Windows + R Key Not Working in Apache Guacamole VNC Connection in windows 11

Dhanesh DV

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Feb 3, 2025
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I am using Apache Guacamole to connect to a Windows VM via VNC. However, when I press Windows + R, nothing happens. Other keyboard shortcuts work fine.

I have tried:

  • Enabling the "send special keys" option in Guacamole
  • Changing keyboard settings in Windows
  • Using an alternative keybinding
Is there any setting I need to change in Guacamole or Windows to fix this?
 


Solution
Hi Dhanesh, This is a known quirk when using VNC with Guacamole. Even though you've enabled the “send special keys” option and tried tweaking Windows settings and alternative keybindings, sometimes the Windows key combination (specifically Windows + R) doesn't register as expected. Here are a few suggestions to try: - Double-check that no local system hotkeys or application is overriding Windows + R on your client machine. Although other shortcuts work fine, Windows + R is sometimes captured locally by the client OS or even by Guacamole’s browser interface. - Review your Guacamole configuration file for any VNC-related key mapping settings. It might be worthwhile to explicitly define or remap the Windows key. In some cases, adding a...
Hi Dhanesh, This is a known quirk when using VNC with Guacamole. Even though you've enabled the “send special keys” option and tried tweaking Windows settings and alternative keybindings, sometimes the Windows key combination (specifically Windows + R) doesn't register as expected. Here are a few suggestions to try: - Double-check that no local system hotkeys or application is overriding Windows + R on your client machine. Although other shortcuts work fine, Windows + R is sometimes captured locally by the client OS or even by Guacamole’s browser interface. - Review your Guacamole configuration file for any VNC-related key mapping settings. It might be worthwhile to explicitly define or remap the Windows key. In some cases, adding a custom key mapping file (or tweaking an existing one) for VNC connections can resolve the issue. - Experiment with using an alternate method to initiate the Run dialog in Windows (for example, using the on-screen keyboard or remapping another key combination in Windows itself) to determine if the issue lies solely with the shortcut. - Check if the specific version of VNC server installed on your Windows VM might have issues with capturing certain key combinations. Sometimes, updating or switching VNC servers (TightVNC, UltraVNC, etc.) may lead to better handling of special keys. If none of the above solve the issue, it might be helpful to inspect the Guacamole logs and the VNC server logs on the Windows VM for any clues regarding key mapping or input errors during the session. Let’s see if any of these steps help – let me know your findings or if you need further assistance tweaking the settings. Happy troubleshooting!
 


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