Emacs M- (Alt) key not working for some combinations inside the terminal #8086

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opened 2026-01-31 01:20:25 +00:00 by claunia · 0 comments
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Originally created by @Themistoklis on GitHub (May 12, 2020).

Environment

Windows build number: 10.0.18362
Windows Terminal version (if applicable): 0.11.1251.0

Any other software?

  • emacs
  • wsl (I haven't tried emacs for Windows inside the Windows Terminal)

Reproduce

  1. Open emacs in WSL using Windows Terminal.
  2. Use the describe key (C-h k or M-x describe-key)
    • M-left
    • M-right

I think there might be other combinations that do not work but I didn't try them all.

Expected result

Using the normal terminal with WSL or MinTTY for WSL:

  • M-left -> emacs detects it and displays M-left and the function attached
  • M-right -> emacs detects it and displays M-right and the function attached

Result inside the Windows Terminal

  • M-left -> nothing happens
  • M-right -> nothing happens

Note

C-right or C-left work correctly for example.

Wheel scroll don't work either, it is not captured and passed to emacs. The terminal scrolls normally (which it shouldn't) and you get out of emacs boundaries. See other xterm related issues.

Originally created by @Themistoklis on GitHub (May 12, 2020). # Environment Windows build number: 10.0.18362 Windows Terminal version (if applicable): 0.11.1251.0 Any other software? - emacs - wsl (I haven't tried emacs for Windows inside the Windows Terminal) # Reproduce 1. Open emacs in WSL using Windows Terminal. 2. Use the describe key (C-h k or M-x describe-key) - M-left - M-right I think there might be other combinations that do not work but I didn't try them all. # Expected result Using the normal terminal with WSL or MinTTY for WSL: - M-left -> emacs detects it and displays M-left and the function attached - M-right -> emacs detects it and displays M-right and the function attached # Result inside the Windows Terminal - M-left -> nothing happens - M-right -> nothing happens # Note C-right or C-left work correctly for example. **Wheel scroll don't work either, it is not captured and passed to emacs. The terminal scrolls normally (which it shouldn't) and you get out of emacs boundaries. See other xterm related issues.**
claunia added the Issue-QuestionNeeds-Tag-FixResolution-Answered labels 2026-01-31 01:20:25 +00:00
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Reference: starred/terminal#8086