Broken keyboard keys are quite a common occurrence on laptops and netbooks. Although itâs not a terrible problem if the keypress still registers without the key, it is quite difficult if a common key doesnât work at all. Maybe thereâs keys you keep hitting by mistake such as Caps Lock, or would just like a certain key to be in a more convenient location. Or, there might be a key on your keyboard you never seem to use or need.
In all those situations, a simple solution would be to change the keyboard keys to do something else. Whether itâs disabling the key or making it perform another action. More advanced users could turn to software such as a Macro tool which can help you remap keys on a keyboard or even perform more complicated tasks for you, or run a shortcut/hotkey utility.
Remapping modifier keys on Mac. The modifier keys on your keyboard are those used together with other keys for shortcuts. They include Caps Lock, Control, Option, Command, and Function (Fn). Some examples of keyboard shortcuts you might use with these keys are Command + C to copy, Command + V to paste, and Command + M to minimize a window. When you use a keyboard not designed for the Mac, it helps to remap some keys. If you want to remap more keys, the most widely recommended program is the donationware app Karabiner. Keyboard Maestro might be your thing. Make a new command group which only applies to the application in question, then for each key you want to remap, make a new command with a hotkey trigger set to the real key and an 'Insert Text' action set to what you want the key to be.
When you press a key on the keyboard it sends a âscan codeâ to tell Windows what has been pressed. Scan codes can be edited in the system registry to map one key to another but editing the registry manually is tricky. Hereâs a selection of tools that can remap keyboard keys to other keys. Some edit the scan codes in the registry and donât need to stay running, others need to stay running in the background.
1. Microsoft PowerToys For Windows 10
The old utility suite for Windows XP and 95 called PowerToys was resurrected in 2019 for Windows 10 users. One built in feature is the Keyboard Manager which can remap one key to another and also remap keyboard shortcuts. PowerToys doesnât edit scan codes and has to stay running in the background, which could be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your requirements.
Open PowerToys and enable the Keyboard Manager. Click âRemap a keyâ and choose the key to change (Key column) and then what to change it to (âMapped toâ column). You can either find the key in the dropdown menu or type it in manually. Map a key to âUndefinedâ to disable it entirely.
Remap shortcuts is similar, add the new shortcut you want to use, and then the shortcut you want to emulate. A useful option is âTarget appâ that changes the shortcut only for the specified process (use Task Manager > Details to get process names). For example, âRWin+I > Ctrl+Shift+N > Chromeâ remaps Chromeâs new incognito window shortcut for Chrome.exe only and leaves the shortcut alone elsewhere in Windows. Mac keychain stopped working.
Because it has to run in the background, PowerToys is best used if you also want to make use of other built in tools, like FancyZones or PowerToys Run. However, you can simply turn all the other features off to run the Keyboard Manager on its own.
Download Microsoft PowerToys For Windows 10
2. SharpKeys
SharpKeys is an easy tool to use but it lacks a keyboard interface layout which could make it quicker to identify the keys you want to change. The main interface is pretty empty to start with and only the edits you have made will show up here. Pressing Add will get things started for remapping a new key. Select the From key in the list on the left which is the the key you want to move, and the To key on the right is where you want to map it.
Remap Keys Mac App Installer
Do note that not all entries in the list will be available on your keyboard and if youâre unsure, use the Type Key button and physically press the key you want to select. The top âTurn key offâ option in the dropdown will disable the key entirely. Pressing âWrite to Registryâ when youâre done will commit the remapped keys to the Registry and youâll be required to log off or reboot for the changes to take effect.
Use the Load/Save keys buttons to save the list of key changes so they can be loaded again later on. SharpKeys is available as a zipped portable version or an MSI setup installer, the .NET Framework 4 needs to be installed for Windows 7 users.
Download SharpKeys
3. MapKeyboard
MapKeyboard is a portable and tiny keyboard remapper that is under 100KB in size. Just start the program and click on the key you want to remap. At the bottom left of the window, it will show in the âRemap selected key to:â box. Now all you have to do is click on the drop down menu and select the new assignment to give the key or select âDisabledâ to turn the key off.
Keys you have edited in this or any other program that uses the Registry are shown in green in the window. When you have finished with the mappings, click the âSave layoutâ button which will prompt you to logoff for the changes to take effect. MapKeyboard requires .NET Framework v3 to be installed for Windows 10 (and 8/8.1 Windows) users.
MapKeyboard 2.1 was the last version but we are linking to 1.5 which is functionally the same but comes without ads in the window for some of the developerâs other products. https://industryskyey956.weebly.com/which-app-is-best-to-download-for-android.html.
Download MapKeyboard 1.5
4. Key Mapper
Key Mapper is an easy to use and intuitive tool that can remap a key or disable it completely. To disable a key all you have to do is click on it and drag it off the programâs window, which will then turn the key a brownish color. To map one key to another, click on the key and then drag and drop it onto the key you want it assigned to which will turn the newly assigned key an aqua color.
Double clicking on a key will popup a window where previous edits can be reversed. All the available keys that can be assigned are displayed in categories which groups keys together according to their function. This makes it easier to find what you want and once you select the desired key from the list, simply press the Map button to assign it to the key. Alternatively, use the Capture button and press the desired key.
There is a useful option in the Mappings menu to export all the changes made to a registry file which you can then import later or use on another machine. The on-screen layout can be resized or changed to exclude the keypad, have typewriter keys only, or show a Mac style keyboard. Key Mapper requires .NET version 2/3 which you will be prompted to install if your Windows 10 system doesnât have it installed already.
Download Key Mapper
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5. Keytweak
KeyTweak offers a few ways to help remap one keyboard key to another. It has a Full Teach Mode where you click the button to begin and just press the from key and then the key you want to map to, then click the âRemap #1 to #2â button. There is also a Half Teach Mode which differs from full teach by offering a drop down list of available keys for you to remap to.
The third way is by using the virtual keyboard in the main window to click on the key to change and then select the new mapping from the drop down below. This also gives you the option of quickly disabling a key and making use of any special keys your keyboard has such as media, Explorer, power, or internet keys.
The keyboard itself might be slightly confusing for some as it lists the scancode numbers for the keys and not the actual characters. Hovering over the key will show its friendly name in a tooltip. Click Apply when youâre done and reboot or log off. As KeyTweak is effectively abandonware and only one executable and pdf help file, weâve extracted the setup installer and zipped the files to make it portable.
Download KeyTweak Portable
6. Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator
The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator allows you to create custom keyboard layouts completely from scratch or take an existing layout and edit it to your liking. It works by building and creating an installer that you can then install on any machine as an additional keyboard. Thereâs also three different setup options for the layout around the Enter key which is a useful feature for laptop and custom keyboards (View > Options).
Something MSKLC cannot touch is any special keys such as Enter, Shift, Control, Alt, Caps Lock, backspace, and the Function keys. The keys that are editable can have multiple entries for the normal keypress, Shift + keypress, Ctrl+Alt+ keypress, and Ctrl+Alt+Shift+ keypress. These can be shown on the main keyboard image by using the âShift statesâ boxes on the left.
Existing layouts can be loaded in and edited via File > Load Existing Keyboard. Once you have finished editing, the new layout can be tested and validated before the package is built (via the Project menu). Windows 10 requires the .NET framework version 3 to be installed.
Download Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator
7. RemapKeyboard
This last tool is a portable standalone executable and only 79KB in size. RemapKeybaord is quite similar to SharpKeys in that it doesnât have a visual keyboard layout or graphics but instead uses a list of keys in a map from and map to style. It also makes use of the scan code data in the registry.
https://trackerrenew138.weebly.com/microsoft-acpi-compliant-embedded-controller-driver-for-lenovo-g580.html. Any custom scan code data from this or any other program will be shown in the far left pane. To create a new mapping, select the key from the list in the middle âMap this physical keyâ pane. Then, select the âto this effective functionâ key from the right pane. The disable key option is at the bottom of the list. Press âAdd new mappingâ at the top, then press âSave all mappingsâ to commit the changes to the registry.
Like all other tools using the registry scan code method, you have to log off or restart the system for the changes to take effect.
Download RemapKeyboard
Final Note: These tools donât create multiple function macro keys for launching programs or inputting text. They simply map one key on a keyboard to another or create different layouts of the standard keys. Also, laptop Fn or Function keys cannot usually be mapped because they are in most cases hardcoded and donât represent a physical keypress. Your laptop might have a BIOS option or a dedicated utility from the manufacturer, but itâs unlikely these tools will help.
You might also like:6 Ways To Disable or Remap the Caps Lock Key On Your Keyboard5 Free Tools to Remap and Customize Mouse Button Actions5 Free KVM Switch Tools to Share Keyboard and Mouse on Multiple Computers2 Tools to Use your Keyboard LEDâs as a Network Activity IndicatorHow to Install Bluetooth Keyboard on Windows 7
Ashearon4 months ago
Hello. Love this article, but Iâm still confused as to which program to go for. I have an Indonesian computer, and I need a pound sign! I have a function key number 5. when I press it nothing happens. yep still nothing happens, just testing it. Can i assign my Function key number 5 to be a pound sign?
Reply
Iâm not quite sure whether you mean the Fn function key a laptop keyboard or the simple F5 function key.
Key Remap App Mac
The pound sign can be typed with Alt+156 or Alt+0163 but unless you have it already on your keyboard as a standard key, Iâm not sure if these tools can map it.
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Chris5 months ago
This article says ââ¦laptop Fn or Function keys cannot be mapped because they are in most cases hard coded into the keyboard and donât actually represent a physical key press.â
My 2019 ThinkPad, which has the Function key in the lower left exactly where the Left Control should be, does have the Function key mapped as Special:Wake (or Fn) (EO-63).
https://yellowberry432.weebly.com/blog/mac-app-for-chromecast. I am researching Windows key mapping tools in order to find one which will let me map Left Shift + Function to be the new Function key and then map the horribly positioned Function key to be Left Control. Spotify 3 months free.
The Control key is a cornerstone key used by Windows Hot Key sequences several dozen (hundred?) times each day. Note to the wise: Never buy a laptop with a Function key where normal keys go or you will suffer through so many mistakes during the day.
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That may be a hardcoded mapping of your fn key but as far as I know, you canât map an fn key to some other key on the keyboard, the F key for example.
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HF2 months ago
Had the same problem. In the thinkpadâs BIOS you can switch the FN and CTRL keys to match normal laptop. Reply
To get to BIOS you have to press one of keys when starting up before windows starts loading.
It be great to have a simple keyboard mapper than can also capture and combine mouse buttons.
For example capturing keyboard + mouse hotkeys and remapping to windows 10 media control / OSD overlay (for keyboards with no media keys for example): Reply
3rvx.com
sm6 months ago
autohotkey.com
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Unfortunately, most of these tools are useless if you want to remap for example PgUP to Ctrl+Left, since they can only remap single keys and not key-combos.
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Guest1 year ago
What about the portable âMulti Task Toolâ recently added in major geeks website? I really love it, it allows mouse movements to be easily remapped to anything.
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You can look also on TouchCursor
Really useful.
martin-stone.github.io/touchcursor
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David2 years ago
Would love a program that removes key combos such as Left Alt Tab. Even auto hotkey is letting me down here. Also, it seems EA games override any key reassignment of the tilde key.
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Most donât work well. I have found none useful so far. MS KLC â once installed it is overridden by other keyboard layout (e.s. Korean) etc. What a dismal digital dismal dark age we live in! (Using PC with Win 7. Win 10 is good for many, but it is much more geared for I-Pad gadgetry stuff.
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Vineet Garg3 years ago
Hi Ray, thanks for the wonderful article, i have been able to remap and disable keys and use my laptopâs faulty keyboard efficiently but only after a boot into an operating system . i want to just know if there are any options that can enable the same before even a actual boot into a OS ie. for selecting between various options before boot ? Thanks & regards.
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Hi All, Reply
1. Thanks RAY for this wonderful article ! 2. LazyCatz says â Key remapper is better because it does not need to write any registry.â i also thought that but donât know/understand how it works then ? May be it just doesnât tell/ask you ! 3. sharpkeys portable does fine on my windows 7 & Vista. it seems its poor GUI doesnât pose big difficuties ! Thanks & Regards.
LazyCatz4 years ago
Key remapper is better because it does not need to wite any registry.
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to be cont.d⦠Reply
Actually, KeyMapper talked straight to my needs. i had some non working keys and some unused keys !
Vineet Garg4 years ago
Hi Friends, Reply
i have some words 1) Keytweak download is not available from here. i used Keytweak from Hirenâs BootCD and its very ordinary. may it be that a new version is advanced . 2) SharpKeys asks to add an entry in registry which i donât like at all ! 3) KeyMapper is outstanding but unfortunately doesnât work on my Windows 7 64 Ultimate sp1 . though it works very well on my Vista Ultimate 32 Sp2. i used MapKeyboard on win 7 which is ordinary but no choice. 4) Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator , i didnât give it a try because it prepares keyboard layout(s) which has/have to be installed ! i keep distance from installing items on my slow pc and it also has some limitations. Regards, Vineet Garg.
looks cool
thanks Raymond
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