Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 2) - ArchWiki

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Reason: Needs a hardware table and a function keys section (Discuss in Talk:Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 2))

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- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 3)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 4)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 5)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 6)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 7)

## Hardware

Almost everything works out of the box. Most of the hardware is based on the Intel Lynx Point reference design.

### Power Management

The kernel module `thinkpad_acpi` picks up most of the sensors. The kernel module `tp_smapi` is not currently supported. PCIe ASPM does not currently work.

Udev does not not notify whenever battery discharges by 1%, but it does notify at 80%, 20%, 5%, 4% and 0%. To take advantage of this, see (Suspend On Low Battery Laptop#Hibernate on low battery level)

Warning: A recent kernel (around 5.15) introduced a bug with the ambient light sensor `cm32181` that prevents the system from suspending/hibernating. A temporary workaround is to unload the module `modprobe -r cm32181`. For more info, see [1]

### Wake From Suspend

Wake from suspend can be buggy with earlier versions of the bios, see: [2]

This can be solved by flashing the bios to a version >=1.13. Look here for Lenovo's bios versions: [3]

A guide how to make a bootable BIOS key drive can be found here: [4]

And some fairly old help from Lenovo here: [5]

If the function keys fail to wake after suspend, ensure you have a kernel version >=3.15.

If you build your own kernels, make sure to either enable TPM (Trusted Platform Module) drivers or disable the Security Chip in the BIOS.

### Keyboard

On kernel 3.14 and lower the adaptive panel at the top of the keyboard is locked to function mode.

From kernel 3.15, Home mode is also available which allows access to screen brightness and other controls.

If you wish to remap keys to get back to a sane keyboard layout, you can use either xmodmap or other input remap utilities.

### Trackpad

To enable Trackpad support you need to install xf86-input-synaptics.

Warning: the above did the opposite for me. When both xf86-input-synaptics and xf86-input-libinput are installed, the trackpoint (red thingy) uses libinput by default, so it does not cooperate with the trackpad (which by default is driven by synaptics), and as a result you cannot scroll with middle button + trackpoint. Keeping only xf86-input-libinput got everything working.

#### Lock-ups on click

There are significant issues with the trackpad locking up on click. This is due to the trackpad operating in buggy PS/2 mode.

One alternative is to abandon the trackpad completely and use the trackpoint. Make sure xf86-input-synaptics is not installed - the trackpad will still register button one mouse clicks. Using xbindkeys Xbindkeys and xdotool, right button clicks can be mapped to some other event. For example:

    ~/.xbindkeysrc

    # Emit a right click on Alt + trackpad click
    "xdotool click 3"
      Mod1 + b:1 + Release

#### Tweaking trackpad behavior

The behavior of the trackpad by default can be contrary to your expectations, particularly if you are coming from an OS X style trackpad. The following settings can help significantly:

    /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/99-x1carbon.conf

    # Copy this to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/99-x1carbon.conf
     Section "InputClass"
         Identifier "X1 carbon stuff"
         MatchIsTouchpad "on"
         MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
         Driver "synaptics"

         # Enable two finger scrolling vertically, disable horizontally
         Option "VertTwoFingerScroll" "1"
         Option "HorizTwoFingerScroll" "0"

         # No scrolling along the edge
         Option "VertEdgeScroll" "0"
         Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0"

         Option "LockedDrags" "0"
         Option "FingerPress" "1"

         # Turn off the blasted corners as buttons
         Option "RTCornerButton" "0"
         Option "RBCornerButton" "0"
         Option "LTCornerButton" "0"
         Option "LBCornerButton" "0"

         # Ignore "taps" and listen for "clicks"
         Option "TapButton1" "0"
         Option "TapButton2" "0"
         Option "TapButton3" "0"
         Option "ClickFinger1" "1" # Left click one finger
         Option "ClickFinger2" "3" # Right click two fingers
         Option "ClickFinger3" "0" # Three finger click disabled

         Option "TapAndDragGesture" "0"

         # No circular scrolling
         Option "CircularScrolling" "0"
     EndSection

If you are using gnome-shell, you may need to tell the settings app not to overwrite our changes:

    gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.mouse active false

#### Touchpad not working after wake up from sleep

See here: Touchpad Synaptics#Touchpad does not work after resuming from hibernate/suspend

### Keyboard backlight

Works out of the box. there is a button on the soft keyboard to toggle it between off, low, and high brightness.

#### Automatically turn on backlight when typing

Using a c program that continuously checks for keyboard input, it is possible to activate the backlight for a certain time. The program source is as a follows

    kbdbacklight.c

    /* Original Author: Howard Chu <hyc@symas.com> 2013-01-15
     *
     * compile as "gcc -O2 -o kbdbacklight kbdbacklight.c" and run it in the background, or arrange to have it run at bootup.
     *
     * adapted by gabtub@gmail.com 2017-01-22
     * using https://gist.github.com/hadess/6847281
     * based on http://askubuntu.com/questions/383501/enable-the-keyboard-backlights-on-supported-lenovo-e-g-carbon-x1-with-command
     * original code found at  http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/asus-keyboard-backlight-controller.703985/
     * sigterm catching done as shown in https://airtower.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/catch-sigterm-exit-gracefully/
     *
     * fixed by sva 2022-10-08
     * uses /sys/class/leds/, s.t. ec_sys is not necessary
     *
     * monitor keyboard activity and toggle keyboard backlight
     */
    #include <sys/types.h>
    #include <sys/stat.h>
    #include <fcntl.h>
    #include <poll.h>
    #include <unistd.h>
    #include <signal.h>
    #include <string.h>

    static char dummybuf[8192];

    /** @brief How many milliseconds before turning off kbd light */
    #ifndef IDLE_MSEC
    #define IDLE_MSEC	5000
    #endif

    #ifndef BRGHT_OFF
    #define BRGHT_OFF	'0'
    #endif
    #ifndef BRGHT_MED
    #define BRGHT_MED	'1'
    #endif
    #ifndef BRGHT_MAX
    #define BRGHT_MAX	'2'
    #endif

    volatile sig_atomic_t running = 1;

    void term(int signum)
    {
        // sigterm == 15
        running = 0;
    }

    int main(int argc, char *argv[])
    {
      struct sigaction action;
      struct pollfd pfd;
      int rc, blfd;
      int timeout, prev = -1;
      char bm = BRGHT_MED;

      memset(&action, 0, sizeof(struct sigaction));
      action.sa_handler = term;
      sigaction(SIGTERM, &action, NULL);

      blfd = open("/sys/class/leds/tpacpi::kbd_backlight/brightness", O_WRONLY);

      // needs the event bound to the keyboard
      // for Xorg ie find using
      //  cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep "keyboard.*event"
      //  cat ~/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log | grep "keyboard.*event"
      pfd.fd = open("/dev/input/event3", O_RDONLY);
      pfd.events = POLLIN;
      timeout = IDLE_MSEC;

      while (running) {
        rc = poll(&pfd, 1, timeout);
        if (rc) {
          /* got keyboard input, flush it all and
           * wait for the next event.
           */
          read(pfd.fd, dummybuf, sizeof(dummybuf));
          timeout = IDLE_MSEC;
          bm = BRGHT_MED;
        } else {
          /* once we've gotten a timeout, turn off
           * kbd backlight and wait forever for
           * the next keypress
           */
          timeout = -1;
          bm = BRGHT_OFF;
        }
        if (bm == prev)
          continue;
        lseek(blfd, 13, SEEK_SET);
        write(blfd, &bm, 1);
        prev = bm;
      }
      // clean up after sigterm
      bm = BRGHT_OFF;
      lseek(blfd, 13, SEEK_SET);
      write(blfd, &bm, 1);
    }

This file can be compiled with:

     gcc -O2 -o kbdbacklight kbdbacklight.c

and must be executed as root.

It would be possible to autostart this by creating a systemd service as follows:

- Create a folder /usr/local/customscripts/kbdbacklight/
- Save the compiled c program to /usr/local/customscripts/kbdbacklight/kbdbacklight
- Create the following bash script in the same folder:

    /usr/local/customscripts/kbdbacklight/kbdbacklight.sh

    #!/bin/bash
    # must be executed as root
    ./kbdbacklight &
    RETVAL=$?
    PID=$!
    [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ] && echo $PID > /usr/local/customscripts/kbdbacklight/pid

- Create the following systemd service and place it in /etc/systemd/system/kbdbacklight.service

    /etc/systemd/system/kbdbacklight.service

    #!/bin/bash
    [Unit]
    Description=starts a daemon monitoring keyboard usage. will turn on keyboard backlight until no key is pressed for a TIMEOUT period
    Requires=
    After=

    [Service]
    Type=forking
    User=root
    WorkingDirectory=/usr/local/customscripts/kbdbacklight/
    ExecStart=/usr/local/customscripts/kbdbacklight/kbdbacklight.sh &
    PIDFile=/usr/local/customscripts/kbdbacklight/pid

    [Install]
    WantedBy=multi-user.target

- start/enable `kbdbacklight.service`

Note:

Specifiy the amount timeout for turning the backlight off again by adjusting the constant IDLE_MSEC in the c program. (and recompiling it again)

### Audio

Sound works out of the box. Uses the snd_hda_intel kernel module. You may need to add default sound card options to the module.

In /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf include the following line:

options snd_hda_intel index=1

### Processor

See Microcode how to update to processor's microcode.

### BIOS UPDATE

To install a BIOS update from linux, download the bootable iso from here

Since there is no CD drive, this method can be used (German).

### Add ALSA-Preamplifier

It is a common problem on laptops running linux that the sound, even on maximum, is not loud enough. This can be fixed by adding an ALSA preamplifier.

Install alsa-utils.

Change the config in /etc/asound.conf to the following ( you might have to adjust the cardnumber):

    # Set your DEFAULT device to the softvol plug-in
    # NOT to a hardware card device
    #
    # The "!" means completely override the previous default
    # Not just changing/adding to it.
    pcm.!default {
      type plug
      slave.pcm "softvol"
    }

    # Configure softvol
    pcm.softvol {
      type softvol

      # Send softvol's output to dmix
      slave {
        pcm "dmix"
        # If you wanted to you could send the output to a card directly
        # But in most cases it's better to send it to dmix and let
        # dmix handle where to send it. You can add a whole extra section
        # to configure dmix and where it sends output, but I'm
        # not covering that here.

        ## Use Card 0 Device 0 instead of dmix
        # pcm "hw:0,0"
        ## Use Card 2 Device 0 instead of dmix
        # pcm "hw:2,0"
      }

      # Add a control slider in your mixer interfaces
      # i.e. KMix and alsamixer
      control {
        name "Pre-Amp"
        card 0 #<CardNumberYouWantControlToShowOn> i.e. card 0 or card 2
      }

      # Minimum dB when slider is at 0%
      min_dB -5.0

      # Maximum DB when slider is at 100%
      max_dB 40.0

      # How many levels the slider should go through
      # i.e. how granular do you want your control to be
      resolution 12
    }

Taken from here. WARNING: It is possible to permanently damage your loudspeakers if you turn it up too much!

### Network

#### Wired

There is a small port on the right side for Ethernet. An adaptor is required. In case of loss of the adaptor, the part number is for ordering is 04X6435.

#### Wireless

Works out of the box. The module `iwlwifi` should be automatically loaded by udev.

    $ lspci

    Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless 7260 (rev 83)

### Display

#### Touchscreen

Works out of the box as single touch. The hardware is multitouch, but current stable drivers only support left-click mouse emulation. Seems to work with Touchegg.

#### GPU

The video card installed is an integrated Intel Haswell GPU. See intel for more info.

#### HiDPI

Since the display has such a high pixel density, you might encounter problems. See here: HiDPI

#### Xbindkeys

For alternative window managers (Fluxbox, etc..), try installing xbindkeys and adding the following to `~/.xbindkeysrc`

    "xbacklight -dec 5"
      XF86MonBrightnessDown
    "xbacklight -inc 5"
      XF86MonBrightnessUp

### KMS

Get KMS working by adding i915 to the modules line

    /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

    MODULES="i915"

Then regenerate your initramfs:

    # mkinitcpio -p linux

### Webcam

Works out of the box.

### Fingerprint Reader

The fingerprint reader is a Validity Sensors model (138a:0017) also used on the Thinkpad X240 and T440. ThinkFinger does NOT support this reader.

This fingerprint reader works with the current release of fprint.

### WWAN (Mobile broadband)

The SIM-card must be inserted in the back of the laptop.

This is usually a Sierra Wireless EM7345. It uses the cdc_mbim kernel module from kernel 3.14 forward. Since Gnome 3.14.1 it works with NetworkManager after installing modemmanager (after a reboot to catch the udev event).

### GPS

This is provided by the Sierra Wireless EM7345. mbim_gpsd is required as well as a udev rule.

Untested

### Bluetooth

Works out of the box after enabling bluetooth.service.

## See also

- ThinkWiki

Category:

- Lenovo

Hidden category:

- Pages or sections flagged with Template:Laptop style