Map any key to any key on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Vista

Is it frustrating to figure out how certain keys work on your computer system? What if you can use an easy and free tool to remap them? In this post, we talk about a tool that we like for solving this problem, called SharpKeys. Read on to learn more about SharpKeys and how to use it.

What is SharpKeys?

SharpKeys is a small utility that provides a simple way to reassign or disable keys without hassling with the Windows Registry. This instrument is helpful for users who use Windows on Mac via Boot Camp, where the Opt and Cmd keys don’t correctly map to the Windows and Alt keys. Before you start remapping keys with SharpKeys, please read the following notes and update your operating system for better performance.

Note: SharpKeys works on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Vista, however, the keys’ availability for remapping is dependent on your keyboard model (having a multimedia keyboard with extra volume, mute, and play/pause keys should appear in SharpKeys).

Update: While SharpKeys still works well, Microsoft now also offers PowerToy, which you can use to remap keys.

How to use SharpKeys to remap Windows hotkeys

Download the latest version of SharpKeys from the project’s release page. You can download and install it with either the MSI file or the individual app in the ZIP file.

Open and run SharpKeys.

In the main window, you can see the mapped keys are listed. But you won’t see anything listed if you are starting from the beginning. Click the Add button on the left side to create a new key mapping.

You will see two lists in the key mapping window. The left list, “From Key,” indicates the key behavior you would like to “Change.” The right list, “To Key,” represents the key behavior you would like to “Assume.” Select the key you want to remap on the left list and the right list. Then, click OK. For example, I choose the Scroll Lock key on the left and the Caps Lock key on the right. After clicking on OK, I will not be able to use the actual Caps Lock key. Note: If you don’t want to scroll through the lists in “From Key,” you can also click on “Type Key” to simply press the key you want to select.

You can also choose to map the key for no action. Select the key you want on the left in the “From Key” section and select Turn Key Off in the “To Key” section on the right. Click OK on it (the key will be turned off).

If you are done with remapping the keys, you will be back in SharpKeys’ main windows. To confirm all the changes, click on the “Write to Registry” button at the bottom right of the window.

Afterward, SharpKeys will give you a note to tell you whether you need to log off or restart your computer for the changes.

When your computer is restarted, the key remapping process is complete.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SharpKeys is a straightforward and efficient tool for remapping keys on Windows, which allows users to customize their keyboard layout without diving into the complexities of the Windows Registry. This is ideal for users using Windows on Mac via Boot Camp or those who need to adjust key functions on multimedia keyboards, but it also offers a way to redefine key behaviors or disable them entirely without complication. In addition, Microsoft also offers PowerToy, a similar tool to SharpKeys. Yet SharpKeys remains a reliable choice for remapping keys on Windows versions from Vista to Windows 11.

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25 Nov 2024, 3 min read