Matlab installer does not accept keyboard input

I am trying to run the Matlab R2013b installer on Ubuntu Server 12.04 64 bit, and although the installer itself runs fine, it does not accept keyboard input at any stage during the install. I am unable to type in my MathWorks credentials, a license key, or the location of a license file, which is preventing me from upgrading my Matlab install. I have tried installing both with and without an Internet connection with the same result. I have also tried copy-and-pasting the necessary information into the installer window, (using both the right-click context menu and keyboard shortcuts) which also doesn't work. The installer script does not appear to have a working text-only mode. How can I resolve this?

[Christy Varghese]

Any Updates on this? I have the same problem.

[Nick Gould]

Me too. Very odd

[Nick Gould]

I just tried on a second machine ... different linux distro ... same issue. Fix please. Thank you

[Weston Preecs]

I had the same issue running on Manjaro, I found that if I hit the tabs at the top like "Licensing" to go back then go foreward to where I was I can type then. Still pretty finnicky.

[Daniel Döhring]

Still facing this issue on Ubuntu 20.04 with MathWorks installers of Matlab 2020a, 2020b. I cannot copy in my username or password.

[Erin Bratu]

Speaking specifically to installation on Ubuntu 20.04 for anyone who ends up here in the future, if you are running into this problem and nothing mentioned here is working, check if you are using the Wayland display server. If you are, try logging out and switching to Xorg for at least the installation.

[Data Manager]

Also happens on xorg with LXDE under Ubuntu 16.04 for me (R2020b).

Highly annoying. If this also happens in GUIDE based Apps or the Matlab AppBuilder stuff this is a no go

Answer 1

[Niels Brummerstedt]

Routinely experience this on Fedora 33 with gnome. The keyboard locks, not just in the installer, also in the software when working.

Typically the problem starts when you interact with GUI elements with the mouse.

To unlock the keyboard, select another window (e.g. the browser), select a text input (e.g. the address bar), and switch back to installer.

[James Welsh]

Can confirm that this worked for me while installing R2020b.

[Chris Rygaard]

I had similar problems with Matlab 2020a on Debian. Niels Brummerstedt's solution worked for me.

[luis medina]

I had the same problem. It got fixed when I closed whatsapp on my computer

[Sumit Kumar]

Can confirm that this worked for me while installing R2021b. but still I wonder why it failed to bring attention of Matlab dev.

[Muhammed Ashiq S]

awesome

[Andrew Pomfret]

Yeah, well this works... but really, how hard would this be to fix?

[Oscar]

No puedo creer que esta era la solución. Y pasa en otros pasos màs adelante tambièn. Really? Que tan difìcil es arreglar esto? Me estuve dando de cabezazos una tarde completa. Bueno, funciona al fin.

[Jan]

Thank you so much!

[NIRUSHAN]

tx!

[Dan]

I wasted hours upon hours trying different workarounds to get the installer to work. Your answer helped tremendously. Thank you!

[KSHITIJ]

Thank you for the hint to unlock the keyboard. I was about to give up!

[Rene van Paassen]

Same bug still here, Fedora 38, Matlab 2023b.

Amazing find on the unlock. Kudos.

I have existing code (Simulink models) I need to run. otherwise I tend to avoid Matlab, since it is buggy as hell, and never improves.

Answer 2

[Bubba C]

A Mathworksrep answered this in another thread, like this:.

This is a bug on RedHat distributions that locks out your keyboard. To work around this issue, select the "File Installation Key (FIK)" radio button and then toggle back to the "login to MathWorks Account" button. You should now be able to enter your account information.

[Bubba C]

On release 2021a, the toggle back is to "standard install".

[Sean]

The keyboard issue on the MATLAB installer installation still remains. I'm using Linux Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS (Jammy) and as soon as I access the installer to add my e-mail, it won't let me type anything. Oddly enough, if I write something, copy it, and then attempt to click after a few types, I can paste things to get through the installer. You will have to do that for your e-mail, your password, and the username, but if you can copy and paste all three of those items through the installer process, you can eventually get through the end of the MATLAB installer process. I don't have issues with literally any other program on my verison of Ubuntu linux, except the MATLAB installer.