How can I ctrl-alt-f# to get to a TTY in a QEMU session?

sendkey can be used to send keys to the virtual system that your host intercepts at low level - such as Ctrl + Alt + F*.

1. Use Ctrl + Alt + 2 to switch to the QEMU console.
2. Type sendkey ctrl-alt-f1 and press Enter.
3. Use Ctrl + Alt + 1 to switch back to the virtual system, which should now by at TTY1.

Once at a virtual terminal, you should be able to use the chvt command, e.g. sudo chvt 7 to go back to your X session.

You can change tty in the guest os running on qemu with ALT + left or right arrows on the keypad.

You can try using sticky keys: Press the first key three times to "stick" it to the "virtualized window" followed by the other keys e.g. CTRL+CTRL+CTRL+ALT+F1.

This should send the command to the virtual machine instead of the host machine "hijacking" it.