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Meta / Alt / Option

How to use the dedicated ALT key2 on the virtual keyboard?

  1. Add the {ALT} token to your Keyboard Accessory View Layout, e.g. : 
    #!KeyboardAccessoryViewLayout {ESC}{TAB}{CTL}{ALT}{FN}{ARROWS}{PJUMP}{INS}{PGUP}{PGDN}{HOME}{END}{HELP}
  2. Launch a SSH connection
  3. Tap the "Alt" key : it is now toggled
  4. Press a key character (or an arrow key) in order to send the wanted escape sequence

How to use the Meta / Alt / Option key1 on the virtual keyboard?

  1. Launch a SSH connection
  2. Long press the "Esc" key on the virtual keyboard
  3. Choose the "Alt" key
  4. As the "Alt" key is now toggled you can now press a key character in order to send the wanted escape sequence

How to choose the ALT + Arrow keys encoding2?

By default, ALT + ◄ / ► send the readline words motion sequences (ESC b / ESC f) and ALT + ▲ / ▼ send the ESC prefixed arrow sequences.

If you are using a program that expects the standard xterm modifier sequences (\e[1;3A-D) — like Zellij, tmux or byobu — add the following to your SSH Config File : 

#!AltArrowKeysMode csi
This setting applies to both the virtual keyboard arrow keys and a physical keyboard.

How to use it1 on a physical keyboard?

  1. Launch a SSH connection
  2. Press "Control" AND "Option" keys AND press a key character in order to send the wanted escape sequence

  1. In order to use this functionality, you must upgrade WebSSH to 16.2 ↩↩

  2. In order to use this functionality, you must upgrade WebSSH to 32.4 ↩↩

Last update: July 10, 2026