# Using the keyboard widget w/ the XFCE Panel
**URL:** https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620
**Category:** System Administration
**Created:** [September 14, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620 "2021-09-14T22:08:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dhinds](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/dhinds)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/1 "2021-09-14T22:08:58Z")
I use the XFCE Panel with MaBox with the keyboard widget to toggle between American English and Latin American settings;
But the widget doesn’t work with MaBox.
What setting do I have to change to accomplish that?
Thanks in advance for your response.
---
### Author:  [@napcok](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/napcok)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2021, 10:38pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/2 "2021-09-14T22:38:16Z")
No idea about XFCE panel and its widgets, but you can install **fbxkb** to have systray applet that should work with any panel (tested with tint2).
```auto
yay fbxkb
```
Add 2 lines to autostart script:
```auto
setxkbmap -option grp:switch,grp:shifts_toggle,grp_led:scroll pl,us &
fbxkb &
```
Here pl,us means polish and american, replace with your choice.
Then you have indicator/switcher autostarted in system tray.
You can also switch by pressing both Shift keys together.
---
### Author:  [@dhinds](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/dhinds)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/3 "2021-09-15T00:55:55Z")
That should do it.
(I’ll give it a try).
---
### Author:  [@dhinds](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/dhinds)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2021, 2:25am UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/4 "2021-09-15T02:25:26Z")
I made the change in the openbox autostart file with lat instead of pl
Then I rebooted but don’t see where I can toggle from and hitting both shift keys at once doesn’t result in a change either.
What am I missing?
---
### Author:  [@napcok](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/napcok)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2021, 5:46am UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/5 "2021-09-15T05:46:27Z")
Did you try to run those two commands from terminal?
---
### Author:  [@dhinds](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/dhinds)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2021, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/6 "2021-09-15T16:05:04Z")
Since pamac was open I used it to install fbxkb, along with it’s dependency,
And added the line to the openbox autostart file.
After rebooting, I see no way to toggle over.
(Running fbxkb in a terminal I get:
> Blockquote
> (fbxkb:4203): Gtk-WARNING \*\*: 10:56:14.535: Unable to locate theme engine in module\_path: “clearlooks”,
(fbxkb:4203): Gtk-WARNING \*\*: 10:56:14.536: Unable to locate theme engine in module\_path: “clearlooks”,
xkb group #0 is already defined
> Blockquote
The XFCE-4 panel widget shows two settings on right clicking:
Keyboard settings and
Keyboard Layouts but the latter is grayed out for some reason.
(With Manjaro Openbox this is not the case, but I consider Mabox to be a significantly more polished OS and would like to get this detail fixed).
---
### Author:  [@napcok](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/napcok)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/7 "2021-09-15T16:37:24Z")
You have changed the tint2 panel - supplied by Mabox to the XFCE panel and you have a problem with the XFCE keyboard layout widget not working.
I gave you an alternative solution using fbxkb, fully tested in Mabox and working fine with the tint2 panel provided by Mabox.
Sorry to hear this doesn’t work with the XFCE panel.
Anyway, it doesn’t seem like a problem with Mabox 🙂
---
### Author:  [@dhinds](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/dhinds)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/8 "2021-09-15T19:30:21Z")
I have the tint2 panel above and the xfce panel below
I don’t see where fbxkb (which IS installed) is visible in the tint2 panel.
---
### Author:  [@dhinds](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/dhinds)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/9 "2021-09-17T16:30:20Z")
Apparently, you’re not going to respond to that.
---
### Author:  [@dhinds](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/dhinds)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/10 "2021-09-17T16:34:38Z")
What I need to know is, in which files are the keyboard settings located.
Obviously, mabox handles that different than manjaro does (since this problem does not occur in the manjaro edition of pacbang - which is no longer listed in the community versions available for Manjaro).
Are you the major mabox developer?
Thanks in advance for your response.
---
### Author:  [@napcok](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/napcok)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/11 "2021-09-17T17:14:45Z")
Mabox is based on Manjaro and it handles that the same.
You can change keyboard layout from cli with command (for example):
```auto
setxkbmap us
```
See man setxkbmap if you want to know more.
I checked solution proposed by me with first answer (with **fbxkb** ) and it works perfectly fine.
I even installed xfce4-panel and it also works perfectly fine with it.
I have no idea why it does not work for you, and quiet frankly I won’t spend any more time on this.
---
### Author:  [@napcok](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/napcok)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/12 "2021-09-17T17:22:37Z")
Maybe also worth to read: [Xorg/Keyboard configuration - ArchWiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xorg/Keyboard_configuration)
---
### Author:  [@dhinds](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/dhinds)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2021, 4:45am UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/13 "2021-09-20T04:45:41Z")
OK
That should do it
---
### Author:  [@dhinds](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/dhinds)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2021, 4:59am UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/14 "2021-09-20T04:59:43Z")
The problem could be related to wayland
---
### Author:  [@napcok](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/napcok)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/15 "2025-11-22T13:12:31Z")
This is an old topic.
Currently we have it almost preconfigured by default.
Check `~/.config/openbox/autostart` and configure it to your needs.
Lines: 23-25
```auto
## Switch keyboard layouts by Alt+Shift
## Example below: US an Greek layouts
#setxkbmap -layout "us,gr" -option "grp:alt_shift_toggle" &
```
set desired keyboard layouts and uncomment last line.
If you like graphical indicator in systray, there is **gxkb** preinstalled.
It can be enabled in autostart by: Menu → Mabox Config → Autostart → GUI Editor.
---
### Author:  [@razoomx](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/razoomx)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/16 "2025-11-22T15:50:59Z")
Спасибо, чего только не пробывал, и только ваш рецепт помог, с чего и надо было начинать! Big thanks 🙏
---
### Author:  [@M0nst3r](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/u/M0nst3r)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2025, 4:06pm UTC](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/using-the-keyboard-widget-w-the-xfce-panel/620/17 "2025-11-22T16:06:46Z")
Hi @dhinds
I, coincidentally, also use those keyboards layouts. Take a look [at my simple approach](https://forum.maboxlinux.org/t/keylock-numlock-and-layout-indicator/1061) please.
Regards.