Custom keymap for Logitech MX Master 2S mouse on Ubuntu

customize-mx-master-ubuntu.md

Notes for Ubuntu 21.04, getting the MX Master mouse to work.

1. Ubuntu 21.04 uses Wayland by default. These instructions only work for x.org
2. Getting Wayland to rebind mouse keys was confusing. Much easier to just use x.org and these instructions I found.

First, install Solaar to see the battery level on the taskbar

sudo apt-get install solaar

To remap the keys, install

sudo apt-get install xbindkeys xautomation xdotool

Then, launch xev to get the keyboard or mouse event to bind

xev

# grep button
xev | grep -i button

Create the configuration file for xbindkeys

nano ~/.xbindkeysrc

Here is an exemple of this file that map the Back and Forward buttons to BackSpace and Return respectively

# thumb wheel up => increase volume and unmute
# using xdotool pops up the Ubuntu OSD for volume
"xdotool key XF86AudioRaiseVolume"
 b:7
                                        
# thumb wheel down => lower volume       
"xdotool key XF86AudioLowerVolume"       
 b:6
                                        
# backward button => previous song       
"xte 'key XF86AudioPrev'"                
 b:8
                                        
# forward button => next song            
"xte 'key XF86AudioNext'"                
 b:9
 
# Example backspace
#"xte 'keydown BackSpace'"
#b:8

#"xte 'keyup BackSpace'"
# b:8 + Release
 
# Alt tab to previous app
"xte 'keydown Alt_L' 'key Tab' 'keyup Alt_L'"
 b:9

To test your binding

xbindkeys -v

To start xbindkeys

xbindkeys

To find key code

xbindkeys --key

// or

xbindkeys --multikey

If you change the key map, you have to restart xbindkeys by following command

killall xbindkeys && xbindkeys