add toggle-keyboard-shortcuts-inhibit bind

niri-config/src/lib.rs

@@ -1279,6 +1279,7 @@ pub enum Action {
         id: u64,
         write_to_disk: bool,
     },
+    ToggleKeyboardShortcutsInhibit,
     CloseWindow,
     #[knuffel(skip)]
     CloseWindowById(u64),
@@ -3078,6 +3079,12 @@ where
                         }
                     }
 
+                    // The toggle-inhibit action must always be uninhibitable.
+                    // Otherwise, it would be impossible to trigger it.
+                    if matches!(action, Action::ToggleKeyboardShortcutsInhibit) {
+                        allow_inhibiting = false;
+                    }
+
                     Ok(Self {
                         key,
                         action,
@@ -3470,6 +3477,8 @@ mod tests {
             }
 
             binds {
+                Mod+Escape { toggle-keyboard-shortcuts-inhibit; }
+                Mod+Shift+Escape allow-inhibiting=true { toggle-keyboard-shortcuts-inhibit; }
                 Mod+T allow-when-locked=true { spawn "alacritty"; }
                 Mod+Q { close-window; }
                 Mod+Shift+H { focus-monitor-left; }
@@ -3786,6 +3795,28 @@ mod tests {
                     },
                 ],
                 binds: Binds(vec![
+                    Bind {
+                        key: Key {
+                            trigger: Trigger::Keysym(Keysym::Escape),
+                            modifiers: Modifiers::COMPOSITOR,
+                        },
+                        action: Action::ToggleKeyboardShortcutsInhibit,
+                        repeat: true,
+                        cooldown: None,
+                        allow_when_locked: false,
+                        allow_inhibiting: false,
+                    },
+                    Bind {
+                        key: Key {
+                            trigger: Trigger::Keysym(Keysym::Escape),
+                            modifiers: Modifiers::COMPOSITOR | Modifiers::SHIFT,
+                        },
+                        action: Action::ToggleKeyboardShortcutsInhibit,
+                        repeat: true,
+                        cooldown: None,
+                        allow_when_locked: false,
+                        allow_inhibiting: false,
+                    },
                     Bind {
                         key: Key {
                             trigger: Trigger::Keysym(Keysym::t),

resources/default-config.kdl

@@ -536,6 +536,16 @@ binds {
     Ctrl+Print { screenshot-screen; }
     Alt+Print { screenshot-window; }
 
+    // Applications such as remote-desktop clients and software KVM switches may
+    // request that niri stops processing the keyboard shortcuts defined here
+    // so they may, for example, forward the key presses as-is to a remote machine.
+    // It's a good idea to bind an escape hatch to toggle the inhibitor,
+    // so a buggy application can't hold your session hostage.
+    //
+    // The allow-inhibiting=false property can be applied to other binds as well,
+    // which ensures niri always processes them, even when an inhibitor is active.
+    Mod+Escape allow-inhibiting=false { toggle-keyboard-shortcuts-inhibit; }
+
     // The quit action will show a confirmation dialog to avoid accidental exits.
     Mod+Shift+E { quit; }
     Ctrl+Alt+Delete { quit; }

src/input/mod.rs

@@ -626,6 +626,19 @@ impl State {
                     });
                 }
             }
+            Action::ToggleKeyboardShortcutsInhibit => {
+                if let Some(inhibitor) = self.niri.keyboard_focus.surface().and_then(|surface| {
+                    self.niri
+                        .keyboard_shortcuts_inhibiting_surfaces
+                        .get(surface)
+                }) {
+                    if inhibitor.is_active() {
+                        inhibitor.inactivate();
+                    } else {
+                        inhibitor.activate();
+                    }
+                }
+            }
             Action::CloseWindow => {
                 if let Some(mapped) = self.niri.layout.focus() {
                     mapped.toplevel().send_close();
@@ -3071,6 +3084,7 @@ fn allowed_when_locked(action: &Action) -> bool {
             | Action::PowerOffMonitors
             | Action::PowerOnMonitors
             | Action::SwitchLayout(_)
+            | Action::ToggleKeyboardShortcutsInhibit
     )
 }