Ever wondered what are you gon na do with two slip keys , two Alt keys and the Caps Lock key . Pretty Useless right ! Every Windows keyboard has duplicate keys and the only use it serves is you may practice them with both your hand . But would n’t it be more effective if you were able to remap these duplicate keys to open up covering ? For example , I have map my cap Lock to open Calculator and Menu key to spread out Google Chrome . This magic trick really help me as I do n’t even have to rear my hand from the keyboard to grab the mouse . Doing this is pretty easy and just requires you to remap windows keys . This can be done manually or with the assistant of third - company apps like SharpKeys , KeyExtender etc .
Before we begin
To find out find least used paint on Windows , employ apps likeKeyCounter . just download the app , it ’s free and installs it on your personal computer just like you install any other Windows software . Once , done , hunt down the app , and select specific keys to supervise , or you could monitor all keys on your keyboard . Let it run for a day or two and tick on ‘ Stop Monitoring ’ to blockade the app from consider your keys . It ’ll give you a list of Key along with how many times they were pressed .
Change Key Functions on Windows
1. Editing the Registry Entry
Editing the register keys is a tedious method acting to remap keystone and can lead to small trouble if you are not being cautious . I would advise taking a backup before going ahead . If you have no melodic theme about Windows backup , check outthis article .
For this case , we will endeavor to deactivate the cap lock key(Just because I find it useless ! ) . To attain this , we will have to alter theScancode Mapentry . It is located under Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout . you could directly begin modifying the file but I would rather opt creating a Registry entry and merging it with the original data file .
Initially , we will create a notepad file and add the chase to it .
Before we go along further , it ’s important to understand the significance of these numbers . Each button on the keyboard has a hex codification attached to it . Better known as Scan Code and it is extremely important to know the scan code of the key you want to remap . you may delay Scancodes of all the keyboard buttonshere . In our case , the Scan Code of the Caps Lock cay is 3A.
So , the first 4 launching 00,00,00,00 stands for cope versionand the next 4 entries 00,00,00,00 stands for flags . For the next entry , we have to specify the number of button we require to remap . Since we are only disenable Caps Lock key , we require 1 entry for specifying the Caps Lock key and a default null ingress at the end which produce it 2 . So , the next 4 digit whammy identification number would be 02,00,00,00 . Now , I need to specify the scancode of Caps Lock key and the action to be performed when it ’s pressed . I want no action to be perform on the key press so the action at law is null which means 00,00 . Hence , our entrance will be 3A,00,00,00 . The last entering is a nonremittal null entry and should be 00,00,00,00 .
lay aside the file asdisable_capslock.regand this should convert it into a register file . Now , we have to merge these entries with the current Scancode Map introduction . To do that , right clickon the file and chooseMerge .
Now , the changes have been write to the registry and you need to restart the system for it to take effect . If you are not secure with the manual work , you could attempt doing the same with the assistance of third - company apps .
2. SharpKeys
SharpKeys is the popular choice when it comes to remapping your keys . It is an undetermined - source usefulness and I have also urge it as theessential utility for Windows . It has a unproblematic and minimal substance abuser interface . When you set up the app , you get a traditional face dialog box . To add a key remap , press the Add button . It will open up another negotiation box .
Here , you just have to particularise the For Key and the To Key . For example , let ’s remap the Caps Lock headstone to start the aboriginal Calculator app . We will specifyCaps Lock for the For_Key and App : Calculator for the To_Key . you may scroll through the listing of buttons or just hit Type Key and press the key you want to remap .
Once done , tally OK.You will be bring back to the main negotiation corner where you may see the entrance you have just configure . Click Write to Registry and upon prompt , re-start your figurer .
SharpKeys thus let you indirectly alter the Scancode Map registry skip over all the manual body of work and trouble . But the only problem with SharpKeys is that you’re able to not arrange the trigger action to be a customs duty practical app or a combination of multiple winder .
3. KeyExtender
KeyExtender is a paid app thattakes cardinal remapping to next level . Itnot onlyperforms all the introductory functionalities like SharpKeysbut alsoprovides advanced trigger actions . you may countersink a custom software to be launched at the pawl of a button or remap a compounding of keys to a undivided key . The only crux of the matter is that the free edition let you set in motion the software for 18 times and later you have to pay for it . Price come out at 30 $ per user .
As soon as you launch the app , a petite dialogue box seat opens . At the bottom , you will see the selection to remap Florida key . Suppose I desire to set up Google Chrome when I press the Menu key . To do that , I will select the Set Key to be Menu and the To Key would be launching a file . The filing cabinet would be chrome.exe . The remapping should look like the following :
You need to strike Activate to register this remapping . Surprisingly , you do n’t need a restart for the change to register . you could begin using the remap as soon as you reach Activate . you could also remap a combination of headstone to a single button . To do so , press the two dots beside the To textbox . sail to KeyCombination and attain enter . It will give you a pop - up where you could recruit the key combining .
It ’s not possible to remap fundamental combination such as Ctrl+Shift+Esc which are organisation hotkeys . It ’s quite graspable because this is not the determination KeyExtender is built for . If you have a lot of custom cutoff , you could remap those to a individual key with this app . For example , I have remapped my usage shortcut Ctrl+Alt+D to Numpad Enter which now opens Google Chrome in Incognito mode with DuckDuckGo .
Which is the best way?
I would any day choose using SharpKeys because it is an abstractionist way to remap key with zero complexities . If you are right with codes and scripts then do hear the manual room . And in case you do n’t take care spend 30 $ for KeyExtender then it is the best cardinal remapper you may get for Windows .
Comment and let me bed if you have any outcome .
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