snippetbashTip

loadkeys — Load the kernel keymap for the console. See also: `localectl`. More information: <https://manned.org

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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thekeymapcommandloadcliloadkeysforkernel

linux

Problem

How to use the loadkeys command: Load the kernel keymap for the console. See also: localectl. More information: <https://manned.org/loadkeys>.

Solution

loadkeys — Load the kernel keymap for the console. See also: localectl. More information: <https://manned.org/loadkeys>.

Load a specific keyboard layout for the current console:

sudo loadkeys {{en|de|fi|dvorak|defkeymap|...}}

Load a default keymap:

sudo loadkeys {{[-d|--default]}}

Create a kernel source table:

loadkeys {{[-m|--mktable]}}

Create a binary keymap:

loadkeys {{[-b|--bkeymap]}}

Search and parse keymap without action:

loadkeys {{[-p|--parse]}}

Load the keymap suppressing all output:

loadkeys {{[-q|--quiet]}}

Set a keymap for a specific console:

sudo loadkeys {{[-C|--console]}} {{/dev/ttyN}} {{uk}}

Load a keymap from the specified file for the console:

loadkeys {{[-C|--console]}} {{/dev/ttyN}} /{{path/to/file}}

Code Snippets

Load a specific keyboard layout for the current console

sudo loadkeys {{en|de|fi|dvorak|defkeymap|...}}

Load a default keymap

sudo loadkeys {{[-d|--default]}}

Create a kernel source table

loadkeys {{[-m|--mktable]}}

Create a binary keymap

loadkeys {{[-b|--bkeymap]}}

Search and parse keymap without action

loadkeys {{[-p|--parse]}}

Context

tldr-pages: linux/loadkeys

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