to virtual console 7"),
    Key(["mod1", "control"], "F8", lazy.change_vt(8), desc="Go to virtual console 8"),
    Key(["mod1", "control"], "F9", lazy.change_vt(9), desc="Go to virtual console 9"),