The keyboard is one of the most crucial parts of a computer, without which it’s nearly impossible to access the system. Yes, we do have the touch screen computers today, but very few of us use these systems. For some, it can be challenging to use the usual QWERTY format in the way they are already arranged. But if you want to customize the keyboard according to your convenience you can use key mapping software.
As a convenience for people who have disabled the Caps Lock, Num Lock or Scroll Lock keys, Key Mapper has a facility to toggle the value of these keys, in case - for example - an application sets Caps Lock on but the key is disabled. Available downloads. Key Mapper is a Windows Form application written in C#, targeting the.NET Framework 2.0. Input Mapper is designed to bridge the gap between the devices you use and the games you play. Started in 2014 as DS4Tool and then DS4Windows, Input Mapper immediately gained a strong following after allowing users to use their Dualshock 4 controllers in games that don't allow for the direct input protocol used by the device.
For instance, you may want to replace the position of the “Tab” key with “Ctrl” key, you can use the programs to remap them. You can also add new personalized keys, or deactivate any key for added convenience like disabling the “Fn” button. Moreover, there are times when some of your keys might have stopped working making it tough for typing. While using a macro tool can help you remap keys or operate a shortcut service, these need to be saved in the system memory for them to work all the time.
Therefore, using a key mapping tool can be the best alternative as these do not need a process to run the background for it to function. Here we have listed some of the best key mapping software programs that you can use instead of 3rd party tools.
How to reassign and redefine keyboard keys in Windows 10/8/7. Map Any Key to Any Key on Windows 10, 8, 7, or Vista. The Best Key Re-mapper- Download link.
SharpKeys
If you are having a tough time re-mapping the keys on your keyboard, SharpKeys does the job for you. It can change the way how different keys work, efficiently. For instance, if you are having a tough time with one of the keys like hitting the “Fn” key accidentally every time you want to press the “Ctrl” key, you can either disable it or change its function to a different key.
The software helps you map up to 104 different types of combinations! It’s a pretty easier tool to start with an empty interface to work upon. It shows only the edits that you have made unless you hit the “Add” option to start remapping a new key. The interface then gets divided into two vertical panes of which one shows the “From Keys”, and the other one shows the “To Keys”.
You can now select the “From key” from the list on the left, and move it to the “To key” on the right where it is mapped. However, since not all the keys listed may not be available on your keyboard, you can make your choice by pressing the “Type Key” option and then hit the physical key you want to select. You must complete the process by hitting the “Write to Registry” option and wait for the successful mapping confirmation by the registry. Now, shut down the application and log out, or restart to apply the new mappings.
Price: free
Keytweak
Keytweak is one of the keymapping software programs that lets you remap the keyboard keys. It enables you to alter all the mapped keys, activate/deactivate keys, and even store your alignment in a single click. On launching the user interface of the software, it shows the alignment of your keyboard in association with a range of buttons and commands. Here you can assign each key as per your requirement and place it beside a command or simply let it be empty to deactivate it. As the mapping is done, the keys store your command and activate the software function. From here on, your keyboard starts getting mapped as per your set alignment.
Whether it’s for the safety of your system, simply to redefine the keys to operate a program, or you need it to play some game, there are many reasons why remapping can be good using this software. Alternatively, the remapping of keys is also useful in case any of the keys are damaged and they have stopped working.
Price: free
Key Mapper
If you are looking to configure your keyboard, Key Mapper is just the right tool that can help you with it. Using this software, you can remap the keyboard keys as per your choice. For instance, you can change the function of one key (Caps Lock) to work like another (for example, Ctrl), or to any other function that may not be even present on your keyboard.
This free application is available for Windows 2000 and previous versions. It’s a lightweight program that does not occupy much storage space compared to many other similar programs. It comes equipped with a various keyboard designs (pre-set) such as, featuring a number pad which is not present in most laptop keyboards, Mac keyboard, or typewriters key alone.
In order to map a key, all you need to do is to either use the software’s key capture feature or just pick a key from the list and prepare a new mapping. Wondering how to use the key capture feature? All you need to do is to choose the desired key and hit the set button, pick a key group and a key from the list, and hit the map button. Now, the virtual keyboard will show you a new key replacing the old one.
If you want to deactivate the mapped key at a later date, you can easily do that by simply pulling it away from the keyboard. In addition, you can also change the attributes of the key like the color, add toggle function to the key menu, choose another language, and much more.
Price: free
MapKeyboard
Most keyboard mapping programs take up considerable storage space. However, MapKeyboard is a really small and one of the best key mapping software programs around that occupies only 30KB in file size. You can easily customize the keyboard layout settings using this free software, despite the missing hotkey feature.
The interface of the program is a lot similar to the usual keyboard image that’s easy to use by the majority of the users. It’s easy to use and easy to understand even for the beginners. It lets you replace a keys function using a pull-down menu of the output keys. What’s more? It also allows you to create different layouts that match your requirements.
Moreover, you can also quickly return to the actual keyboard layout in just a single click feature that helps reset the keyboard. Overall, it’s a handy software and offers an effortless way to customize your keyboards.
Price: free
Key Remapper
Key Remapper by ATNSOFT is one such key remapping software that enables you to disable keys/mouse buttons/mouse wheel rotations and even remap them. Moreover, it also carries out counter remapping of keys and mouse buttons. It basically modifies their functions. For example, you can change the Left Shift and the Caps Lock, and other such combinations.
It also allows you to replace certain keys or mouse buttons by a mix of key or mouse button with modifiers. For example, the “Alt” key can be replaced with a combination function such as, “Alt+Tab”, etc. You can even mirror the double mouse button and key hits, and fix a certain interval between the hits.
In addition, it allows you to block keys, mouse buttons, or the mouse wheel rotation along with their combinations with different modifiers. Not just that, it also limits the remapping and blocking functions to certain programs and Windows. Coreldraw x3 keygen. It also helps you create and change between key sets quickly, in just two clicks.
Price: free license available; upgrade starts from $49.95
AutoHotkey
AutoHotkey is a lot different from the other best key mapping software in the list. It’s a much powerful application which is easy to learn. It allows you to assign hotkeys for the keyboard and mouse, remap keys or buttons, and even offers the auto-correct type swaps. The software makes it incredibly easier to create simple hotkeys in just a few lines.
This free and open source software comes with a dedicated scripting language for Windows helping you to create small to more complex scripts, effortlessly. It helps you create scripts for all types of tasks that includes filling forms, macros, and more.
If you are a beginner, then it offers an integrated command for you. And, if you are a professional, then you will all the more appreciate the skilled scripting language for quick prototyping and limited projects. The program offers you a lot more flexibility to automate any desktop task. It’s compact, quick, and is ready to use.
It comes with a straightforward and adaptable syntax that helps you stay focused more on the task than focusing on each of the technicalities.
Price: free and open source
Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator
If you are looking to customize your keyboard layout right from the ground up, then Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator can be your best bet. It helps you define your keyboard layout in a language unsupported by Microsoft, quickly, easily, and effectively. You can also create your own keyboard layout that helps you to quickly and easily replace your preferred symbols with just a few keystrokes.
While it helps you define new keyboard layouts right from the ground up, it also helps you create a new layout on the current one. Moreover, it allows you to change a current keyboard layout file and create a new layout out of it. Additionally, it saves the subsequent keyboard layout results for further use and installation.
Price: free
Key Manager
Key Manager by ATNSOFT is another product in their range that’s an advanced version of their Key Remapper. It offers a lot more functions than just remapping keys and mouse buttons. For instance, this software lets you even remap combinations of mouse buttons and keys, keys and mouse button arrangements, and even the long presses. Install whatsapp on windows 7 ultimate.
You can choose to display your actions in pop-up menu forms that can be launched with hotkeys, edit, record, paste content, run macros, and much more. Imitating mouse clicks, opening websites, changing the layout, filling up forms instantly, or controlling the power settings of the monitor are some of the other things that you can choose to display.
Price: free license available; upgrade starts from $49.
KeyExtender![]()
If you intend to extend your key functions, KeyExtender can be of great heal to you. It helps you to make your keyboard alignment more convenient for you to work or play games. That’s not all! You can also change your usual keyboard format (102) into a cross-functional keyboard without spending much of your funds. Whether you want to replace A key with E key on your keyboard, want to add the Crtl+V function to a single key like the “Tab”, or want the F9 key to type frequently used text, the software is apt to take care of all that and more.
The interface is simple, compact, and nonresizable, and is comparatively much easier to use and understand. It uses pull-down menus to change the way a key works. It also allows you to easily define hotkeys using the Settings options and enable or disable the impact of the software on your keyboard. Overall, if you are looking for a skilled remapping software, KeyExtender can be the solution.
Price: free trial available; priced at $19.95
![]() Keyboard Layout Manager
Keyboard Layout Manager is a dynamic software that offers an impressive range of characters to be deployed in different languages or specific areas. This program offers the opportunity to map almost all characters that you require, to one of your preferred keyboard keys and define customized layouts.
It’s a lightweight application and is pretty compact acquiring only up to 1MB of your hard disk space. Given that it cuts down your system resources utilization, it automatically becomes light on your computer. You can select from a range of option from the main window, for example, language or layout, including the keyboard in use. Moreover, you can even create a new variety, in case you do not want to mess with the current ones.
The virtual keyboard offered by the program is fully supported and you are also free to use any of the keys apart from the major function buttons. it allows you to assign a character using a maximum of three mouse clicks. What’s more? It also offers you the opportunity to use all of the key combinations that help you map up to 6 characters for each button.
Overall, it’s a robust tool that helps you map your keyboard keys easily and effectively.
Price: free trial available; shareware
While many of us are comfortable with the usual QWERTY layout of our keyboards, there are many who prefer it to be their way. So, if you are one of the latter and looking for one of the best key mapping software, this post is for you. Make a pick from the list and map keys fast and easy with your chosen software.
I find passion in writing Tech articles around Windows PC and softwares
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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. 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. 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.
Use Existing Software
Before you change how your keys act, consider if any existing software you already have installed can use it as a hotkey. As for myself, I always have two pieces of software running: Launchy for easy software launching and ShareX for screenshots. Both of these use hotkeys to work, and you can customise what keys triggers which action. 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.
Mimic a Different Key
Sometimes you may want a key to perform the same job as another one on your keyboard. 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. 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). Remapping the keyboard can help get some use out of those unused keys.
A nice, visually appealing way of setting up remaps is Key Mapper. Key Mapper gives you a visual guide to your keyboard and allows for easy remapping of the majority of the keys on your keyboard. After selecting the key you want to change, Key Mapper will suggest keys you can map to it. 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). Once you’ve selected the remap, you need to log off and on again for the effects to take place. Once done, your previously-unused keys are ready to go!
Launch a ProgramThe Windows 10 Method
Did 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. If you don’t mind that, you can assign your unused keys to programs you open regularly and save yourself some time. If this sounds ideal, let’s explore how to remap keys in Windows 10 without having to download anything at all!
1. Right-click the icon of the program you want to use. This can either be in the program’s files itself or on a shortcut it uses. Click Properties.
2. In the Shortcut tab of the Properties window click in the Shortcut key box and press a number or letter key. It will automatically assign that key with a hotkey combination to launch it. 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.
The WinHotKey Method
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. It’s a third-party application that allows you to create hotkeys to open applications of your choice. You can also set hotkeys to modify the active window (such as minimizing it), open files and folders, and even write pre-set text.
It allows you to customise the hotkey combination you’d like to use, giving you a selection of Alt, Ctrl, Shift, and the Windows keys to choose from. You can even forgo these combinations and rebind a key without needing to press anything else, although it will warn you extensively if you try to do this!
A Key Solution
Now that you know how to remap keys in Windows, you can give them a new life by performing tasks in software, mimicking other keys on your keyboard (or ones that aren’t even there!), or have them launch apps by themselves. The next time you’re thinking about your unused keys, put some of these tools to the test.
How do you make the most of your keyboard? Do you have any advice on how to remap keys in Windows 10? Let us know your methods below.
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