to_if_canceled/to_if_invoked ignore modifiers if identical those in "to"

Author: eugenesvkCreated Nov 4, 2022Updated Sep 15, 2026

It seems that the to_if_canceled/to_if_invoked ignore the modifiers element of the key_code if it's the same modifier as the one in the from field

For example, the code below fails: if you press ⌘F and

release it and wait, it types r instead of firing ⌘F (from to_if_invoked)
release it and cancel (Esc), it types g instead of firing ⌘G (from to_if_canceled)

json

{      	"description":"  LCmd+double tap F bug","manipulators":[
 {     	"type":"basic","conditions":[{"type":"variable_if","name":"left_command_f pressed","value":1}],
 "from"	:{"key_code":"f","modifiers":{"mandatory":["left_command"],"optional":["caps_lock"]}},
 "to"  	:[{"shell_command":"open ''"}] },
 {     	"type":"basic","conditions":[],
 "from"	:{ "key_code":"f","modifiers":{"mandatory":["left_command"],"optional":["caps_lock"]}},
 "to"  	:[
  {    	  "set_variable"  :{                 "name":"left_command_f pressed","value":1}}],
       	  "parameters":{"basic.to_delayed_action_delay_milliseconds":1000}, "to_delayed_action":{
       	  "to_if_canceled":[{"set_variable":{"name":"left_command_f pressed","value":0}},
       	  {"key_code":"g","modifiers":[             "left_command"]}],
       	  "to_if_invoked" :[{"set_variable":{"name":"left_command_f pressed","value":0}},
       	  {"key_code":"r","modifiers":[             "left_command"]}] }  }
]},

However, the same example works correctly if I change the modifier left_command that matches from to a non-matching alternative right_command

json

{      	"description":"  LCmd+double tap F bug workaround","manipulators":[
 {     	"type":"basic","conditions":[{"type":"variable_if","name":"left_command_f pressed","value":1}],
 "from"	:{"key_code":"f","modifiers":{"mandatory":["left_command"],"optional":["caps_lock"]}},
 "to"  	:[{"shell_command":"open ''"}] },
 {     	"type":"basic","conditions":[],
 "from"	:{ "key_code":"f","modifiers":{"mandatory":["left_command"],"optional":["caps_lock"]}},
 "to"  	:[
  {    	  "set_variable"  :{                 "name":"left_command_f pressed","value":1}}],
       	  "parameters":{"basic.to_delayed_action_delay_milliseconds":1000}, "to_delayed_action":{
       	  "to_if_canceled":[{"set_variable":{"name":"left_command_f pressed","value":0}},
       	  {"key_code":"g","modifiers":[             "right_command"]}],
       	  "to_if_invoked" :[{"set_variable":{"name":"left_command_f pressed","value":0}},
       	  {"key_code":"r","modifiers":[             "right_command"]}] }  }
]},

credits to https://github.com/pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements/issues/2677#issuecomment-1107459534 for the workaround

this is tested on KE 13.7.0, sorry if I missed the fix in the later versions

Source: pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements

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