[Feature] Fullscreen VM/remote-desktop keybind guard using Hyprland submaps

[xizha127]

What would you like to be added?

I would like an optional fullscreen keybind guard for VM / remote-desktop / emulator windows.

The idea is:

• Detect when the currently focused window is fullscreen.
• Check whether it matches known VM / remote-desktop clients, for example:
  • WinBoat / FreeRDP / xfreerdp
  • VMware
  • VirtualBox
  • QEMU / virt-manager / SPICE viewers
  • GNOME Boxes
  • Waydroid
  • Remmina
  • AnyDesk
  • RustDesk
  • TeamViewer
  • Splashtop
  • HelpWire
• If matched, switch Hyprland into a restricted submap.
• In that submap, disable normal Hyprland hotkeys except one escape keybind, for example Super+F.
• Pressing the escape keybind should exit fullscreen and return to the normal/global submap.

A minimal Hyprland-side config could look like this:

submap = fullscreen-guard

bind = Super, F, fullscreen, 0
bind = Super, F, submap, global

submap = global

How will it help?

This helps when using Windows / Linux guests, remote desktop sessions, or Android containers fullscreen inside Hyprland.

Current problem:

When a VM or remote-desktop window is fullscreen, host-level Hyprland keybinds still trigger. For example, while using WinBoat / FreeRDP fullscreen, pressing Super combinations can accidentally:

• switch host workspaces,
• launch host apps,
• trigger host window actions,
• interfere with the guest/session,
• break immersion when the user expects input to go to the fullscreen guest.

Use case:

I am using WinBoat on Hyprland. The actual fullscreen window appears as:

{
  "class": "xfreerdp",
  "title": "FreeRDP: 127.0.0.1:xxxxx",
  "fullscreen": 2,
  "fullscreenClient": 2,
  "xwayland": true
}

Extra info

it uses generic Hyprland behavior:

• hyprctl activewindow -j
• active window class/title matching
• fullscreen state detection
• hyprctl dispatch submap
• optional Hyprland socket2 event monitoring

The feature could probably be added as an optional script/snippet rather than enabled by default.

Potential config options:

env = HYPR_FULLSCREEN_GUARD_MATCH,xfreerdp|winboat|VirtualBox|VMware|virt-manager|waydroid|remmina|anydesk|rustdesk
env = HYPR_FULLSCREEN_GUARD_SUBMAP,fullscreen-guard

My config in:

keybinds.conf

# >>> hypr-fullscreen-guard >>>
##! Hyprland fullscreen guard
# Used by hypr_fullscreen_guard.py.
#
# When the focused fullscreen window matches the guard script's app list,
# the script switches Hyprland into this restricted submap.
#
# In this submap, normal Hyprland hotkeys are disabled.
# Only the escape keybind below remains active.

submap = fullscreen-guard

# Escape fullscreen guard.
# Change this keybind if desired.
bind = Super, F, fullscreen, 0
bind = Super, F, submap, global

submap = global
# <<< hypr-fullscreen-guard <<<

execs.conf

# >>> hypr-fullscreen-guard-autostart >>>
exec-once = ~/.config/hypr/custom/scripts/hypr_fullscreen_guard.py --monitor
# <<< hypr-fullscreen-guard-autostart <<<

/scripts/hypr_fullscreen_guard.py
hypr_fullscreen_guard.py

[marepallisanthosh999333]

there is a keybind to disable hyprland keybinds when in a vm Super Alt F1