How do I make my synclient settings stick?

Question

The default setting for synaptics touchpads includes a paste functionality mapped to the upper right corner of the touchpad. I can disable this behavior by running the command

synclient RTCornerButton=0

But every time I reboot my settings are reverted. How do I prevent this from happening?

score 21 · Answer 1 · answered May 11 '13 at 00:01

You need to put the settings in a xorg.conf file as follows:

sudo gedit /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/60-synaptics-options.conf

In the new file, type

Section "InputClass"
  Identifier "touchpad catchall"
  Driver "synaptics"
  MatchIsTouchpad "on"
  MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"

  Option "RTCornerButton" "0"

EndSection

score 13 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:25

Gnome settings daemon may override existing settings (for example ones set in xorg.conf.d) for which, the existing settings in /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-synaptics.conf are being ignored. This is how i fixed it.

Run dconf-editor

Edit /org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/mouse/ (or /org/cinnamon/settings-daemon/plugins/mouse/ for cinnamon)

Uncheck the active setting

It will now respect your system's existing synaptics configuration.

Then follow monkbroc's solution which will work now.

score 9 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 05 '14 at 10:55

(Maybe) the fastest workaround is to create an entry in the "Startup Applications". It could be found in the unity launcher.

An example entry looks something like this:

Name: Enable Palm Detection

Command: synclient PalmDetect=1

Comment: Enable synclient palm detection

This is essentially equivalent to Augustin Riedinger's answer, but instead of creating the desktop entry manually, we let Ubuntu to do it for us.

lepe · Answer 4 · 2016-05-14T01:28:31.967

The best method that have worked for me is to add your changes into Xsession.d, so it will load automatically for all users when you log into X:

(the file doesn't exists, so you can name it whatever you want. The numbers on the left means the order in which it will be executed in comparison with the other files.)

/etc/X11/Xsession.d/80synaptics

(owned by root, with permissions 644)

For example, you can use this as base:

#https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Touchpad_Synaptics
#Palm dimension
#synclient PalmDetect=1
#synclient PalmMinWidth=4
#synclient PalmMinZ=100

#Touchpad sensibility (move)
#synclient FingerLow=10
#synclient FingerHigh=20

#Click detection
#synclient MaxTapTime=180
#synclient MaxTapMove = 242
#synclient MaxDoubleTapTime = 180

#2 finger = right click
#synclient TapButton2=0
#3 finger = middle click
#synclient TapButton3=2
#click corners
#synclient RBCornerButton=0 MaxTapTime
#synclient RTCornerButton=0
#synclient LTCornerButton=0
#synclient LBCornerButton=0

#Oval instead of rectangular
#synclient CircularPad=1

#TapAndDragGesture
#synclient TapAndDragGesture=1

#scroll in sides
#synclient VertEdgeScroll=0
#synclient HorizEdgeScroll=0
#synclient CornerCoasting=0

#2 finger scroll
#synclient VertTwoFingerScroll=1
#synclient HorizTwoFingerScroll=0

#Disable Touchpad on start
#synclient TouchpadOff=1

Tested in Ubuntu 14.04 and 16.04

score 3 · Answer 5 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

Make `synclient` options stick between X sessions

Using startx (xinit)

Add any synclient <option>=<value> & lines to .xinitrc before the line which runs your window manager or desktop environment, like so:

## ~/.xinitrc
## X11 startup script; sourced by xinit(1) and its frontend startx(1)
Set Synaptics touchpad options
synclient RTCornerButton=0 &
Start desktop environment or window manager of your choice
exec startxfce4
exec startlxde
exec startkde
exec i3
exec dwm

The above example sets synclient options before running the Xfce desktop environment. Lines beginning with # are comments (they will not be executed).

Using a display manager

The method is the same as for xinit, except you put the synclient lines in a relevant startup script for your display manager, e.g. /etc/GDM/Init/Default.

If you have any doubts, let me refer you to the excellent ArchWiki. Even though its Archlinux-specific, most solutions work in every linux distro due to Arch's DIY nature. Have a good one!

score 2 · Answer 6 · edited Aug 15 '15 at 17:41

I'm using Xubuntu 14.04 and this may not work for you. Open Session and startup or whatever the name is for you. Go to Application Autostart tab, again whatever the name is for you. Click the add button. Keep whatever name and description you want to and in the command type:

synclient RTCornerButton=0

If you want to add multiple lines separate them with a ;

Make sure the command you just created is checked.

score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 21 '13 at 09:16

1

Add synclient [Var=Value] to the end of ~/.bashrc

example: synclient RTCornerButton=0

This will make you system set this synclient setting every time you log in.

answered Oct 21 '13 at 09:16

lindhe

711

score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Nov 10 '16 at 19:10

1

try touchegg, this solution worked on my XPS13 Ubuntu16.04 https://samtinkers.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/3-finger-gestures-in-ubuntu-16-04/

answered Nov 10 '16 at 19:10

Amos Folarin

1,214
9
11

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered May 04 '14 at 10:32

All the solutions suggested here don't work for me:

I want the config to be in the /home folder as it is local config (so I can keep the parameters even if I change my distrib for instance)
.bashrc or .xinitrc don't seem to be executed correctly

So I ended up creating a .desktop file that is autostarted:

cat ~/.config/autostart/touchpadconfig.desktop 
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Touchpad Config
GenericName=Touchpad Config
Comment=Sets better default parameters to touchpad
Exec="synclient VertScrollDelta=40 && synclient AccelFactor=0.1 && synclient RightButtonAreaTop && synclient RightButtonAreaLeft=0"
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Icon=input-mouse
Categories=Settings;
StartupNotify=false

Maybe not the best solution but it works for me.

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Jan 13 '15 at 17:18

None of the solutions worked for me in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS with Unity desktop. To make the settings permanent, I had to paste the synclient commands to a shell script and add the shell script to my Startup Applications in Unity.

Note: The shell script must start something like #!/bin/bash before the synclient commands, and the permissions have to be changed to executable.

score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Aug 15 '17 at 09:41

0

With Wayland (still experimental in 17.04, but soon to be the default), you have all the setting you need:

answered Aug 15 '17 at 09:41

Nico Schlömer

1,912

score -1 · Answer 12 · answered Jun 02 '15 at 07:55

sudoedit /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-synaptics.conf

add those lines in the Section "InputClass"

Option "RTCornerButton" "0"

If you're using GNOME or Cinnamon desktop manager, there is a good chance that GNOME/Cinnamon's settings can override your custom settings. To prevent GNOME/Cinnamon's settings override yours, open dconf Editor [dconf-editor] and edit following entry:

/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/mouse/
or
/org/cinnamon/settings-daemon/plugins/mouse/

Uncheck active.

How do I make my synclient settings stick?

12 Answers12

Make `synclient` options stick between X sessions

Set Synaptics touchpad options

Start desktop environment or window manager of your choice

exec startlxde

exec startkde

exec i3

exec dwm

Linked

How do I make my synclient settings stick?

12 Answers12

Make synclient options stick between X sessions

Set Synaptics touchpad options

Start desktop environment or window manager of your choice

exec startlxde

exec startkde

exec i3

exec dwm

Linked

Make `synclient` options stick between X sessions