How to configure keyboard keys
Admit it, despite pretending not to give him the satisfaction, the very expensive multimedia keyboard just bought by your friend Francesco has hit the spot. It’s beautiful and, most importantly, it saves a bunch of time thanks to those special keys that let you launch files and programs in the blink of an eye.
Would you like to throw your old keyboard in the trash and run to the store to buy one like your friend’s? I can understand, but… stop now! Believe it or not, thanks to some special programs you can transform your old keyboard into a model of the latest generation spending practically zero euros. No, really, I’m not fooling you! You must know that there are special softwares thanks to which it is possible to configure the keys of the keyboard according to your needs, assigning them the most varied functions, including those mentioned above.
The idea appeals to you, doesn’t it? Well, let’s do this: take a few minutes of free time for yourself, sit down in front of your computer and start immediately to concentrate on reading everything reported below. I’m sure that at the end you will be happy and satisfied with what you have learned and that all your friends will not hesitate to ask you for explanations about it… Francesco included! Want to bet?
Index
Keyboard Tweaker (Windows)
KeyTweak (Windows)
HotKeyZ (Windows)
Karabiner (Mac)
Other interesting resources
Keyboard Tweaker (Windows)
The first of the useful resources for configuring keyboard keys that I want to tell you about is Keyboard Tweaker. This is a free, lightweight software that works with all Windows operating systems and allows you to manage and create a myriad of different shortcuts, turning your keyboard into a real multimedia controller.
Are you asking how to use it? I’ll tell you right now. First, go to the Keyboard Tweaker download page on the MajorGeeks website and click on the Download Locations link at the top right corner to download the program to your PC.
Once the download is complete, extract the ZIP archive to any Windows location and run the .exe file contained within. Click on Yes, then click on the Next button twice in a row and click on Finish to finish the installation process and start the program.
In the window that opens, click the Cancel button to skip the registration process and start using Keyboard Tweaker right away.
Now, you’re ready to use Keyboard Tweaker with its default settings, which allow you to access Google using the key combination Alt+Ctrl+G, turn up the volume using the key combination Alt+Ctrl+Up Arrow, turn down the volume using the key combination Alt+Ctrl+Down Arrow and much more (you’ll find everything indicated in the program window).
If one or more of the preset shortcuts don’t interest you, you can also disable them by simply going to remove the check mark that you find on the relevant box in the Flags column.
Of course, you can also add your own key combinations and associate them with actions and/or programs. To do so, first click on the Hotkeys button in the Keyboard Tweaker main window and select New from the menu.
Check two or more of the Alt, Control and Shift keys to indicate the keys on your computer keyboard that you want to use for the new action and, from the drop-down list, choose the key that should complete the new combination.
Then click the Browse button to select the program or file you want to launch when you press the keyboard shortcut, check the Enabled box and click the Apply button to save the changes and enable the combination.
All that remains is to repeat the operation for as many combinations as you wish and close the main program window. The main window can be opened for any need by clicking on the icon with the yellow face in the notification area, next to the Windows clock.
Oh, I almost forgot: if you want the program to run automatically when Windows starts, bring up the Keyboard Tweaker window again, click on the View menu, select Options, then the General tab and check the box next to Autorun with Windows. Click OK to confirm your choice.
KeyTweak (Windows)
Another great program that you can use to configure your keyboard keys is KeyTweak. It works on all versions of Windows, is totally free and allows you to change the operation of the keys through a nice and simple user interface that, in fact, shows a keyboard on the screen. Also of note is the ability to disable the operation of specific buttons as needed.
To use it, first of all, go to the software download page on Softpedia’s website and click on the Download button on the top left. Then click on the Softpedia Mirror (US) link in order to start downloading KeyTweak to your computer.
Once the download is complete, open the .exe file and click on Yes. Then click on I Agree, Install and Close. Then launch the program by searching for it in the Start menu.
Now that you see the KeyTweak window on the screen, select the key on the keyboard that you want to work on. Then choose, from the Choose New Remapping drop-down menu at the bottom, the function you want to assign to it. Click on Remap Key and then on Apply to apply the changes.
You can also work on the Specialty Buttons and the Multimedia Buttons in the same way as I have just indicated. You can find them in the Specialty Buttons section on the right.
If you have second thoughts about a particular key, you can restore it to its normal operation by selecting it and clicking the Restore Default button at the bottom. If you want to restore the default operation of all keys, click on the Restore All Defaults button at the top.
As I told you a few lines above, if you feel it is appropriate, you can also permanently disable specific buttons (unless you have second thoughts). To do so, select the keys of interest and click on the Disable Key button.
HotKeyz (Windows)
Another tool that I invite you to take into serious consideration is HotKeyz. It’s a free software that works in some ways similar to what I told you at the beginning of this guide. It allows you to configure the keys (or key combinations) on your keyboard to open files, folders and programs and to perform various operations (e.g. raise and lower the volume, open the CD player drawer, etc.). Note that it is compatible with all Windows OS.
To use it, first connect to the download page on the Softpedia website, click on the Download button at the top left and click on the Softpedia Mirror (EU) link to start downloading the program to your computer.
When the download is complete, open the .exe file and click Yes. Then click Next, select I accept the agreement and click Next five times in succession. Then finish the setup by clicking on Install and Finish.
Once the HotKeyz window appears on your desktop, you can see a complete list of all the preset shortcuts. In the Description column you’ll find the description of the various shortcuts, while in the Hotkey column you’ll find the keys you need to press to use that feature.
Of course, you can also add your own shortcuts. To do so, click on the New item at the top left, fill in the Description field with the hotkey description, click on the Click button next to the Comand field and indicate the type of command you want to execute from the menu that appears. Then select the category from the Category drop-down list.
To finish, type the key or key combination you want to use in the field below the Hotkey (Keybaord shorcut keys), choose whether to make the keyboard shortcut active only under certain circumstances or not, adjust the other available settings as needed and click OK.
If you want to disable a particular shortcut, either the default ones or the ones you’ve created yourself, uncheck the box in the list in the middle of the HotKeyz window and you’re done. You can also disable entire categories of shortcuts by removing the checkmark from the boxes in the Category section.
Please note that if you want to run the program automatically when Windows starts, you can do so by clicking on the Settings menu and selecting the Add HotKeyz to windows startup option.
Karabiner (Mac)
Do you own a Mac instead of a Windows PC and would you like to know if there is a tool that allows you to configure the keys on your keyboard for Apple computers? Of course there is! Among the various solutions available on the market I recommend Karabiner. It’s a free application that allows you to remap any key or key combination on macOS offering also the possibility to work on the numeric keypad.
To use it, go to the application’s website and click on the Download Karabiner-Elements-xx.x.x button to start downloading the program to your computer.
Once the download is complete, open the .dmg package and double-click on the .pkg file it contains to start the Karabiner setup process. Click on Continue and then on Install. Type in the password for your user account on the computer and click on Install Software and then click on Close. If you’re asked to move the .dmg package of the program to the Recycle Bin, please do so.
If you later see a warning about the system extension being blocked, go to System Preferences by clicking on the System Preferences icon (the gear icon) in the Dock bar, click on Security and Privacy and press the Allow button in the General tab.
Now, start Karabiner by clicking on its icon (the one with the words “KEY” on a black background) in the Launchpad and follow the brief initial configuration by pressing Continue, pressing the key on the keyboard that is indicated on the screen, verifying that the type of keyboard used is correct (and if not, change it) and clicking Finish.
Now, click on the Add item button in the program’s main window, select the keyboard key you want to modify from the From key drop-down menu and the function you want it to assume from the To key drop-down menu. Et voila!
If you want to change the behavior of the function keys, go to the Function Keys tab, identify the function key that you want to work on in the Physical key column and choose which operations you want to perform with it by selecting the option you prefer from the adjacent dropdown menu in the To key column.
If you want to enable complications, go to the Complex Modifications tab, click on the Add rule button at the bottom and choose which rules to enable by pressing the Enable button among those proposed.
You can also create and select usage profiles, so that you can change the behavior of the keys only when the one you prefer is active, by going to the Porfiles tab. To create new profiles, click on the Add profile button, and to select a profile, click on its name from the list. If you want, you can also select a particular profile from the system tray by clicking on the program’s icon and choosing the desired option from the menu that appears.
Other interesting resources
To end on a high note, as they say, I want to tell you about some of my guides through which I have provided you with other computer programs that can help you to configure the keys of the keyboard according to your needs and preferences and to create custom shortcuts.
First of all, I invite you to read my post on how to change the key combination, through which I provided to tell you about some programs used for this purpose as well as the “standard” functions of Windows and Mac that can be useful in this sense.
If you are looking for other tools that can be useful to change the behavior of the keys of your keyboard, I invite you to take a look at my tutorial focused on how to change the function of the keys of the keyboard and treasure the tips contained therein.
If instead you want some general advice on how to make the best use of your computer’s keyboard, read my post on how to use the PC keyboard by which I also reported all the most useful default key combinations, both for Windows and Mac. Take a look at it, I’m sure you’ll find it very interesting.
In the window that opens, click the Cancel button to skip the registration process and start using Keyboard Tweaker right away.
Now, you’re ready to use Keyboard Tweaker with its default settings, which allow you to access Google using the key combination Alt+Ctrl+G, turn up the volume using the key combination Alt+Ctrl+Up Arrow, turn down the volume using the key combination Alt+Ctrl+Down Arrow and much more (you’ll find everything indicated in the program window).
If one or more of the preset shortcuts don’t interest you, you can also disable them by simply going to remove the check mark that you find on the relevant box in the Flags column.
Of course, you can also add your own key combinations and associate them with actions and/or programs. To do so, first click on the Hotkeys button in the Keyboard Tweaker main window and select New from the menu.
Check two or more of the Alt, Control and Shift keys to indicate the keys on your computer keyboard that you want to use for the new action and, from the drop-down list, choose the key that should complete the new combination.
Then click the Browse button to select the program or file you want to launch when you press the keyboard shortcut, check the Enabled box and click the Apply button to save the changes and enable the combination.
All that remains is to repeat the operation for as many combinations as you wish and close the main program window. The main window can be opened for any need by clicking on the icon with the yellow face in the notification area, next to the Windows clock.
Oh, I almost forgot: if you want the program to run automatically when Windows starts, bring up the Keyboard Tweaker window again, click on the View menu, select Options, then the General tab and check the box next to Autorun with Windows. Click OK to confirm your choice.
KeyTweak (Windows)
Another great program that you can use to configure your keyboard keys is KeyTweak. It works on all versions of Windows, is totally free and allows you to change the operation of the keys through a nice and simple user interface that, in fact, shows a keyboard on the screen. Also of note is the ability to disable the operation of specific buttons as needed.
To use it, first of all, go to the software download page on Softpedia’s website and click on the Download button on the top left. Then click on the Softpedia Mirror (US) link in order to start downloading KeyTweak to your computer.
Once the download is complete, open the .exe file and click on Yes. Then click on I Agree, Install and Close. Then launch the program by searching for it in the Start menu.
Now that you see the KeyTweak window on the screen, select the key on the keyboard that you want to work on. Then choose, from the Choose New Remapping drop-down menu at the bottom, the function you want to assign to it. Click on Remap Key and then on Apply to apply the changes.
You can also work on the Specialty Buttons and the Multimedia Buttons in the same way as I have just indicated. You can find them in the Specialty Buttons section on the right.
If you have second thoughts about a particular key, you can restore it to its normal operation by selecting it and clicking the Restore Default button at the bottom. If you want to restore the default operation of all keys, click on the Restore All Defaults button at the top.
As I told you a few lines above, if you feel it is appropriate, you can also permanently disable specific buttons (unless you have second thoughts). To do so, select the keys of interest and click on the Disable Key button.
HotKeyz (Windows)
Another tool that I invite you to take into serious consideration is HotKeyz. It’s a free software that works in some ways similar to what I told you at the beginning of this guide. It allows you to configure the keys (or key combinations) on your keyboard to open files, folders and programs and to perform various operations (e.g. raise and lower the volume, open the CD player drawer, etc.). Note that it is compatible with all Windows OS.
To use it, first connect to the download page on the Softpedia website, click on the Download button at the top left and click on the Softpedia Mirror (EU) link to start downloading the program to your computer.
When the download is complete, open the .exe file and click Yes. Then click Next, select I accept the agreement and click Next five times in succession. Then finish the setup by clicking on Install and Finish.
Once the HotKeyz window appears on your desktop, you can see a complete list of all the preset shortcuts. In the Description column you’ll find the description of the various shortcuts, while in the Hotkey column you’ll find the keys you need to press to use that feature.
Of course, you can also add your own shortcuts. To do so, click on the New item at the top left, fill in the Description field with the hotkey description, click on the Click button next to the Comand field and indicate the type of command you want to execute from the menu that appears. Then select the category from the Category drop-down list.
To finish, type the key or key combination you want to use in the field below the Hotkey (Keybaord shorcut keys), choose whether to make the keyboard shortcut active only under certain circumstances or not, adjust the other available settings as needed and click OK.
If you want to disable a particular shortcut, either the default ones or the ones you’ve created yourself, uncheck the box in the list in the middle of the HotKeyz window and you’re done. You can also disable entire categories of shortcuts by removing the checkmark from the boxes in the Category section.
Please note that if you want to run the program automatically when Windows starts, you can do so by clicking on the Settings menu and selecting the Add HotKeyz to windows startup option.
Karabiner (Mac)
Do you own a Mac instead of a Windows PC and would you like to know if there is a tool that allows you to configure the keys on your keyboard for Apple computers? Of course there is! Among the various solutions available on the market I recommend Karabiner. It’s a free application that allows you to remap any key or key combination on macOS offering also the possibility to work on the numeric keypad.
To use it, go to the application’s website and click on the Download Karabiner-Elements-xx.x.x button to start downloading the program to your computer.
Once the download is complete, open the .dmg package and double-click on the .pkg file it contains to start the Karabiner setup process. Click on Continue and then on Install. Type in the password for your user account on the computer and click on Install Software and then click on Close. If you’re asked to move the .dmg package of the program to the Recycle Bin, please do so.
If you later see a warning about the system extension being blocked, go to System Preferences by clicking on the System Preferences icon (the gear icon) in the Dock bar, click on Security and Privacy and press the Allow button in the General tab.
Now, start Karabiner by clicking on its icon (the one with the words “KEY” on a black background) in the Launchpad and follow the brief initial configuration by pressing Continue, pressing the key on the keyboard that is indicated on the screen, verifying that the type of keyboard used is correct (and if not, change it) and clicking Finish.
Now, click on the Add item button in the program’s main window, select the keyboard key you want to modify from the From key drop-down menu and the function you want it to assume from the To key drop-down menu. Et voila!
If you want to change the behavior of the function keys, go to the Function Keys tab, identify the function key that you want to work on in the Physical key column and choose which operations you want to perform with it by selecting the option you prefer from the adjacent dropdown menu in the To key column.
If you want to enable complications, go to the Complex Modifications tab, click on the Add rule button at the bottom and choose which rules to enable by pressing the Enable button among those proposed.
You can also create and select usage profiles, so that you can change the behavior of the keys only when the one you prefer is active, by going to the Porfiles tab. To create new profiles, click on the Add profile button, and to select a profile, click on its name from the list. If you want, you can also select a particular profile from the system tray by clicking on the program’s icon and choosing the desired option from the menu that appears.
Other interesting resources
To end on a high note, as they say, I want to tell you about some of my guides through which I have provided you with other computer programs that can help you to configure the keys of the keyboard according to your needs and preferences and to create custom shortcuts.
First of all, I invite you to read my post on how to change the key combination, through which I provided to tell you about some programs used for this purpose as well as the “standard” functions of Windows and Mac that can be useful in this sense.
If you are looking for other tools that can be useful to change the behavior of the keys of your keyboard, I invite you to take a look at my tutorial focused on how to change the function of the keys of the keyboard and treasure the tips contained therein.
If instead you want some general advice on how to make the best use of your computer’s keyboard, read my post on how to use the PC keyboard by which I also reported all the most useful default key combinations, both for Windows and Mac. Take a look at it, I’m sure you’ll find it very interesting.