How to Remap Keyboard Keys on Windows and Mac (PowerToys, Karabiner, SharpKeys)

Remapping tells the operating system to treat one key as another. It fixes a dead key, moves Escape or Backspace somewhere more comfortable, and turns Caps Lock into something useful. Three free tools cover almost every need: PowerToys Keyboard Manager and SharpKeys on Windows, and Karabiner-Elements on the Mac. macOS also swaps modifier keys with no download at all.

Choose a tool

PowerToys Keyboard Manager (Windows)

Install

1. Install Microsoft PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or from GitHub.
2. Open PowerToys, choose Keyboard Manager in the sidebar and turn it on.

Remap a key

1. Click Remap a key.
2. Click + to add a row.
3. Under Physical Key, click Type and press the key you want to change, or choose it from the list. Under Mapped To, press or choose the key it should become.
4. Optionally set Target app so the rule applies only to one program (use the process name, such as chrome).
5. Click OK. The remap is live immediately.

Examples that solve common problems:

• Dead Delete key: map Scroll Lock to Delete.
• Dead Shift: map Caps Lock to Shift (Left).
• Prefer Escape under the little finger: map Caps Lock to Escape.
• Broken spacebar: map Right Alt to Space.

Remap a shortcut

Use Remap a shortcut to turn one combination into another, for example Ctrl+Y into Ctrl+Shift+Z, or to fire a shortcut with a single key. Shortcut remaps can also be limited to one app.

Limits

PowerToys runs as an application, so remaps do not apply on the sign-in screen, in some games with anti-cheat, or in elevated windows unless PowerToys itself runs as administrator (Settings → General → Run as administrator).

SharpKeys (Windows)

SharpKeys writes the remap into the Windows registry, so it works everywhere, always, without a background app.

1. Download SharpKeys from the Microsoft Store or GitHub and open it.
2. Click Add.
3. In the left list choose the key to change (or click Type Key and press it). In the right list choose what it should become. Turn Key Off disables a key entirely.
4. Click OK, then Write to Registry.
5. Sign out and back in, or restart.

SharpKeys cannot remap shortcuts or set per-app rules, and it cannot map to keys that do not exist on a standard scan code list. To undo, select the mapping, click Delete, write to the registry and restart.

Karabiner-Elements (Mac)

1. Download Karabiner-Elements from its website and install it. macOS asks you to allow a driver extension and grant input monitoring under System Settings → Privacy & Security; follow the prompts.
2. Open Karabiner-Elements and go to Simple Modifications.
3. Choose the target keyboard at the top (For all devices or one specific keyboard).
4. Click Add item, pick the From key, then the To key.

Examples:

• Dead forward delete: From scroll_lock (or any spare key) to delete_forward.
• Caps Lock as Escape: From caps_lock to escape.
• Windows keyboard on a Mac: From left_command to left_option and the reverse, so the physical Alt key acts as Command where you expect it. Karabiner can apply this only to that keyboard.

Complex Modifications handles shortcuts and conditional rules; the rule collection on Karabiner’s site has ready-made ones such as Caps Lock to Escape when tapped and Control when held.

macOS modifier keys without software

1. Open System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Modifier Keys.
2. Choose the keyboard from the dropdown.
3. Set what Caps Lock, Control, Option, Command and Globe/Fn should do.

This is enough for swapping Command and Option on a PC keyboard or turning Caps Lock into Control.

Layouts versus remaps

If many keys are wrong rather than one, you probably want a different keyboard layout rather than dozens of remaps. See Keyboard typing wrong characters for switching layouts and How to change keyboard language in Windows.

Remapping for symbols

If your goal is typing a symbol, a remap is heavy handed. Windows autocorrect, Word’s AutoCorrect, Mac Text Replacement and the layouts with dead keys are simpler. The accent keyboard and copy and paste symbols tools give you any character without touching the keyboard configuration.

Troubleshooting remaps

• Remap does nothing: PowerToys must be running; check its tray icon. Karabiner needs Input Monitoring permission.
• Remap works in some apps only: run PowerToys as administrator, or use SharpKeys for a system-level remap.
• Two tools fight each other: keep one remapping tool installed at a time.
• Key seems dead after remapping: you mapped it to a key that does not exist on your layout, or to Turn Key Off. Remove the rule.

Related

• Delete key not working
• Shift key not working
• One key not working
• Mac keyboard symbols and Option shortcuts

Frequently asked questions