If you’d like to make use of a key that isn’t a letter or a number, or you simply don’t want to be stuck with “Ctrl + Alt + Key” combinations, you can try WinHotKey instead. Remember that it has to be a “Ctrl +Alt + Key combo”, so make sure you pick a combination that doesn’t conflict with any other software. It will automatically assign that key with a hotkey combination to launch it. In the Shortcut tab of the Properties window click in the Shortcut key box and press a number or letter key. This can either be in the program’s files itself or on a shortcut it uses. Right-click the icon of the program you want to use. If this sounds ideal, let’s explore how to remap keys in Windows 10 without having to download anything at all!ġ.
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If you don’t mind that, you can assign your unused keys to programs you open regularly and save yourself some time. Once done, your previously-unused keys are ready to go! Launch a Program The Windows 10 Methodĭid you know that you can set up hotkeys to launch programs within Windows 10 without using third-party software? The downside is that you’re forced to use a “Ctrl + Alt +Key combination” to do it, and you’re limited to the number and letter keys when creating your hotkey. Once you’ve selected the remap, you need to log off and on again for the effects to take place. You can choose between simply having it emulate a different key (such as letters or numbers) or emulate optional keys you may not have on your keyboard (such as an Email key). After selecting the key you want to change, Key Mapper will suggest keys you can map to it.
![remap keys on keyboard windows 10 remap keys on keyboard windows 10](https://windows-cdn.softpedia.com/screenshots/Key-Remapper_1.png)
Key Mapper gives you a visual guide to your keyboard and allows for easy remapping of the majority of the keys on your keyboard. Remapping the keyboard can help get some use out of those unused keys.Ī nice, visually appealing way of setting up remaps is Key Mapper. You can even remap keys on your keyboard to emulate keys that aren’t on your keyboard at all such as media control keys (pause, play) and web browsing keys (back, forward, refresh). This may be because the key you want to use is broken and you need to find a workaround while you get a new keyboard. Sometimes you may want a key to perform the same job as another one on your keyboard.
![remap keys on keyboard windows 10 remap keys on keyboard windows 10](https://todosobrewindows.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Enable-or-Disable-Caps-Lock-Key-in-Windows-10.png)
While there’s nothing wrong per se with the default options they give you, you can always add new functionalities to a keypress as well as simplify a hotkey that uses two or three keys to a single keystroke. Both of these use hotkeys to work, and you can customise what keys triggers which action. As for myself, I always have two pieces of software running: Launchy for easy software launching and ShareX for screenshots.
![remap keys on keyboard windows 10 remap keys on keyboard windows 10](https://helpdeskgeek.com/wp-content/pictures/2020/02/Windows-Remap-Keys.png)
After all, if you’re not using the key at all, why not give it a new job to do? In this article we’ll be looking at how to remap keys in Windows and the benefits it can bring.īefore you change how your keys act, consider if any existing software you already have installed can use it as a hotkey. If you find that some of your keys are going unloved, you can put it to good use by giving it a new job which is more productive than its previous one. While some computer users will find themselves using every key on their keyboards, some will be scratching their heads wondering when was the last time they pushed the “Pause/Break” key intentionally.