cmd-W (to close tab) not working on "Dvorak-Qwerty ⌘" layout on macOS

[fanckush]

Issue Description

just downloaded a fresh ghostty. I use "Dvorak-Qwerty ⌘" layout on macOS

1. cmd-t -> this works! Opens new tabs as expected
2. cmd-w -> should close tabs but opens the config file in text edit instead

The reason this happens is because , and w are swapped for dvorak and qwerty but for this specific layout when you hold ⌘ (cmd) the layout transforms into qwerty

maybe related:

1. macOS: keybinds do not override macOS "application default" keybinds (regression) #11396 (comment)
2. macOS: Shortcuts are broken on "Dvorak-Qwerty ⌘" layout #7315

Expected Behavior

when cmd is held, it should fully respect qwerty.. seems like some keys do some don't

Actual Behavior

does what cmd-, does instead (swapped) also cmd-, actually closes the tab, so they are exactly swapped

Reproduction Steps

1. have US qwerty layout (on macOS)
2. have 3 tabs open in Ghostty
3. hit cmd-W -> see how one tab closes and 2 remain
4. switch to "Dvorak-Qwerty ⌘" layout
5. hit cmd-W again (same key) -> notice how the config opens

Ghostty Logs

No response

Ghostty Version

Ghostty 1.3.1

Version
  - version: 1.3.1
  - channel: stable
Build Config
  - Zig version   : 0.15.2
  - build mode    : .ReleaseFast
  - app runtime   : .none
  - font engine   : .coretext
  - renderer      : renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.Metal)
  - libxev        : kqueue

OS Version Information

macOS 26.3.1 (a)

(Linux only) Display Server

None

(Linux only) Desktop Environment/Window Manager

No response

Minimal Ghostty Configuration

empty config.. fresh install

Additional Relevant Configuration

No response

I acknowledge that:

• I have reviewed the FAQ and confirm that my issue is NOT among them.
• I have searched the Ghostty repository (both open and closed Discussions and Issues) and confirm this is not a duplicate of an existing issue or discussion.
• I have checked the "Preview" tab on all text fields to ensure that everything looks right, and have wrapped all configuration and code in code blocks with a group of three backticks (```) on separate lines.

[yuhan0]

I can confirm running into this exact issue too, after upgrading to 1.3.1. As a workaround, I found that adding the following 2 lines to my config overrides the defaults by explicitly mapping physical key names:

keybind = super+KeyW=close_surface
keybind = super+Comma=open_config

For what it's worth, the following is an LLM's attempt at tracing down the bug given my description of the issue - I've looked through the linked issues and PRs but do not have the necessary background to judge its accuracy:

This appears to be a regression introduced by #11403 (merged in 1.3.1). That PR replaced NSApp.mainMenu?.performKeyEquivalent(with: event) with a custom dict lookup keyed on event.charactersIgnoringModifiers. On Dvorak-QWERTY, charactersIgnoringModifiers returns the Dvorak character — it strips both modifiers and the DQ Cmd-triggered QWERTY remapping. So pressing Cmd+[physical W key] produces "," as the lookup character, matching open_config instead of close_surface. The previous AppKit-native menu matching handled DQ correctly, which would explain why this is a regression.

Why other DQ-transposed pairs appear unaffected isn't clear from outside the codebase. The irregularity may be related to the fact that W/Comma are each other's exact Dvorak counterparts relative to QWERTY – or something else entirely.
Related: #9469 (prior DQ fix), #11396, #11403.

Ghostty version

Ghostty 1.3.1

Version
  - version: 1.3.1
  - channel: stable
Build Config
  - Zig version   : 0.15.2
  - build mode    : .ReleaseFast
  - app runtime   : .none
  - font engine   : .coretext
  - renderer      : renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.Metal)
  - libxev        : kqueue

OS Version

macOS 14.8.4

[fanckush]

the workaround works! thx

[olehomelchenko]

Reproducible here as well.

• Layout: "Dvorak — QWERTY ⌘" (switching with Ukrainian-PC — the bug means I have to remember which layout is active before closing a tab)
• With Cmd held, the physical W key does not trigger close_surface. The physical comma key (Dvorak "w") does — exactly swapped, as in the OP.
• No keybind overrides for these keys in my config.
• A second MacBook with the same config on an earlier Ghostty release is not affected.

Ghostty 1.3.1

Version
  - version: 1.3.1
  - channel: stable
Build Config
  - Zig version   : 0.15.2
  - build mode    : .ReleaseFast
  - app runtime   : .none
  - font engine   : .coretext
  - renderer      : renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.Metal)
  - libxev        : kqueue

macOS 15.7.7 (24G720)

[vimota]

As of the latest version of Ghostty (1.4) this continues to be an issue

[bo2themax]

Confirmed, thanks: #14885