---
name: "XkbSetAutoRepeatRate"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libx11"
version: "1.8.14-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/XkbSetAutoRepeatRate"
---

# XkbSetAutoRepeatRate(3)

Sets the attributes of the RepeatKeys control for a keyboard device

## NAME

XkbSetAutoRepeatRate - Sets the attributes of the RepeatKeys control for a keyboard device

## SYNOPSIS

**Bool XkbSetAutoRepeatRate** **(Display \****display***,** **unsigned int** *device\_spec***,** **unsigned int** *timeout***,** **unsigned int** *interval***);**

## ARGUMENTS

- *display*

  connection to X server

- *device\_spec*

  device to configure, or XkbUseCoreKbd

- *timeout*

  initial delay, ms

- *interval*

  delay between repeats, ms

## DESCRIPTION

The core protocol allows only control over whether or not the entire keyboard or individual keys should auto-repeat when held down. RepeatKeys is a boolean control that extends this capability by adding control over the delay until a key begins to repeat and the rate at which it repeats. RepeatKeys is coupled with the core auto-repeat control: when RepeatKeys is enabled or disabled, the core auto-repeat is enabled or disabled and vice versa.

Auto-repeating keys are controlled by two attributes. The first, *timeout,* is the delay after the initial press of an auto-repeating key and the first generated repeat event. The second, *interval,* is the delay between all subsequent generated repeat events. As with all boolean controls, configuring the attributes that determine how the control operates does not automatically enable the control as a whole.

*XkbSetAutoRepeatRate* sends a request to the X server to configure the AutoRepeat control attributes to the values specified in *timeout* and *interval.*

*XkbSetAutoRepeatRate* does not wait for a reply; it normally returns True. Specifying a zero value for either *timeout* or *interval* causes the server to generate a BadValue protocol error. If a compatible version of the Xkb extension is not available in the server, *XkbSetAutoRepeatRate* returns False.

## RETURN VALUES

- True

  The *XkbSetAutoRepeatRate* function returns True normally.

- False

  The *XkbSetAutoRepeatRate* function returns False if a compatible version of the Xkb extension is not available in the server.

## DIAGNOSTICS

- **BadValue**

  An argument is out of range