Fixing Randomly Lost Xinput Settings in Linux

Are you facing issues with your Xinput settings randomly getting lost in Linux? Don't worry, you're not alone. Many users encounter this problem, but fortunately, there are solutions available. In this article, we will guide you through the process of fixing randomly lost Xinput settings in Linux.

Understanding Xinput Settings

Xinput is a utility in Linux that allows you to configure and manage input devices such as keyboards, mice, and game controllers. It provides a way to customize various settings, including button mapping, pointer acceleration, and scrolling behavior.

However, some users have reported that their Xinput settings get reset or lost randomly. This can be frustrating, especially if you have spent time customizing the settings to suit your needs. But fear not, we have some troubleshooting steps to help you resolve this issue.

1. Check for Conflicting Configuration Files

The first step is to check for any conflicting configuration files that may be causing the issue. Sometimes, multiple configuration files can interfere with each other, resulting in the loss of Xinput settings.

Open your terminal and navigate to the ~/.config directory, which is where the Xinput configuration files are stored. Look for any files related to Xinput, such as xinputrc or xorg.conf.d. Move these files to a backup folder or rename them to something else.

$ cd ~/.config
$ mv xinputrc xinputrc_backup

Once you have moved or renamed the conflicting files, restart your computer and check if the issue persists. If not, you have successfully fixed the problem. If the issue still occurs, proceed to the next step.

2. Create a Startup Script

If the previous step did not resolve the issue, you can try creating a startup script to load your desired Xinput settings automatically. This ensures that the settings are applied every time you start your computer.

Create a new file in the ~/.config directory and name it something like xinput_startup.sh. Open the file in a text editor and add the following lines:

#!/bin/bash

# Set Xinput settings
xinput set-prop [device-id] [property-id] [value]

Replace [device-id], [property-id], and [value] with the appropriate values for your input device and desired settings. You can find the device and property IDs by running the xinput command in the terminal.

Save the file and make it executable by running the following command:

$ chmod +x xinput_startup.sh

Now, you need to configure your system to run this script at startup. The process may vary depending on your Linux distribution, but generally, you can do the following:

• Open the Startup Applications or a similar utility.
• Add a new entry and provide the path to your xinput_startup.sh script.
• Save the changes and restart your computer.

Upon reboot, your Xinput settings should be applied automatically, preventing them from getting randomly lost.

3. Use a Desktop Environment Specific Method

If you are using a specific desktop environment, such as GNOME or KDE, there may be built-in methods to configure and save your Xinput settings. These methods can be more reliable than generic solutions.

For example, in GNOME, you can use the gnome-tweaks tool to configure your input devices. Install gnome-tweaks if you don't have it already, and open it from your applications menu. Navigate to the Keyboard & Mouse section and customize your settings as desired.

If you are using KDE, you can use the System Settings utility to configure your input devices. Open System Settings from the applications menu, go to the Input Devices section, and customize your settings there.

Remember to save your changes and restart your computer to ensure the settings are applied consistently.

Randomly lost Xinput settings can be frustrating, but with the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve the issue. Check for conflicting configuration files, create a startup script, or use desktop environment-specific methods to configure and save your Xinput settings.

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