If you’ve ever felt constrained by the default keyboard layout on your Windows 11 machine, you’re not alone. Luckily, a little-known feature can help you personalize your typing experience to suit your needs. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to remap keyboard keys in Windows 11 using Microsoft Powertoys.
Each individual has preferences regarding the keyboard layout. Whether typing or playing games, even a single rebind key can boost your efficiency. Microsoft Powertoys and SharpKeys are free yet powerful tools that let you remap every key on your keyboard on any Windows computer or laptop.
But what exactly is a key remapping? Let’s understand that first.
What does remapping key mean
Key remapping means reassigning a key’s function to a different action. For example, you can rearrange the Alt key on your keyboard to act like the Enter key. Here, once the remapping is complete, pressing the Alt key on your keyboard will be treated by your computer as the Enter key input.
In this way, you can remap any key to perform a different action than the one it is supposed to perform. Not only can you remap keys, but you can also rearrange and change Windows keyboard shortcuts.
For example, the keyboard shortcut Windows + S opens the Search bar in Windows. You can remap this shortcut to perform a different action of your choice, or even disable it entirely based on your preferences.
Now there are different ways to remap keys in Windows 11. Some external keyboards ship with custom firmware from their OEM with software that you can remap keys and shortcuts. However, not all keyboards have such functionality, and this solution puts laptop users off.
But don’t worry, because we have Microsoft PowerToys that lets you remap keys on any Windows 11 machine, including laptops and desktops with external keyboards. This is how you can install Microsoft Powertoys and rearrange the keys on your keyboard in Windows 11.
Note: In addition to Microsoft PowerToys and SharpKeys, you can also remap your keys using the Windows Registry Editor. However, the process is too complicated and it can be difficult to revert the changes if something goes wrong. Therefore, we recommend using Microsoft PowerToys or SharpKeys to remap your keys.
Method 1: How to remap keys in Windows 11 using Microsoft PowerToys
Microsoft PowerToys is an original utility tool that helps users increase productivity on Windows. Remapping keys is just one of the possibilities that Microsoft PowerToys offers. But first, you need to install the software before moving on to remapping the keys on the keyboard.
Note: If you already have PowerToys installed, skip to part 2.
Part 1: Install PowerToys on your Windows 11 PC
Step 1: Visit the official website and click Install PowerToys using the link below.
Step 2: Scroll down to the Assets section and download the .exe file called PowerToysSetup.
Note: Download the correct installation file for your system architecture. If you have an Intel or AMD based CPU, download the x64 version. Meanwhile, if you have a Qualcomm Snapdragon, Mediatek or Samsung Exynos CPU, download the arm64 version.
Step 3: Now, open the PowerToysSetup .exe file. Accept the terms and conditions, and click Install.
Step 4: Open Microsoft PowerToys. In the General menu, enable ‘Run at startup’. This will keep PowerToys running in the background every time you start your system.
Microsoft PowerToys installation and setup is now complete.
Part 2: Rearrange keys using the Keyboard Manager in Microsoft PowerToys
Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerToys on your Windows 11 computer.
Step 2: Click on Keyboard Manager in the sidebar.
Step 3: Turn on the Enable Keyboard Manager switch.
Step 4: Click on Remap a key.
Step 5: In the Remap Keys prompt, click the plus icon to start remapping your keys.
Step 6: Click the Type button.
Step 7: Now press the key on the keyboard that you want to remap and click OK.
Step 8: If you want to remap your selected key to another key, click Type.
Step 9: Now press the desired key on the keyboard that you want to remap and click OK.
Note: Repeat steps 6-9 to remap other keys.
Step 10: Once done, click the OK button at the top right.
Step 11: A warning box will pop up, click Continue Anyway.
Your selected keys are now successfully remapped.
Reassign keyboard keys to perform an action in Windows 11
Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerToys on your Windows 11 machine.
Step 2: Click on Keyboard Manager.
Step 3: Now click on Remap a key.
Step 4: To add a new key to remap, click the plus icon.
Step 5: Now click on Type.
Step 6: Press the key on the keyboard that you want to remap and click OK.
Step 7: To reorder your selection for a specific action, click the drop-down menu.
Step 8: Select the action that you want to remap for your key.
Step 9: Click the blue OK button.
Your selected key is now remapped to perform the action you want.
Remapping keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11
As mentioned earlier, you can also remap keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerToys on your Windows 11 machine.
Step 2: Click on Keyboard Manager.
Step 3: Now click on Remap a shortcut.
Step 4: To change the keyboard shortcut, click the plus icon.
Step 5: Click the Type button in the Physical Shortcuts section.
Step 6: Now press the keys related to the shortcut you want to remap and click OK.
Note: Supports up to three keys for keyboard shortcut remapping. If your shortcut involves pressing more than three keys, it cannot be remapped using Microsoft PowerToys.
Step 7: Click the Type button below the Mapped To section.
Step 8: Now press the key that you want to do the remapped action.
Alternatively, you can also choose to remap your selected shortcut to perform a specific action from the drop-down menu.
Step 9: Click the OK button to save your changes.
Your selected shortcut is now remapped to a new action.
How to remove the key map in Microsoft PowerToys
If you want to remove your key mappings from Microsoft PowerToys, follow these steps.
Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerToys on your Windows 11 machine.
Step 2: Click on Keyboard Manager in the sidebar.
Step 3: Click Remap a key.
Note: You can also delete remapped shortcuts in the same way, under Remapping a Shortcut.
Step 4: Now click on the delete icon of the remapping you want to delete.
Step 5: Click the OK button to save your settings.
Method 2: Reassign the keys on the keyboard using SharpKeys
SharpKeys is an open source software that provides an alternative method to remap keys in Windows 11. Here’s how you can use it. Note that SharpKeys only supports key remapping and does not support changing keyboard shortcuts.
Step 1: Download SharpKeys from the Microsoft App Store.
Step 2: Open SharpKeys on your Windows 11 machine.
Step 3: To start remapping a key, click Add.
Step 4: From the list on the left, select the key that you want to remap. Alternatively, click the Type button on the left to directly press the key on the keyboard that you want to remap.
Step 5: Now, select the key that you want as the remapped key from the list on the right. You can also click Enter and press keys directly on the keyboard.
Step 6: Click OK.
Step 7: Now, click on Write to registry. To apply your changes, reboot your system.
Your keys are now successfully remapped using SharpKeys in Windows 11.
How to remove key mapping in Sharpkeys
Step 1: Open SharpKeys on your Windows 11 machine.
Step 2: Click the remapping that you want to remove.
Step 3: Now, hit the delete option at the bottom. This will remove your selected key remapping.
Step 4: Click Write to registry. Restart your system to apply the changes.
SharpKeys also has a feature where you can save your key fixes with a local file. This can be done by clicking the Save key button.
You can transfer this local file to any new system and open it with SharpKeys. This can be done using the Load Keys button in Sharpkeys, on your new system.
SharpKeys is just as good as Microsoft PowerToys, but it requires a reboot each time to apply the new changes.
FAQ about remapping keyboard keys in Windows 11
1. Does remapping keys with PowerToys and Sharpkeys work system-wide?
Yes, the remapped keys work system-wide in Windows 11. The new remapped action will still work across all apps.
2. Can we disable certain keys using Microsoft PowerToys or Sharpkeys?
Yes, you can disable keys in Windows 11 using both Microsoft PowerToys and Sharpkeys. In PowerToys you have to remap the action to ‘Disabled’ from the dropdown. In Sharpkeys you have to select the first option called ‘Turn Key Off’.
Remapping keys made easy
Microsoft PowerToys and Sharkeys are two powerful tools that you can use to remap the keys on your keyboard on any Windows 11 machine. So if you have a faulty key that needs urgent remapping or normal closing, PowerToys and Sharpkeys will help you. You can also check out our guide on how to remap keys in Windows 10.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
