Description of problem:

Generally, the "LEFT" CTLR+ALT+(LEFT|RIGHT) Arrow keys are shortcuts for switching between workspaces in GNOME. It seems, an unexpected side-effect of this behavior, is that the (UP|DOWN) Arrow keys do not register at all; though, when pressing the "RIGHT" CTLR+ALT+(LEFT|RIGHT|UP|DOWN) Arrow keys DO register.

Note: This key behavior in RHEL 8 work as expected, but it has changed in RHEL9.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): RHEL 9

How reproducible: Very

Steps to Reproduce: Perform test steps in RHEL 8 and RHEL 9 to obtain contrasting behavior

1. Open terminal, run the following command:

$ dconf watch /

2. Open gedit and type in several lines of text, move cursor to the middle of it.

3. Hold down [ Left Crtl + Left Alt ] and press [ UP or Down or LEFT or RIGHT arrow keys ]

Then Hold down [ Right Crtl + Right Alt ] and press [ UP or Down or LEFT or RIGHT arrow keys ]

4. RHEL 9 Only: Open the Gnome setting menu and select keyboard.

The terminal with dconf watch will now say:

/org/gnome/desktop/input-sources/per-window
false

/org/gnome/desktop/input-sources/xkb-options
['lv3:ralt_switch']

5. RHEL 9 Only: Switch to Open Gedit window and put cursor in the middle of the text.

Then hold down [ Left Crtl + Left Alt ] and press [ UP or Down or LEFT or RIGHT arrow keys ]

Then Hold down [ Right Crtl + Right Alt ] and press [ UP or Down or LEFT or RIGHT arrow keys ]

Note the behavior difference in workspace switching.

Actual results:

RHEL 8: The workspace switcher works not matter if RIGHT set or LEFT set of [ Ctrl + Alt + Arrows ] is used

RHEL 9: Before touching the "Compose key" setting it behaves as RHEL8, however after just going into keyboard settings it behaves differently, it will scroll around the gedit text

Expected results:

Should behave like RHEL 8, or give option to set to RHEL 8 type behavior without forcing a default behavior upon opening keyboard settings.

Or we should document this setting change in keyboard behavior if this is expected behavior or explore a way to unset within the settings.

Additional info:

This seems to be a side effect the new defaults enforced by the keyboard settings in Gnome in RHEL 9.

This can be undone in RHEL 9 by running the following command:

$ dconf reset /org/gnome/desktop/input-sources/xkb-options

However re-loading the keyboard settings in gnome setting will re-establish this setting by default:

/org/gnome/desktop/input-sources/xkb-options
['lv3:ralt_switch']