Num Lock turns on the number pad. F1 conjures up a Help screen. Ctrl+C copies an item. Windows key+E opens File Explorer. But you’re not stuck with the existing keys or shortcuts. You can modify many of them with the help of a PowerToys tool called Keyboard Manager. Using Keyboard Manager, you’re able to set various commands to use different keys and shortcuts other than their default ones. For example, maybe you want F1 to turn on the number pad or Windows key+C to copy an item. As long as the key or shortcut follows certain rules and doesn’t conflict with keys and shortcuts reserved by Windows, you can redefine it however you’d like. Here’s how this works. Also: Yes, you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade. Here’s how
How to remap keys using Keyboard Manager in Microsoft’s PowerToys
How to remap a shortcut
At the main Keyboard Manager screen, click the entry for Remap a shortcut. Click the dropdown menu to select the physical shortcut or click the Type key to type it. The shortcut must start with a modifier key, meaning Alt, Ctrl, Shift, or Win. After choosing or typing the modifer key, select or type the accompanying key. For example, if you wish to redefine Win+F, choose Win in the first column and F in the second column. For example, you can’t remap Win+L (locks Windows) or Ctrl+Alt+Del (gives you access to Task Manager) as those are reserved shortcuts. But you can remap the function keys F1-F12. If you try to redefine a reserved key in Keyboard Manager, you’ll get a slap on the wrist to prevent you from proceeding. Click the dropdown window and scroll through all the choices until you find the one you want. Alternatively, click the Type button and press the key you wish to redefine. Then click OK to submit it. Also: How to use free PowerToys FancyZones in Windows and why you should For example, to replace F1 with F12 as the Help command, choose F1 as the mapped-to key. Either click the dropdown menu and select the mapped-to key from the list, or click the Type button and press the key. When you’re done, click OK to activate the remapping. Also: How to keep track of your mouse pointer with the PowerToys Mouse utilities Next, choose the shortcut or key that you wish to remap to the physical shortcut you selected. For example, if you want Win+E to be the mapped-to shortcut, choose Win in the first column and E in the second. You can also select an individual key instead of a shortcut. By default, your new mapping will work across Windows and all applications. But you may want to limit it to just a specific app, such as Microsoft Word or Google Chrome. To do this, you first need to find the name of the app’s executible file. Right-click on the shortcut for the app in the Start menu, go to More, and select Open file location. Right-click on the app’s icon in File Explorer and select Properties. The name of the executable file appears in the Target field. Copy and paste or type that filename in the field under Target App. When done, click OK. Also: How to shrink your images with the PowerToys Image Resizer If you limited the remapping to a specific app, open that app. Otherwise, go anywhere in Windows. Press the new keystroke you defined to make sure that it triggers the command from the original physical keystroke.
