I just converted to Kubuntu but I'm confused by my inability to use the windows key. I would assume the Windows key would activate the Application Launcher but it doesn't. None of the meta key shortcuts work either under the Global KWin keyboard shortcuts. Has anyone had an issue with this before?

It's a modifier - you cannot (simply) assign a trigger to it (just as to alt or ctrl)
see here:
brainstorm.php?mode=idea&i=39073#anchormain
and here
brainstorm.php#idea39073_page2
on what you can still do (simply make it another key)

If it's a modifier than why don't combination keyboard shortcuts work with the meta key as well?

No idea, sounds like the key is dead?

Try running "xev" (you'll likely have to install it) and press the key.
There should be some output and it should say sth. like SUPER_L

If there's no output the keyboard layout is somehow misconfigured on the X11/xkb layer - run "kcmshell4 keyboard" to configure it.

Yea it returns Super_L just like you mentioned. Also when I try to input my own keyboard shortcuts, Kubuntu will recognize it as Meta even though trying the keyboard shortcut doesn't work

princeofnam wrote:Also when I try to input my own keyboard shortcuts, Kubuntu will recognize it as Meta even though trying the keyboard shortcut doesn't work

Wow, wait - locally it does work, just not for global shortcuts (alt+tab but also Alt+F2 for krunner would be a global shortcut)

In that case, kglobalaccel isn't running

Code: Select all

ps -Af | grep -v grep | grep kglobalaccel

if there's no output, run it: "kglobalaccel", but it should be started with the session

Oh. I did get output by that. I actually found out some of my meta shortcuts work like move mouse to center but others like move Window Down, Up, etc. don't. I'll try to find a help file that describes each keyboard shortcut. Thakns for the help though!

That shortcut is only for tiling, do you have tiling enabled? (kcmshell4 kwinoptions, last tab - it is NOT "quick tiling, aka "aero snap")