How do I enable Ctrl Alt Backspace in Ubuntu?
Andrew Mclaughlin
Updated on February 27, 2026
With the latest Ubuntu release (9.10, aka Karmic) it’s even simpler to enable it. To enable Ctrl-Alt-Backspace in latest Karmic release simply go to: System –> Preferences –> Keyboard –> Layout (Tab) –> Layout Options –> Key sequence to kill the X server –> (Tick) Control + Alt + Backspace.
How do I turn off Ctrl Alt Backspace?
To disable the [Ctrl] – [Alt] – [Backspace] key combo from terminating the X session, add a Serverflags section to the X configuration file /etc/X11/xorg.
Does Ctrl Alt Delete work on Ubuntu?
Note: on Ubuntu 14.10, Ctrl + Alt + Del is already in use, but can be overridden. On Ubuntu 17.10 with GNOME, ALT + F4 is the default to close a window. As per this answer, after setting CTRL + ALT + Backspace to gsettings get org. gnome.
How do I enable Ctrl Alt Backspace?
Go to System Settings ==> Input Devices ==> Keyboard ==> Advanced => Key sequence to kill the x server ==> ctrl-alt-backspace.
How do I restart a Linux session?
Linux system restart
- To reboot the Linux system from a terminal session, sign in or “su”/”sudo” to the “root” account.
- Then type “ sudo reboot ” to reboot the box.
- Wait for some time and the Linux server will reboot itself.
How do I disable Ctrl Alt Backspace in Linux?
To disable this keyboard shortcut open the startup options; you will see this option somewhere near the top. Just disable it. Log out and back into your account to make it effective.
What does Ctrl Alt Backspace do Linux?
Ctrl-Alt-Backspace is a keyboard shortcut that works on many Linux computers that instantly kills the entire desktop and all running programs and returns you to the login screen.
How do you Ctrl Alt Del on Linux?
Press the key combination you want to define for the task manager; in this case, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Another message will warn the key combination is already in use (by the Shutdown menu). Click on Reassign to finish setting your new keyboard shortcut. You will see the new shortcut was added properly.
What does Ctrl Alt Backspace do in Linux?
How to enable Ctrl + Alt + Backspace?
To enable ctrl + alt + backspace to kill the X-session, add ‘terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp’ You can use this method to enter most of the traditional xkb options that are no longer available in System Settings >> Text Entry.
How to enable backspace key in Kubuntu 16?
In Kubuntu (KDE, plasma-framework version 5.23 on Kubuntu 16.04 Xenial) I found the option under K > System Settings > Input Devices > Keyboard > Advanced. Open the menu item “key sequence to kill X server” and check the only option “Ctrl + Alt + Backspace”, apply.
How do I change the keyboard layout in Ubuntu?
The first has to be enabled in advance when your system doesn’t hang yet (you could do it right now): open Keyboard Layout settings (I believe this is merged into Keyboard in Ubuntu 12.04), then click Options.
Does Ubuntu 10 LTS replace dontzap?
Also, according to the Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx), this has replaced the old DontZap feature from older versions of the X Window System. In addition, the Ctrl + Alt + Backspace option is now configured as an X keymap (XKB) option, replacing the X server “DontZap” option and allowing per-user configuration of this setting.