{"id":44775,"date":"2023-11-24T13:02:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T13:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/?p=44775"},"modified":"2024-05-05T13:41:18","modified_gmt":"2024-05-05T13:41:18","slug":"shortcut-switch-monitor-input-source-ubuntu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/index.php\/2023\/11\/shortcut-switch-monitor-input-source-ubuntu\/","title":{"rendered":"Add Shortcut Key to Switch Monitor Input Source in Ubuntu 24.04 | 22.04"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Have 2 or more PCs connected to a single external monitor? If you run Ubuntu (or other Linux) on one of the PCs, then here’s how to add a keyboard shortcut to switch video source on the monitor.<\/p>\n

Most external monitors today have more than one video input ports, e.g., HDMI1, HDMI2, DP1, allowing to connect with different computers at the same time.<\/p>\n

And, they usually support DDC\/CI protocol to control monitors without hitting physical buttons.<\/p>\n

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I have multiple computers connected to the single monitor.<\/p><\/div>\n

To save desktop space, I have only one monitor on my desk, and 2 computers connected to this single monitor. One is running Windows 10 for gaming and another with Ubuntu for work.<\/p>\n

In Windows, I use ControlMyMonitor<\/a> (it’s http link, not sure if it works now<\/i>) to modify monitor settings and autohotkey<\/a> to setup keyboard shortcuts.<\/p>\n

In Ubuntu and most other Linux, it’s easy to do the job through ddcutil<\/code>. And, here’s the how to steps one by one.<\/p>\n

NOTE: This tutorial is tested and works in my case in Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04, though it should also works in all other Ubuntu releases, such as Ubuntu 20.04.<\/b><\/p>\n

Step 1: Install ddcutil<\/h3>\n

For Ubuntu user, simply press Ctrl+Alt+T<\/b> on keyboard to open a terminal window. When it opens, run command to install the command line tool:<\/p>\n

sudo apt install ddcutil<\/pre>\n
Type user password when it asks for sudo authentication, though there’s no asterisk feedback.<\/i><\/p>\n
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For Fedora, RHEL, based systems, run the dnf command below instead:<\/p>\n
sudo dnf install ddcutil<\/pre>\n
And, Arch based Linux can install it via command:<\/p>\n
sudo pacman -S ddcutil<\/pre>\n
Step 2: setup permission<\/h3>\n
After installing the package above, i2c<\/code> user group is created. You have to add current user to that group by running command:<\/p>\n
sudo gpasswd --add $USER i2c<\/pre>\n
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Not sure if required, but try to restart computer<\/strong> if next step does not work for you.<\/p>\n
Step 3: Use Linux command to Switch Monitor Input Source<\/h3>\n
1. Now, run command in terminal to report connected monitors, and find out the logical display number:<\/p>\n
ddcutil detect<\/pre>\n
In my case, it’s number 1. Usually you can skip this step if only one monitor connected.<\/i><\/p>\n
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2. Next, run command to find out the feature code, as well as its values for input source:<\/p>\n
ddcutil --display 1 capabilities<\/pre>\n
Replace number 1 to yours according to the last command. And you can just skip for --display 1<\/code><\/i>.<\/p>\n
In the terminal output, 60<\/b> is the input source feature code for me. And, values include: 0f<\/b> and 11<\/b> in hex. So, they are 0x0f<\/b> and 0x11<\/b>.<\/p>\n
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3. After finding out the feature code and its values, try running command to switch monitor input source:<\/strong><\/p>\n
ddcutil setvcp 60 0x11<\/pre>\n
In this command, replace 60<\/b> to yours feature code. And, replace 0x11<\/b> (its HDMI-1 in my case) to your values according which video source to switch to.<\/i><\/p>\n
Step 4: Setup keyboard shortcut to switch input source<\/h3>\n
If the ddcutil setvcp<\/code> command works for you, now you may do following steps to set keyboard shortcuts to do the job.<\/p>\n
For GNOME<\/b> (default desktop in Ubuntu & Fedora), open ‘Settings’ and navigate to “Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> View and Customize Shortcuts”.<\/p>\n
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In pop-up dialog, select “Custom Shortcuts”, then add new shortcut with:<\/p>\n