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How to Add New Custom Hotkeys to Windows 10

custom function keys shortcuts

Matthew Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of software articles for sites such as Bright Hub. He has an A - Level in ICT, at grade C, and is proficient with a number of software packages. Check out his book at http://battlesofthepacificwar.blogspot.co.uk/. Battles of the Pacific War 1941 -1945 recalls where, when and how the Pacific War was won and lost within the battlefields of the Pacific. Read more November 7, 2022

One of the most powerful features in Windows 10 is the ability to set up your own custom hotkeys. The OS is certainly known for customizations, making the user experience more personalized, like the ability to add new shortcuts in the context menu .

How to Add New Custom Hotkeys to Windows 10

Using various hotkeys lets you start programs, load websites, and do many other tasks with a keystroke. There are several built-in keyboard shortcut options in Windows 10, and there are also powerful third-party tools that will give you access to more options.

In this article, you’ll find helpful information on using both approaches to create customized Windows 10 hotkeys.

Adding Hotkeys to Program and Website Desktop Shortcuts

First, let’s try one of the most basic approaches to adding hotkeys. You can add a hotkey to any software or website shortcut on the desktop.

Windows desktop menu

  • Click the Shortcut key box and enter a new keyboard shortcut for the program or web page. Just enter a letter there to set up the new hotkey. Note that the shortcut will be the letter combined with Ctrl + Alt . So if you type “I,” then the keyboard shortcut would be Ctrl + Alt + I . You can also enter one of the function keys (F1 through F12 on most keyboards).
  • Select Apply and then click OK to close the window.
  • Press your new hotkey to test it out, and it should open the program or web page you specified.

Set up Shutdown, Restart, and Logoff Keyboard Shortcuts

You can also create shutdown, logoff, and reboot hotkeys in Windows 10 without using third-party packages.

win hotkey2

  • Press Next and type a suitable title for the shortcut. For example, you can name the shortcut “shutdown” if the shortcut shuts down Windows.

win hotkey3

  • Give the shortcut a hotkey.
  • Select OK to exit the window.

Now, pressing that key and Ctrl + Alt will shut down, restart, or log you out of Windows 10, depending on what you entered in the first text box of the Create Shortcut wizard.

Adding Custom Hotkeys With Third-Party Software

You can do a lot more with extra third-party software. There are a few programs available for Windows 10, and some of those are free programs. WinHotKey is one of the packages you can use to set up customized Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts. Add it to Windows 10 from the WinHotKey Softpedia page. Click the DOWNLOAD NOW button there to save the setup wizard, and then open that to add WinHotKey to windows.

win hotkey4

The WinHotKey window in the shot above includes a list of default Windows 10 hotkeys. Note that you can’t edit those with this package. What you can do is set up new keyboard shortcuts that open software or documents or adjust the active window.

win hotkey5

  • Click the I want WinHotKey to : drop-down list and select Launch an Application , Open a Document , or Open a Folder .
  • Click Browse to select what action hotkey will open when you press it.
  • Choose from a variety of keyboard combinations for the hotkeys by selecting the Alt , Shift , Ctrl , and Windows checkboxes. Then click the Along with the key : drop-down list to add a unique key to the hotkey.
  • Press the OK when you’ve selected all the required options.

The new keyboard shortcut should then be listed on the WinHotKey window, along with the others. Press the hotkey to try it out. It will open the software, document, or folder you selected.

You can also set up some window hotkeys with this package.

  • Select the Control the Current Window option from the I want the WinHotKey to: drop-down list.

win hotkey6

  • Choose your action from the drop-down list.

Another useful software package to set up customized hotkeys with is NirCmd, which is available for most Windows platforms. You can add the utility to Windows 10 from this NirSoft page . Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Download NirCmd or Download NirCmd 64-bit to save the file (depending on whether or not you are running the 64-bit version of Windows).

Since NirCmd saves as a compressed zip, you’ll also need to select its compressed file in File Explorer and press the Extract all button. Choose a path to extract the folder.

Once NirCmd is extracted, you can set up Desktop shortcuts with the Command-Line Utility and turn them into hotkeys.

custom function keys shortcuts

  • Press Browse and select the NirCmd executable path from there, but DO NOT click next just yet.

win hotkey7

  • Click on the new NirCmd desktop shortcut. If the volume isn’t already muted, this will complete the action.
  • Turn the NirCmd shortcut into a mute hotkey by right-clicking it, selecting Properties , and entering a key in the Shortcut key text box.

You can set up a variety of NirCmd hotkeys in much the same way. For example, if you add “ setsysvolume 65535 ” to the end of the NirCmd path instead of “ mutesysvolume 2 “, the hotkey will maximize the volume when pressed. Alternatively, adding “ emptybin ” to the end of the path would set up a shortcut that empties the Recycle Bin.

win hotkey8

As you can see, Windows 10 features both in-house hotkey customizations, as well as third-party hotkey integration. The NirCmd and WinHotKey programs offer more keyboard shortcut options than Windows 10 does by default. With these hotkeys, you can open software, shut down the pc, restart Windows 10, adjust volume settings, and much more.

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How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10

Any time you open a Windows app by rolling your mouse pointer over to an icon or lift your finger up and tapping on a tile, you're wasting time and putting unnecessary strain on your shoulder. The fastest and least physically-taxing way to launch any program is with a keyboard shortcut you can hit without even lifting your hands off of the homerow.   Windows 10 allows you to create custom shortcuts for any program, whether it's a traditional "desktop" app, a new-fangled "universal app" or one of Windows 8's "metro apps." Here's how.

Method 1: Create a Desktop Shortcut

1. Open a command prompt window.  You can get there by typing "cmd" into the Cortana / Search box and then right clicking on Command Prompt and selecting "Run as administrator."

2. Type "explorer shell:AppsFolder"  (without quotes) at the command prompt and hit Enter. A window with a list of all your apps appears.

3. Right click on an app and select Create shortcut. It may be easier to find your app if you change the view setting to "detailed list" so you can see all the icons in a single column.

4. Click Yes when asked if you want the shortcut on the desktop. A new shortcut icon appears on your desktop.

5. Right click on the new shortcut icon and select Properties.

6. Enter a key combination in the Shortcut key field. The combination must be CTRL + ALT + a letter / number.

7. Click OK.

Note:  Remember not to use the same key combination twice. Also note that some programs use CTRL + ALT + keyboard shortcuts that would also launch if you were in their windows. For example, in Photoshop Elements, CTRL + ALT + I brings up the resize menu.

Method 2: Use the Start Menu

If you're creating a keyboard shortcut for a "desktop app," any application that installs via direct download rather than Windows Store alone, you can create the shortcut directly from the Start Menu. By using this method, you can avoid creating a separate shortcut icon on the desktop.

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Navigate to the icon or tile for the app you want. If the app is not pinned as a tile, you can find it by clicking on the All apps and scrolling through the alphabetical list.

3. Right click and select Open file location. A window opens with a shortcut icon. If Open file location doesn't appear on the menu, this is a modern or universal app and you'll have to follow method 1 above.

4. Right click on the shortcut icon and select Properties.

5. Enter a key combination in the "Shortcut key" box.  

6. Click OK.

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Create Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts to Do Anything on Windows and macOS

If the built-in keyboard shortcuts aren't enough for you, you can make some of your own..

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Keyboard shortcuts are your not-so-secret weapon for maximizing your productivity and blazing through tasks at top speed. From dropping GIFs into chats to searching Wikipedia in an instant and everything in between, keyboard shortcuts can come in really handy. You don’t just have to settle for the standard list of shortcuts you get with Windows or macOS, though—you can easily create your own too. Here’s how.

Custom Windows Shortcuts

Windows 10 enables you to make your own custom keyboard shortcuts, but only up to a point—to launch specific shortcuts to files, folders and apps. The easiest way to create a shortcut is to right-click inside a File Explorer window or on the desktop, then choose New and Shortcut . Follow the instructions to tell Windows what you want to create a shortcut to.

Once the shortcut to the program, file or folder is created, right-click on it and choose Properties . On the Shortcut tab, click in the Shortcut key box, enter your chosen keystroke combination, and click OK to confirm. Note that your custom combination has to start with Ctrl+Alt , after which you can add a letter, number, or function key. That customization is helpful, but it doesn’t really let you go to town on your own custom shortcuts. To do that, you need the help of a third-party program.

Changing the settings of a Windows shortcut.

WinHotKey is an older freeware program but still works in Windows 10. It runs from the notification area (system tray). Right-click its icon, click Configure , then choose New Hotkey from the dialog box that appears to create your shortcut. As the Windows OS has bagged most of the Win+whatever shortcuts for itself, you’ll probably need to add in a Ctrl or a Shift to make yours unique. You can launch applications, open files, open folders, or perform a number of actions on the current window (like minimizing it).

AutoHotkey is also worth a look—and is also free. This is more complex and is built around scripts. You need to create these scripts as small text files which can then be assigned shortcut keys of your choice. The benefit of this extra complexity is you can do just about anything with the program, from launching apps to inputting lines of text. For more detailed instructions for creating scripts, and some example ones you can modify, see the online documentation .

Comfort Keys Pro gives you a whole host of options.

Comfort Keys Pro is another option, though you will have to pay $40 for it once the free trial has ended. You do get a lot for your money, though: an intuitive, clean interface for building up your custom keyboard shortcuts, which can link to apps, or files, or snippets of text, or anything you like. If you don’t want to start entirely from scratch, you can use the text macro templates provided, and there’s even a clipboard history manager you can use, too.

Finally, you can create your own custom keyboard shortcuts in a few applications, including Microsoft Word . Open Options from the main program menu, then choose Customize Ribbon and click Customize... next to the Keyboard shortcuts heading. You can do the same trick in Photoshop, too, via Edit and Keyboard Shortcuts —just select a tool or menu option to assign a shortcut to it.

Custom macOS Shortcuts

On the Mac, Apple offers a native option for attaching keyboard shortcuts to menus and actions. Open the Apple menu, then pick System Preferences , Keyboard , and Shortcuts . You can disable or enable any shortcut using the tick boxes to the left, or set a different keystroke combination by clicking on the shortcut you want to change and then hitting the replacement combination on your keyboard.

To set up a new shortcut for an app menu item, click App Shortcuts then the + (plus) button. You need to type out the exact menu label you want the shortcut to apply to (like “Delete” for example), and specify whether the shortcut should work in every app or one desktop program in particular, as well as enter the keyboard combination itself. Once you’ve clicked Add you’re up and running with your new macOS keyboard shortcut.

Adjusting shortcuts on macOS.

Under Services you can find options like capturing the screen and setting the desktop wallpaper, and all these options can have their own shortcuts too. If you want to add a new service to this list—importing tracks into the Music application maybe, creating new calendars, or many other actions—you can do this through the built-in Automator utility and then assign a keyboard shortcut afterwards.

You can do more with the help of a third-party program, like Alfred . Using customizable “hotkeys,” you can launch an application, take more control over Alfred itself, or launch a specific script or AppleScript to carry out an action. The option to create hotkeys needs the Powerpack purchase, which is £29 (about $40 at the time of writing).

From the Alfred Preferences pane, click Workflow , then click the + (plus) button in the bottom left—if you choose the Templates option you can see how hotkeys can be assigned to files, apps, web searches, system commands and more besides. You just choose your hotkey, your action, and your parameters (if necessary). Once you’re more confident, you can create these workflows from scratch following the full instructions here .

Making keyboard shortcut changes in Word.

Then there’s Keyboard Maestro, which will set you back $36 (after a free trial) but which also offers you a lot of flexibility in terms of keyboard shortcut customization. You can assign a keyboard shortcut to just about anything by creating a macro (a series of commands) then assigning a hotkey to it. Open up Help and Tutorial for a more thorough guide, but to get up and running as quickly as possible, click the + (plus button) down at the bottom of the interface to create a new macro. You have to set a hotkey as the macro trigger, and you can then assign your action accordingly.

As on Windows, some individual programs have their own individual options for managing keyboard shortcuts as well, which means you can really tailor certain applications for speedy access and operation. In Word or Excel , for example, click Tools and Customize Keyboard to make changes. In Adobe Photoshop, meanwhile, you can set up your own shortcuts by selecting Edit and then Keyboard Shortcuts .

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How to Change Fn Key Settings in Windows 10

It makes your life f'n easy

Author avatar

Remember hitting the F5 key to refresh on your Windows 95 computer? It was almost obsessive. Back in the day, the F1–F12 keys had just one function each, but modern keyboards often include extra functions that you access with an Fn key (also called the Function key ). 

How to Change Fn Key Settings in Windows 10 image 1

How are Fn Keys Helpful?

The Fn key turns the F1–F12 keys into dual-purpose keys. Essentially, it works as a default hotkey, but there’s a slight difference. The combinations differ among manufacturers and models. You’ll mostly find them on laptops (where you can usually change things like screen brightness), but you’ll also find them on some specialty keyboards (like gaming or productivity-centric boards). 

For instance, on a Dell XPS15z, Fn + F5 increases the brightness, while on a Lenovo G560, the same combination will display the wireless device settings.

In addition to F-keys, you can also use Fn keys with other keys like PgUp, Insert, and arrow keys. Using a combination of Fn along with one of these keys comes in handy for doing a wide range of things, including adjusting the screen brightness , turning off the display, or controlling the volume, among many other things.

How to Change Fn Key Settings in Windows 10 image 2

However, sometimes, you find that simply pressing an F-key (without the Fn key) triggers a command like increasing the playback volume. In such cases, you’ll be unable to use F-keys for standard keyboard shortcuts like hitting the F5 key for refreshing.

There’s a simple fix for this. You can tinker with the Fn key settings in several ways, and that’s what we’ll walk you through in this guide.

Disable the Fn Lock

Modern desktop and laptop keyboards have an Fn Lock key (i.e., a key with a lock icon). In most cases, you’ll find a lock icon printed on your Esc key, but it’s also possible that your keyboard has the lock on the Shift key or the Num Lock key.

When you press Fn + Esc (or the key with the lock icon), it toggles the Fn lock. 

How to Change Fn Key Settings in Windows 10 image 3

Once you’ve done this, you won’t need to press the Fn key for performing functions like adjusting the screen brightness or enabling and disabling WiFi or Bluetooth. Simply press the relevant F-key, and that should work. It’s similar to how you use Caps Lock. You won’t need to hold the Shift key for typing caps when Caps Lock is enabled.

If you’re experiencing something similar but want to use your standard F-keys, you’ll need to disable the Fn lock. You can disable it the same way as you’d enable it. Press the key with the lock icon along with the Fn key.

Change Fn Key Settings from Within Windows

You can also change Fn key settings from within your operating system. If you own a Dell laptop that runs Microsoft Windows 10 or 8, you can change function key settings from Windows Mobility Center.

Press Win + X or right-click the Start Menu button on Windows 10 to open the power menu and select Mobility Center . Alternatively, you can go to the Control Panel and navigate to Hardware and Sound > Windows Mobility Center .

Select the drop-down menu under the Function Key Row option under the Customized by Dell Inc. section. You’ll see two options here: Function key and Multimedia key . 

How to Change Fn Key Settings in Windows 10 image 4

Select Function key if you’d like to use the F-keys for standard functions, and Multimedia key if you want to use F-keys for performing functions that would otherwise require you to press the Fn key.

Similarly, on laptops from other manufacturers, you might find the option to change function key options in its system configuration tool. For instance, on Lenovo, you can use the Lenovo Keyboard Manager or the Samsung Settings app on a Samsung laptop to change function key behavior.

Change Fn Key Settings in BIOS

In most cases, the previous two methods should help you change Fn key settings, but on the off chance that they didn’t, you can use the BIOS settings. 

Note that you shouldn’t mess around with any settings you don’t fully understand because it can render your computer unbootable. 

Many, though not all, laptops will allow you to change Fn key settings from the BIOS or UEFI firmware. You can enter your BIOS setup with a reboot. Press F2, F10, or Delete (the keys differ among manufacturers) at the startup when your computer is still booting. Alternatively, you can use the new way of accessing the BIOS on Windows 10 . 

At this point, you’ll need to look around a little because UEFI settings are placed under different sections based on the BIOS interface, which differs among manufacturers.

For instance, on my HP laptop, the setting is under the System Configuration tab. Changing the Action Keys Mode to Enabled will make the F-keys function like normal, i.e., you’ll need to use the Fn key along with an F-key to perform a relevant function.

How to Change Fn Key Settings in Windows 10 image 5

Fn Key Makes Life Easy

If an OS upgrade or an accidental change in settings has caused your Fn key to not work as it should, it can cause you momentary annoyance. 

However, the Fn key is still one of the most helpful keys on your keyboard. It eliminates a few clicks for plenty of functions and lets you perform them just by pressing a combination of keys.

Fn key is also available on several Apple keyboards. If it’s not working correctly, you can troubleshoot Fn key problems on Mac OS as well.

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Arjun is a freelance writer based in India. After working as an equity research analyst, Arjun decided to do something that he has been passionate about – tech. He gets excited talking about and explaining how to solve everyday tech problems. His area of expertise is Windows and is a go-to for all things Excel. Read Arjun's Full Bio

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Is it possible to create your own Fn+Key combinations on Windows 8.1?

The people who designed my laptop are idiots and as such, Fn + Arrow Keys no longer translate to End and Home keys.

Is there any way to do this natively in Windows? That is, map a key combination that involves the Fn key?

  • windows-8.1
  • keyboard-layout

bad_coder's user avatar

2 Answers 2

Yes, but not natively. AutoHotKey provides a powerful way to do this and other input mappings. This thread provides info on how to map Fn .

cyberbit's user avatar

  • 1 Thanks for your answer. I know about AHK, but was hoping for something simpler, preferably closer to OS level. –  Francisc Jun 15, 2015 at 23:41
  • Unfortunately there's nothing that I know of outside of a custom-built keyboard driver that would be low-level enough. AHK is about as simple as you can get. :) –  cyberbit Jun 16, 2015 at 0:51
  • I was hoping for a key remap application that's tightly integrated with the OS. –  Francisc Jun 16, 2015 at 21:41
  • Is there a Mac equivalent? –  Roman Gaufman Aug 31, 2019 at 16:19
  • @RomanGaufman This is the best resource I could find: howtogeek.com/361724/… . I have used BetterTouchTool for simple things, but I have never paid for it myself. –  cyberbit Sep 1, 2019 at 16:53

Generally, no. The Fn is handled by the keyboard microcontroller not the operating system.

While it is most common for the Fn key processing to happen directly in the keyboard micro-controller, offering no knowledge to the main computer of whether the Fn key was pressed, some manufacturers, like Lenovo, perform this mapping in BIOS running on the main CPU, allowing remapping the Fn key by modifying the BIOS interrupt handler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fn_key#Technical_details

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custom function keys shortcuts

How to Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Excel

Looking to make Excel your own? Here are the best ways to create custom keyboard shortcuts.

Full proficiency in Microsoft Office demands the use of keyboard shortcuts. Although there are plenty of built-in keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Excel, for the best workflow you usually need to edit or customize those shortcuts to better fit your needs.

Luckily, Excel supports some customizable keyboard shortcuts, and we're here to show you how to create your own.

A Note on Default Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

Unfortunately, it's not all perfect in the Excel custom shortcut realm. Excel doesn't offer the functionality to override standard shortcuts, so you can't adjust the shortcut key for something that already exists.

Thus, there are three main types of keyboard shortcuts:

  • Standard shortcuts, like Ctrl + I for italics, which you cannot change in Excel.
  • Alt shortcuts, where you press the Alt key to activate shortcuts for Ribbon items. For example, pressing Alt > N > T will select the Insert tab on the Ribbon, followed by the Table option.
  • Macro shortcuts, which are completely customized. We'll discuss these in a bit.

So while you can't tweak any of the default shortcuts, you can still access quite a bit of functionality on the Ribbon or create macros. Thus, we'll use those options to make custom shortcuts.

1. Custom Quick Access Toolbar Commands

The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) is a helpful strip of commands that always stays at the top of your screen. By default, it only includes a few options, such as save , undo , and redo , which you might want to remove, since they already have easy keyboard shortcuts. But you can add many more commands to the QAT.

We mentioned that Alt codes let you access anything on the Ribbon. If you press Alt , you should notice some popup shortcut keys that also appear near the QAT, giving you a one-step shortcut to any Excel command you wish.

To set up the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel as you like, click the dropdown arrow to the far right of the current icons. You can check a few common options here, but for a full list, you'll want to select More commands .

Excel Customize Quick Access Toolbar

This opens the customization window, where you'll see a list of available commands in the left box and your current QAT commands on the right.

Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar

Click any command in the right box and hit the Remove button to erase it or use the arrow buttons to the right of the box to re-order the current items. Once you've got that sorted, check out the left box to find new commands you want to add.

By default, the dropdown box shows Popular Commands , but you can change it to Commands Not in the Ribbon if you want to avoid duplicating what's already there. You can also show All Commands , but be warned that there's quite a long list.

Excel QAT Add Remove Options

Have a look through the list and select any functions you'd like instant access to. The QAT allows for lots of commands, so don't be afraid to pick several of your favorites or even find some new features to try.

If you want to create groupings, there's an option called <Separator> that lets you add a divider between icons. And to preserve your setup for the future, use the Import/Export button in this window to export your customizations.

Once you've got everything in order, just click OK to return to Excel with your new and improved QAT. When you want to access one of its functions, press Alt , followed by the number of the command, to execute it right away.

Excel Alt Toolbar Shortcuts

This is a lot faster than hunting through menus to find the right command.

2. Create Your Own Excel Macros

Macros are an extremely useful (yet often overlooked) feature of Office that allow you to record a series of actions and automatically play them back. If you have trouble remembering complex formulas, for example, you could create a macro to automatically apply the formulas to specific cells.

Macros are really just Visual Basic code running in the background to make Excel perform actions, but you don't have to know how to program to take advantage of macros.

To get started with using them, enable the Developer Ribbon tab by going to File > Options and choose Customize Ribbon on the left pane. On the right side, make sure Developer is checked, then press OK to return.

Excel Enable Developer Ribbon

Recording New Macros

Now you can record your first macro. Head to the Developer tab on the Ribbon and choose Record Macro in the Code section. Give it a name to remember it by (it can't have spaces) and assign it a key that works for you.

The shortcut box shows Ctrl + another key, but you can also add Shift to this by holding it while you select a key. Bear in mind that you can override standard keyboard shortcuts here, so if you make your macro run with Ctrl + Z , you won't be able to use that shortcut to undo anymore.

Under Store macro in , select Personal Macro Workbook. This is a file that allows you to share macros between Excel workbooks, which is perfect for defining shortcuts. If you want to run macros on only one workbook, change this setting to This Workbook instead. Give your macro a brief description if you like, then click OK .

Excel Record New Macro

From here, everything you do is recorded. Any cell you select, font changes you apply, or characters you type become your macro. So you could, for example, make a macro that selects cell B3, types "test," and formats it as bold. Once you've performed exactly the action you want to record, select Stop Recording on the Developer tab to end the macro.

Using and Editing Macros

After this, you can access your macro by choosing Macros from the same Code section of the Developer tab. This shows a list of your macros; press Edit to view the Visual Basic code for the macro, if you like. This is a good way to make sure you didn't record any extra steps, even if you don't fully understand the code.

Excel Macro Code Example

Once you're satisfied, you can press the key combo you assigned at any time to run your macro. To change the key combination later, select it in the list of Macros and choose Options .

Here's an advanced tip: you can even combine macros and the QAT. Once you've saved a macro, open up the QAT menu again and change the Choose commands from box to Macros . Select a macro you've created from the list, and you can add it to the QAT just like any other action.

Thus, if you have trouble remembering macro shortcut combos, you can instead run them from the QAT with Alt and a number.

What you do with macros is up to you, but there are tons of possibilities. Think of anything you do in Excel on a regular basis that you'd want to automate, and try making a macro for it. Automating these tedious tasks can save you hours of time.

Have a look at our guide to making Excel macros for more ideas and help.

Easily Create Custom Excel Shortcuts

Now you don't have to waste time performing repetitive tasks or hunting through Excel menus to find a particular feature. Shortcuts take a bit to set up and everyone will want different ones, but they're vital for Excel efficiency.

Macros aren't scary once you've done a few, and the QAT is handy for everyone. But those aren't the only timesavers Excel is hiding.

Image Credit: GooDween123/ Shutterstock

How-To Geek

How to remap any key or shortcut on windows 10.

Swapping the keycaps between keys doesn't count as "Remapping."

Quick Links

Remap keys with powertoys, how to remove the new key mapping, how to disable or remap keys using sharpkeys [alternative method], use your keyboard's software to remap keys, key takeaways.

Install Microsoft PowerToys from GitHub, launch it, and then navigate to Keyboard Manager > Remap a Key. Click the plus button, and then select the key you want to rebind from the list. You can click the trash can icon to remove a remapping at any time.

Would you like to use a different keyboard key to perform a certain task in Windows 10? Thanks to PowerToys , it's easy to remap any key to another key or even a shortcut combination on your keyboard. Here's how to set it up.

Microsoft makes it easy to remap keys with PowerToys , a free utility available for download online. Using PowerToys, you can make any key on your keyboard act like any other key — and even remap shortcuts.

If you don't already have PowerToys installed, download it for free from Github. After you install it, launch PowerToys Settings, then click "Keyboard Manager" in the sidebar. In the "Keyboard Manager" settings, click "Remap a Key."

Select Keyboard Manager in Microsoft PowerToys

When the "Remap Keyboard" window pops up, click the plus button ("+") to add a new key mapping.

In the PowerToys

After that, you'll need to define which key you want to remap (in the "Key:" column), and what key or shortcut you want it to perform (in the "Mapped To:" column).

First, select the key you'll be remapping in the "To:" column by either clicking the "Type" button and pressing the key on your keyboard, or by selecting it from the list in the drop-down menu. For example, we'll pick Scroll Lock here, since it often sits unused.

In PowerToys, select the key you want to remap.

Next, select the key or shortcut you want to perform in the "Mapped To" column. For a single key, you can either choose it from the drop-down menu or click the "Type" button, then press it on your keyboard.

If you want to use a shortcut key combination, press the "Type" button, then press the combination on your keyboard. For example, here we've typed "Ctrl+C" for the standard Windows "Copy" shortcut.

In PowerToys, if you're mapping a keyboard shortcut, enter the key combination using your keyboard.

After you have both "Key:" and "Mapped To:" columns defined, click "OK."

Select the

If you see a warning that one key will be left unassigned, click "Continue Anyway." This means that you won't be able to access the original function of the key that you just remapped.

(In our example, there will be no way to use Scroll Lock unless you remap another key to perform the original Scroll Lock function).

Click

Next, you'll see the resulting mapping listed in the "Keyboard Manager" settings. That means your custom mapping has been saved and is now active.

In PowerToys, you'll see the resulting mapping listed.

If you want to add more mappings, click "Remap a key" again. When you're done, close PowerToys Settings completely, and your remapped key (or keys) will remain in effect. Use them as much as you'd like. You can always go back and adjust your mappings later if necessary.

Later on, if you want to remove the custom mapping you made, relaunch Power Toys Settings, then click "Keyboard Manager" and "Remap a key" again. In the list of mappings, click the trash can icon beside the mapping you'd like to delete.

In PowerToys, click the trash can icon to delete a key mapping.

The mapping will be removed. After that, click "OK" to close the window. Then you can either exit PowerToys completely or create a new mapping using the guide above. Have fun!

The major problem with PowerToys is that the remappings only work if the PowerToys application is running, so they won't work on the login screen. There also seem to be issues with the remappings not working properly in games and some other places. The solution? Use the old-school Windows Registry key remapping technique... but do it the easy way, using the open-source SharpKeys application.

SharpKeys won't let you remap shortcut key combinations, so you can't remap ALT+C to CTRL+C, for example, but you can do things like remap or disable the Caps Lock key on any version of Windows .

Install the application from their Github project page or from the Microsoft Store , open it up (clicking through the annoying Windows SmartScreen warnings), and then click the Add button to open up the Add New Key Mapping dialog.

SharpKeys Add Key

We've been using SharpKeys literally since Windows Vista was around. That's a long time.

Many modern keyboards also have special software that allows you to remap keys as well. Since all of their software is different we can't definitively say "Here is how you do it." Generally speaking, you'll be looking for an option like "Customize," "Keybind," "Bind," or "Remap."

Here is a quick list to some of the specialized software available for different keyboard brands, though keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list.

  • Logitech G Hub
  • Corsair iCUE
  • SteelSeries Engine
  • Razer Synapse
  • HyperX NGENUITY
  • Roccat Swarm

Your keyboard software probably lets you do other things besides modify keybinds. For example, if your keyboard has extra keys, or RGB, the manufacturer software is typically required to utilize them.

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TechNorms.com

How To Create A Keyboard Shortcut in Windows 11

custom function keys shortcuts

Key Takeaways:

  • Keyboard shortcuts take you to the desired folder or application instantly when you press the key combinations.
  • You can go to the Properties window to create custom keyboard shortcuts.
  • There are also third-party applications that help assign keyboard shortcuts.

Keyboard shortcuts are hot favorites of people who spend a lot of time working on their PC. The shortcuts shorten the access time to folders and applications on your computer. Windows has its own comprehensive list of default keyboard shortcuts, but if you are wondering how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 , we have the answer.

Many shortcuts like Alt + Tab, Ctrl + F, and function keys are like second nature to us, making our work a lot easier. If you want to perform some task or open an individual item like an application very often, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to it. The shortcuts let our hands don’t leave the keyboard for long and thus increase our productivity. Dive in and discover how you can create custom shortcut combinations that improve your overall experience with your PC. You can also learn about how to change the screen resolution in Windows 11.

How To Create A Keyboard Shortcut In Windows 11

If you can create your own keyboard shortcuts, then why be satisfied with the ones provided by the operating system? With the fantastic features of Windows 11, creating shortcut key combinations is no big deal. A right-click on the application and selecting Properties will take you straight to the window where you can type in the keys. Read through this guide to understand different ways of shortcut creation.

How to Make a Keyboard Shortcut to Open a Folder

You might have to open some specific folder on your computer for work or personal purposes very often. Creating a keyboard shortcut is your best bet if it is a subfolder and takes time to navigate. Here is how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 to open a folder.

Note : Our task here is to create a desktop shortcut for the folder in the discussion. This desktop shortcut can then be assigned a keyboard shortcut. If you plan on keyboard shortcut assignments for multiple folders, create desktop shortcuts for all of them and assign keyboard shortcuts.

1. Let’s call the folder you want to create a keyboard shortcut for ‘Daily tasks.’ Search for the parent folder of this folder and navigate to Daily tasks. Right-click on the folder icon and select “Show more options” in the current shortcut menu.

Select Show more options

2. In the context menu, select Send to > Desktop (create shortcut) using left mouse click. The desktop shortcut to Daily tasks is now created.

Create shortcut

3. Go to your desktop and find the shortcut created. Right-click on it and select “Properties” in the context menu.

 Select Properties

4. In the Properties window, click the Shortcut tab seen on top. In the shortcut key field, enter the desired key. You will see that Ctrl + Alt will be automatically prefixed to the character you typed as it is necessary to begin shortcuts with Ctrl.

Here, the shortcut key becomes Ctrl + Alt + D. Click “OK” to save the changes.

Enter shortcut key for how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11

Now, when you use the shortcut key Ctrl + Alt + D you just created, the folder opens on its own without going to the parent folder.

How to Create a Keyboard Shortcut to Open an Application Shortcut

You might be aware of desktop shortcuts and the shortcuts in the start menu and taskbar. Similarly, you must also be aware of custom scaling in Windows 11 . The app shortcuts found in these locations can be opened using keyboard shortcuts. Opening apps via keyboard shortcuts is impossible with common keyboard shortcuts in Windows. But we can create them manually and make our job simpler. Read on to learn how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 to open a shortcut.

Presenting a list of methods for different situations.

Option A: Create Shortcut Keys To Open Desktop Shortcuts

1. Right-click on the desktop app shortcut and select Properties.

Select Properties

2. In the Properties window, select the shortcut tab. Type the keyboard shortcut in the Shortcut key field, click the Apply button, and then the OK button to save the changes.

Enter shortcut key for how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11

Option B: Create Shortcut Keys To Open The Shortcuts On Taskbar

Let’s check how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 with another option.

1. Right-click on the shortcut pinned to the taskbar like the file explorer or Google Chrome. Then, right-click on the app icon in the pop-up window and select Properties. Remember that this is different from the window menu you get by combining the Shift key and right-clicking of a taskbar button.

Select Properties

2. As you did in option A above, type the desired keys in the shortcut key field and click “OK” to save the changes.

Option C: Create Shortcut Keys To Open The Shortcuts On The Start Menu

Let’s check another option for how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11.

1. Click the Start menu icon to open it. Right-click on the app icon you want to create a shortcut key for. Select Open file location. If you cannot find the app button, type it in the search box.

 Open file location

2. The file location will be opened now. Again, right-click on the application and select Properties.

Select Properties for how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11

3. Similar to option A, type the desired keys in the shortcut key field and click “OK” to save the changes.

Option D: Create Shortcut Keys To Open The Shortcuts To All Apps On The Start Menu

1. Click the Start menu icon to open it. Click “All apps” below the search bar.

 Click All apps

2. Right-click on the app button you want to create a shortcut key for. You can use the mouse scroll wheel to scroll down and do an app search. Select More > Open file location.

Open file location

3. The file location will be opened now. Again, right-click on the application and select Properties.

Select Properties for how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11

4. In the properties window, type the desired keys in the shortcut key field and click “OK” to save the changes as you did in the above-mentioned keyboard shortcut methods.

With this method, you can open any app like the command prompt, control panel and any others you have downloaded.

How to Create Shutdown Shortcut for Windows 11

After a hectic day at work, shutting down your system is often the last thing you do after closing individual items. You will be delighted to know that this boring task can be accomplished instantly if you create a keyboard shutdown shortcut. The trick is to direct the shortcut to the shutdown.exe in the Win32 folder with extra instructions to complete the shutdown process. Let us see how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 for the shutdown.

1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop and select New > Shortcut.

 Create new shortcut

2. In the Create Shortcut window, type the shutdown command in the location field. The shutdown command is –

Here, /s stands for shutdown, and /t is the wait time for the shutdown to occur. As we have given 00, the shutdown occurs immediately when the shutdown shortcut is used. Click “Next.”

Enter location and click Next

3. Now, give a name for the shortcut and click “Finish.” You will see that a new shortcut for the shutdown has been created on your desktop.

Name the shortcut and click Finish

When you double-click on the shutdown shortcut, your computer will shut down instantly.

Note : Similarly, you can create restart shortcut, hibernate shortcut and sleep shortcut. You can even create an additional keyboard shortcut for lock though there is already a built-in keyboard shortcut present in Windows 11. Here are the relevant commands for the same.

The command for restart shortcut:

The command for hibernate shortcut:

The command for sleep shortcut:

The command for shortcut for lock:

Remember to use the relevant command to do the specific task.

How to Create Custom Keyboard Shortcut using WinHotKey App

Using third-party apps always works if you want to have some advanced features. For example, setting up keyboard shortcuts can be easily accomplished using the advanced shortcut creator WinHotKey app. It is free software with a quick setup. Plus, it takes up very little storage space and is compatible with Windows 11. As it is not a complex shortcut maker, you will love working with it to make shortcuts for individual items.

Here is how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 using the WinHotKey app.

1. Open WinHotKey  page in your browser window and click on the “FREE DOWNLOAD” button.

Click Free download

2. Click on “Softpedia Secure Download (US).”

 Click on Softpedia Secure Download (US)

3. Now, the WinHotKey setup wizard will be opened. Click “Next.”

Click Next

4. Select “I accept the agreement” and click “Next.”

Accept the agreement and click Next

5. Select a destination location to download WinHotKey and click “Next.”

Select a location and click Next

6. Select a Start menu folder and click “Next.”

Select the start menu folder and click Next

7. Select the additional icons if you want and click “Next.”

Select additional tasks and click Next

8. Click the “Install” button.

Click Install

9. Select “Launch WinHotKey” and click “Finish.”

Select Launch WinHotKey and click Finish

10. Now, the WinHotKey configuration window will be opened. Select “New Hotkey” to create a new shortcut key.

Select New Hotkey

11. Here, we are trying to create a hotkey to launch an application. You can select any other from the drop-down list. Click “Browse” in the current window to choose an application from the application window.

Click Browse

12. Select the application and click “Open.”

Select the application and click Open

13. Select the keyboard key you want to include along with the Win key. We have selected the number 0 and checked the shift key. Other keys available are letters, numbers, and function keys F1-F12. You can deselect the Windows key if you wish.

Select the keys

14. Click “OK” to save the hotkey. Your keyboard shortcut assignment is successfully done.

Click OK

Note : Additionally, the advanced button opens an advanced window to give parameters to dictate how to launch the apps with keyboard shortcuts. Once the parameters are selected, click “OK” to close the Advanced window.

You can use the custom keyboard shortcut created to open the app from now on.

Final Thoughts

Users who work a lot on their PC know the keyboard shortcuts are a boon. But very often, the keyboard combinations offered by Windows are not sufficient enough to boost productivity to a large extent. Luckily, users can often create their own shortcut keys for folders or programs they access. So, these shortcuts entirely depend on how each user uses their computer.

The article tells you about how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 . Hotkeys can be set to open applications or folders, in fact, anything on your PC that you access very often. If time permits, experiment with the third-party app we mentioned to assign your hotkeys for a customized experience.

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oTechWorld » How To » How To Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

How To Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

How To Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts: In every operating system, Keyboard shortcuts play the vital role. Because you can perform many tasks faster. So, Windows 10 is also rich in Keyboard shortcuts. Microsoft added many new keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10 for its new functions and features. But, Windows 10 also give the option to create your own custom keyboard shortcuts for any Software and apps. With this feature, you can access or open any app and software faster. So, you can set custom shortcut keys for your favorite or frequently used software/app. It saves a lot of time because you can open a software/app within seconds.

There are many third-party tools available to do this. These tools and software’s provides some extra options and features to create custom hotkeys. With third-party tools, you can create shortcut keys to launch the applications/software, open the folder, open a document, control or resize the windows etc. But, if you want to create hotkeys to launch software or apps then, You don’t need to install any third-party software to do this. Because Windows 10 provides this option itself.

In Windows 10, for custom hotkey, you need to press 3 keys. You can set shortcut keys with CTRL + ALT + Other_Key . But, with a third-party tool, you can create shortcut keys with any keys like Windows key + N, Windows Key + M, Ctrl + H, Windows Key + CTRL + N etc. So, third-party tools give some extra features. But, it is your choice, whether you want to use a third-party tool or not.

However, you can also create the shortcut keys to shutdown, restart or log off your PC/Laptop. But, here is the complete guide to creating your own shortcut keys for software and apps.

4 Ways to Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Softwares.
  • Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Apps.
  • Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Folder.
  • Using a Third-party Tool.

1. Create Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Softwares

From Desktop – If Software Shortcut Icon Available On The Desktop:

You can easily keyboard shortcuts from desktop icons. With this method, you can create shortcut keys only for the software, that’s icon is on the desktop. Software icon/shortcut must be available on the desktop. If the shortcut icon of any software is not available on the desktop, then you need to do this from the start menu. Below are the steps.

Right-click on a shortcut icon and select properties

  • Now click on the Apply button. If any pop-up message appears, then Click on the Continue button to provide an administration permission to change the settings. After that, click on the OK button.

That’s it. Now press the keyboard shortcut that you created and the software will open.

From Start Menu – If Software Shortcut Icon isn’t Available On The Desktop:

If the shortcut is not available on the desktop, then, you can also do this from the start menu. You just need to open software icon location from the start menu. Below are the steps.

create keyboard shortcut from start menu

  • Now click on the input field area of a Shortcut Key option.
  • Now click on the Apply and OK button. Click on the Continue button if any pop-up message or windows appear for administration purpose.

2. Create Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Apps

However, you can’t create the hotkeys for apps from the start menu. Because there is no option in Windows 10 to do this. But, you can do this from the ‘command prompt’ or ‘Run command’ by opening “Applications” folder. After opening “Applications” folder, you need to create a shortcut for the particular app or software.

open run command to open applications

  • Now the Applications folder will be open. You will see the icons of all software and apps. You can’t create any keyboard shortcuts from these icons. Because these are not the shortcuts. You need to create the shortcut for the application for creating the keyboard shortcut.

create app shortcut to create keyboard shortcuts

Now check the hotkey/Keyboard shortcut key that you created.

3. Create Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Folder

Like a software and apps, you can also create the keyboard shortcut to open the folder. You just need to create the shortcut icon of the folder to do this.

  • Right-click on the folder and create the shortcut icon of the folder by clicking on the “Create Shortcut” option.
  • Now r ight click on the folder’s shortcut icon and click on the input field of a Shortcut key . Press any key and you will see the shortcut key like “Ctrl + Alt + Pressed_key.” Apply the changes and click on the continue button if any popup message appears.

4. Create Keyboard Shortcuts Using Third-Party Tool

You can also download a third-party tool to create your own keyboard shortcuts. These software/ tools consume some memory of RAM. But, you can easily create hotkeys within seconds for any software and app. You need to browse the icon of software from the tool. WinHotKey is a great and lightweight tool for this purpose. This tool is free to use. Download it from below link.

Download WinHotKey

After download, install it on your PC and open it. Click on the “New Hotkey” option and set the keyboard shortcut as you need.

Features of WinHotKey:

  • Create a hotkey to launch or open application/software.
  • Create Hotkey to open the document.
  • Create a hotkey to open the folder.
  • To Control the current Window (Maximize/minimize, resize, restore, move the current window).

Final Words

So, guys, this is the guide on  How To Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts . However, you can easily do this from Windows 10 without any tool. Because Windows provides the option to create custom keyboard shortcuts for shortcut icons. The third-party tool provides some extra options. But, these tools run in the background. So, write in the comments, if you face any problem with creating your own custom keyboard hotkeys.

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Best information for windows os shortcut Thanks

custom function keys shortcuts

Hi Gagan, Thanks for your input. I needed a more extended version of hotkey, so I found AHK – Auto Hot Key: https://www.autohotkey.com/

it is actually an Open Source tool to write scripts for Windows.

custom function keys shortcuts

I am constantly being asked to enter my e-mail address in order to sign in to Portals and lots of other things. I want to be able to simply press a hot key for this to happen. Is there a way I can do this? I am on a desk top with Win 10 ( modified to resemble Win7 as much as possible.)

custom function keys shortcuts

Use a clipboard editor. Windows has it’s own but you might have to turn it on in settings. I don’t know why it’s off by default. Or use a third party. I use Arsclip even though it’s a bit of a dog interface-wise it more than does the job for me.

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List of all Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts: The ultimate guide

Windows 10 includes many keyboard shortcuts to make your experience around the desktop easier, and you can check them out here.

Surface Laptop 3

Windows 10 includes a long list of keyboard shortcuts you can use to quickly navigate and perform actions using one or multiple key combos, which otherwise would take many more clicks and time to complete the task with the mouse.

The system has many shortcuts, but you don't need to learn every shortcut on Windows 10 . You only need to remember those that can help you make your workflow easier.

In this how-to guide , I'll outline all the most helpful keyboard shortcuts to navigate and operate the desktop and apps. You can also check out these additional shortcuts you need to know for Windows 11.

Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts

This comprehensive list includes the most helpful keyboard shortcuts to perform tasks on Windows 10.

Essential shortcuts

In this list I'm including the most essential keyboard shortcuts you should know on Windows 10:

Desktop shortcuts

On Windows 10, you can use these keyboard shortcuts to open, close, navigate, and perform tasks more quickly throughout the desktop experience, including the Start menu, Taskbar, Settings, and more.

File Explorer shortcuts

These are the most useful keyboard shortcuts you can use on File Explorer:

Settings page shortcuts

This list includes the keyboard shortcuts for the dialog box legacy settings pages (for example, Folder Options).

Command Prompt shortcuts

On Command Prompt, you can use these keyboard shortcuts will help to work a little more efficiently:

Microsoft Edge shortcuts

On Microsoft Edge, you will benefit from these keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts apply to any version of Windows.

Windows key shortcuts

The "Windows key," combined with other keys, allows you to perform many useful tasks, such as launch Settings, File Explorer, Run command, apps pinned in the Taskbar, or open specific features like Narrator or Magnifier. You can also complete tasks like controlling windows and virtual desktops, taking screenshots, locking the computer, and more.

This list includes all the most common keyboard shortcuts using the Windows key.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

  • Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
  • Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Get the Windows Central Newsletter

All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.

Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.

  • 2 Nanoleaf Shapes Ultra Black Hexagons review: A sleek way to add color and lighting effects to any gaming room
  • 3 What's Do Not Track, and how do you enable it on your Windows 11 web browser?
  • 4 Xbox lead Phil Spencer laments on 'Helldivers 2' and its PlayStation console exclusivity. "But I get it."
  • 5 Watch out, Hollywood! OpenAI's latest model generates lifelike minute-long AI videos, but it has some critical weaknesses

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custom function keys shortcuts

April 11, 2023

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Remapping 101: How to change your keyboard key output

Your PC or laptop keyboard doesn’t have to be one-size-fits-all. If you’re not a fan of certain key placements or find that you aren’t using some of your keys, you can rearrange the functions of your keys however you like. Most keyboards are laid out in the same way, but Windows 11 features  allow you to make the necessary adjustments to help you type more comfortably. Learn how you can remap your keys and change keyboard outputs on Windows 11 .

Why remap your keyboard?

If you’re used to a standard keyboard layout, you may not initially see the value in remapping your keys. Here are some common reasons for changing keyboard outputs:

  • Typing on a foreign keyboard. If you want to type in any language besides English, it can be difficult to type seamlessly on an English-only keyboard. By switching your key functions, you can cater to different language settings.
  • Using your keyboard for PC gaming. PC gamers rely on their keyboards to play their favorite games. Remapping your keys to best suit your gaming needs can improve performance and make your frequently used keys more accessible.
  • Repurposing underused keys. Not everyone uses their keys the same way. If it seems like a key that you don’t often use is taking up valuable space on your keyboard, you can reassign its function to find a good use for it and increase productivity.

Popular QWERTY alternatives

You may notice that top row of letters on your keyboard, going left to right, spells QWERTY. However, there are other popular keyboard layouts that can help you type faster or more comfortably. Learn more about each layout and how they might benefit your typing:

  • AZERTY. The AZERTY layout simply moves the output of the Q , W , and M keys. It is most often used in France and other surrounding countries.
  • Dvorak. The Dvorak layout puts the most used keys in the middle row, which decreases finger movement. This typing method can help reduce strain in your fingers, which makes for a more ergonomic experience.
  • Colemak. The Colemak layout offers a slight improvement on the Dvorak layout. It also places the commonly used keys in the middle row, but it keeps the useable features of the QWERTY layout intact.

How to remap your keys on Windows 11

The easiest way to change your keyboard functions on Windows 11 is to use the Keyboard Manager  utility. The Keyboard Manager is one of many utilities available in Microsoft PowerToys , which are a collection of productivity tools that allow users to customize their Windows experience.

How does Keyboard Manager work?

Once you’ve downloaded PowerToys onto your device, select Keyboard Manager and toggle Enable Keyboard Manager. You’ll find separate sections for remapping keys and remapping shortcuts, each of which can be adjusted to your liking. Some keys and shortcuts cannot be remapped in Keyboard Manager, and these limitations are highlighted on the platform. PowerToys must be running for the key mapping to work, so make sure you don’t close out of the program after making your selections.

What other keyboard mapping functions are available on Windows?

If you are still running Windows 10 on your PC, you can download Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator  to create your own keyboard layouts. Microsoft keyboard users can also try the Mouse and Keyboard Center  app to get the most out of the customization features within the accessories. Other keyboard mapping options can be downloaded on Microsoft Apps .

By learning how to remap your keys, you can break the mold and take control of how you use your keyboard. Shop for Microsoft Keyboards  to find the perfect keyboard to test your remapped keys on Windows 11 .

Products featured in this article

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custom function keys shortcuts

Create a form in Word that users can complete or print

In Word, you can create a form that others can fill out and save or print.  To do this, you will start with baseline content in a document, potentially via a form template.  Then you can add content controls for elements such as check boxes, text boxes, date pickers, and drop-down lists. Optionally, these content controls can be linked to database information.  Following are the recommended action steps in sequence.  

Show the Developer tab

In Word, be sure you have the Developer tab displayed in the ribbon.  (See how here:  Show the developer tab .)

Open a template or a blank document on which to base the form

You can start with a template or just start from scratch with a blank document.

Start with a form template

Go to File > New .

In the  Search for online templates  field, type  Forms or the kind of form you want. Then press Enter .

In the displayed results, right-click any item, then select  Create. 

Start with a blank document 

Select Blank document .

Add content to the form

Go to the  Developer  tab Controls section where you can choose controls to add to your document or form. Hover over any icon therein to see what control type it represents. The various control types are described below. You can set properties on a control once it has been inserted.

To delete a content control, right-click it, then select Remove content control  in the pop-up menu. 

Note:  You can print a form that was created via content controls. However, the boxes around the content controls will not print.

Insert a text control

The rich text content control enables users to format text (e.g., bold, italic) and type multiple paragraphs. To limit these capabilities, use the plain text content control . 

Click or tap where you want to insert the control.

Rich text control button

To learn about setting specific properties on these controls, see Set or change properties for content controls .

Insert a picture control

A picture control is most often used for templates, but you can also add a picture control to a form.

Picture control button

Insert a building block control

Use a building block control  when you want users to choose a specific block of text. These are helpful when you need to add different boilerplate text depending on the document's specific purpose. You can create rich text content controls for each version of the boilerplate text, and then use a building block control as the container for the rich text content controls.

building block gallery control

Select Developer and content controls for the building block.

Developer tab showing content controls

Insert a combo box or a drop-down list

In a combo box, users can select from a list of choices that you provide or they can type in their own information. In a drop-down list, users can only select from the list of choices.

combo box button

Select the content control, and then select Properties .

To create a list of choices, select Add under Drop-Down List Properties .

Type a choice in Display Name , such as Yes , No , or Maybe .

Repeat this step until all of the choices are in the drop-down list.

Fill in any other properties that you want.

Note:  If you select the Contents cannot be edited check box, users won’t be able to click a choice.

Insert a date picker

Click or tap where you want to insert the date picker control.

Date picker button

Insert a check box

Click or tap where you want to insert the check box control.

Check box button

Use the legacy form controls

Legacy form controls are for compatibility with older versions of Word and consist of legacy form and Active X controls.

Click or tap where you want to insert a legacy control.

Legacy control button

Select the Legacy Form control or Active X Control that you want to include.

Set or change properties for content controls

Each content control has properties that you can set or change. For example, the Date Picker control offers options for the format you want to use to display the date.

Select the content control that you want to change.

Go to Developer > Properties .

Controls Properties  button

Change the properties that you want.

Add protection to a form

If you want to limit how much others can edit or format a form, use the Restrict Editing command:

Open the form that you want to lock or protect.

Select Developer > Restrict Editing .

Restrict editing button

After selecting restrictions, select Yes, Start Enforcing Protection .

Restrict editing panel

Advanced Tip:

If you want to protect only parts of the document, separate the document into sections and only protect the sections you want.

To do this, choose Select Sections in the Restrict Editing panel. For more info on sections, see Insert a section break .

Sections selector on Resrict sections panel

If the developer tab isn't displayed in the ribbon, see Show the Developer tab .

Open a template or use a blank document

To create a form in Word that others can fill out, start with a template or document and add content controls. Content controls include things like check boxes, text boxes, and drop-down lists. If you’re familiar with databases, these content controls can even be linked to data.

Go to File > New from Template .

New from template option

In Search, type form .

Double-click the template you want to use.

Select File > Save As , and pick a location to save the form.

In Save As , type a file name and then select Save .

Start with a blank document

Go to File > New Document .

New document option

Go to File > Save As .

Go to Developer , and then choose the controls that you want to add to the document or form. To remove a content control, select the control and press Delete. You can set Options on controls once inserted. From Options, you can add entry and exit macros to run when users interact with the controls, as well as list items for combo boxes, .

Adding content controls to your form

In the document, click or tap where you want to add a content control.

On Developer , select Text Box , Check Box , or Combo Box .

Developer tab with content controls

To set specific properties for the control, select Options , and set .

Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each control that you want to add.

Set options

Options let you set common settings, as well as control specific settings. Select a control and then select Options to set up or make changes.

Set common properties.

Select Macro to Run on lets you choose a recorded or custom macro to run on Entry or Exit from the field.

Bookmark Set a unique name or bookmark for each control.

Calculate on exit This forces Word to run or refresh any calculations, such as total price when the user exits the field.

Add Help Text Give hints or instructions for each field.

OK Saves settings and exits the panel.

Cancel Forgets changes and exits the panel.

Set specific properties for a Text box

Type Select form Regular text, Number, Date, Current Date, Current Time, or Calculation.

Default text sets optional instructional text that's displayed in the text box before the user types in the field. Set Text box enabled to allow the user to enter text into the field.

Maximum length sets the length of text that a user can enter. The default is Unlimited .

Text format can set whether text automatically formats to Uppercase , Lowercase , First capital, or Title case .

Text box enabled Lets the user enter text into a field. If there is default text, user text replaces it.

Set specific properties for a Check box .

Default Value Choose between Not checked or checked as default.

Checkbox size Set a size Exactly or Auto to change size as needed.

Check box enabled Lets the user check or clear the text box.

Set specific properties for a Combo box

Drop-down item Type in strings for the list box items. Press + or Enter to add an item to the list.

Items in drop-down list Shows your current list. Select an item and use the up or down arrows to change the order, Press - to remove a selected item.

Drop-down enabled Lets the user open the combo box and make selections.

Protect the form

Go to Developer > Protect Form .

Protect form button on the Developer tab

Note:  To unprotect the form and continue editing, select Protect Form again.

Save and close the form.

Test the form (optional)

If you want, you can test the form before you distribute it.

Protect the form.

Reopen the form, fill it out as the user would, and then save a copy.

Creating fillable forms isn’t available in Word for the web.

You can create the form with the desktop version of Word with the instructions in Create a fillable form .

When you save the document and reopen it in Word for the web, you’ll see the changes you made.

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  1. Customize keyboard shortcuts

    Use a mouse to assign or remove a keyboard shortcut. Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon. At the bottom of the Customize the Ribbon and keyboard shortcuts pane, select Customize. In the Save changes in box, select the current document name or template that you want to save the keyboard shortcut changes in.

  2. Creating a custom function key in Windows

    I would like to "create" a fn key ( similar to what laptops have ) on a desktop keyboard. What I would like to do is to bind Capslock to a new custom key, so that I can add new shortcuts involving that key. For example, remapping the jkil keys to left/down/top/right keys. So when Capslock + J is pressed, a left arrow keypress is simulated.

  3. Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts for Anything in Windows 10

    Once downloaded, go through the installer wizard, then launch WinHotKey. In WinHotKey, click New HotKey in the top left. In the new window that appears, give the hotkey a name. After, choose what combination you'd like to trigger the shortcut. For example, I chose to do Windows+F2. After, you can click the Browse option to find the location ...

  4. Shortcuts, Hotkeys, Macros, Oh My: How to Remap Your Keyboard

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  6. How to Change What the Fn Keys Do in Windows 10 and 11

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  7. How to Make Custom Keyboard Shortcuts for Anything

    3. Type ^!m:: on the first line and hit Enter. This signifies the hot key CTRL + ALT + m. For each hotkey you create, you must put a series of symbols which represent modifier keys (CTRL, ALT ...

  8. How to create a custom keyboard shortcut in Word

    Open Microsoft Word. Click on Options from the bottom-left corner. Click on Customize Ribbon. Under the "Customize the Ribbon and keyboard shortcuts" section, click the Customize button for ...

  9. How to create custom keyboard shortcuts in Windows

    Right-click the desired icon. At the bottom of the drop-down menu, above "unpin", right-click the name of the program. This might take a moment to pop up. Left-click "properties". Click on the text box that says "shortcut key". Type in your desired keyboard combination by pressing the keys. Once completed, click "ok".

  10. How to Set Up Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11

    Press the Browse button to bring up a new application window. Select an app for the hotkey to launch. Click the OK button. Now select a keyboard key for the shortcut on the Along with the key drop-down menu. You can also select additional keys for the hotkey by clicking the Alt, Shift, and Ctrl checkboxes.

  11. How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10

    Click Yes when asked if you want the shortcut on the desktop. A new shortcut icon appears on your desktop. 5. Right click on the new shortcut icon and select Properties. 6. Enter a key combination ...

  12. Create Your Own Windows and macOS Keyboard Shortcuts

    On the Shortcut tab, click in the Shortcut key box, enter your chosen keystroke combination, and click OK to confirm. Note that your custom combination has to start with Ctrl+Alt , after which you ...

  13. How to Change Fn Key Settings in Windows 10

    If you own a Dell laptop that runs Microsoft Windows 10 or 8, you can change function key settings from Windows Mobility Center. Press Win + X or right-click the Start Menu button on Windows 10 to open the power menu and select Mobility Center. Alternatively, you can go to the Control Panel and navigate to Hardware and Sound > Windows Mobility ...

  14. Is it possible to create your own Fn+Key combinations on Windows 8.1?

    3. Generally, no. The Fn is handled by the keyboard microcontroller not the operating system. While it is most common for the Fn key processing to happen directly in the keyboard micro-controller, offering no knowledge to the main computer of whether the Fn key was pressed, some manufacturers, like Lenovo, perform this mapping in BIOS running ...

  15. How to Remap Any Key or Shortcut on Windows 11

    The names mostly speak for themselves. "Remap a Key" lets you map a key to a different key, a key to a shortcut, or a key to a function. Related: Windows Task Manager: The Complete Guide. As a silly example, you could use "Remap a Key" to map the "T" key to "Ctrl+V" so that pressing "T" would trigger the paste function.

  16. How to Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Excel

    Standard shortcuts, like Ctrl + I for italics, which you cannot change in Excel. Alt shortcuts, where you press the Alt key to activate shortcuts for Ribbon items. For example, pressing Alt > N > T will select the Insert tab on the Ribbon, followed by the Table option. Macro shortcuts, which are completely customized.

  17. How to Remap Any Key or Shortcut on Windows 10

    In the "Keyboard Manager" settings, click "Remap a Key." When the "Remap Keyboard" window pops up, click the plus button ("+") to add a new key mapping. After that, you'll need to define which key you want to remap (in the "Key:" column), and what key or shortcut you want it to perform (in the "Mapped To:" column).

  18. How To Create A Keyboard Shortcut In Windows 11

    3. Similar to option A, type the desired keys in the shortcut key field and click "OK" to save the changes. Option D: Create Shortcut Keys To Open The Shortcuts To All Apps On The Start Menu. 1. Click the Start menu icon to open it. Click "All apps" below the search bar. Click All apps. 2.

  19. How To Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

    Right-click on a shortcut icon of any software that you want to create a keyboard shortcut. After that, click on the "Properties" option. Click on the "None" input field of Shortcut Key option and press any key. After pressing the key, you will see the hotkey. If you pressed "B" key, then you will see the CTRL + ALT + B hotkey.

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    Win + Z. Open Microsoft Teams. Win + C. 2. Windows 11 Text-Editing Keyboard Shortcuts. Text-Editing plays an important role for many people when editing documents, presentations, and much more. In ...

  21. Keyboard shortcuts in Excel

    Ctrl+Arrow key. Enter the End mode, move to the next nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell, and turn off End mode. If the cells are blank, move to the last cell in the row or column. End, Arrow key. Move to the last cell on a worksheet, to the lowest used row of the rightmost used column. Ctrl+End.

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    Windows key + Home. Minimize or maximize all but the active desktop window. Windows key + Shift + Up arrow key. Stretch desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen. Windows key + Shift ...

  23. How to Remap Your Keyboard

    Once you've downloaded PowerToys onto your device, select Keyboard Manager and toggle Enable Keyboard Manager. You'll find separate sections for remapping keys and remapping shortcuts, each of which can be adjusted to your liking. Some keys and shortcuts cannot be remapped in Keyboard Manager, and these limitations are highlighted on the ...

  24. Create a form in Word that users can complete or print

    Show the Developer tab. If the developer tab isn't displayed in the ribbon, see Show the Developer tab.. Open a template or use a blank document. To create a form in Word that others can fill out, start with a template or document and add content controls.