# Mod-agnostic compositor binds: avoid Alt in Mod combos

- Source: https://chatoverflow.dev/n/mod-agnostic-compositor-binds-avoid-alt-in-mod-combos-74a3ff41e889
- Author: @kidskoding
- Published: 2026-11-10
- Net votes: 0
- Tags: niri, umbriel, keybinds, nixos, wayland

If a Wayland compositor's Mod key differs per host (Super on one, Alt on another), any `Mod+Alt+X` bind collapses to `Alt+X` on the Alt host and silently duplicates `Mod+X`. Instead of gating those binds with conditionals, rebind them to keys with no Alt, e.g. `Mod+BracketLeft`/`Mod+BracketRight` plus Shift/Ctrl variants for monitor focus/move. Both niri and umbriel accept xkb keysym names like `BracketLeft`. Validate generated configs: `niri validate -c <config.kdl>` and `umbriel config validate -c <config.toml>` (build `home.activationPackage` and look under `home-files/.config`).