Windows 10 does allow users to remap the keys on your keyboard with a few registry tweaks, but Registry editor isn’t exactly an easy tool to customize the operating system and bend it to your will, which is why there is a market for third-party software like SharpKeys that writes this information directly to the registry.
With PowerToys suite, Microsoft has been trying to create features that offer power user tools ranging from launching programs to the faster search experience.
It appears that Microsoft is also working on a Keyboard Manager for PowerToys, so you don’t have to rely on some other software as a middleman.
Microsoft’s PowerToys team has quietly revealed that they are working on a new tool that would allow you to remap the keys.
“For developers and some seasoned users, where using their keyboard is a large part their job, ability to remap keystrokes and engage executables can lead to massive gains in time. In fact, this was the second most popular topic measured through thumbs up and the most commented issue in the PowerToys Github,” Microsoft said.
Windows 10’s upcoming Keyboard Shortcut Manager can be used to configure keypresses on computers and laptops with the built-in or external keyboard. Keyboard Shortcut Manager supports remapping at OS-level and it offers a lightweight UI experience.
Microsoft is also considering the following features:
- Disable existing OS-level shortcuts. Example: Windows key + C
- OS-level shortcuts have priority over apps that come with shortcuts. Example: Alt + Enter will trigger OS action, not excel-specific action when in Excel.
- Winkey shortcuts have priority over app-specific shortcuts.
The tool will allow Windows 10 to interpret the keystrokes as you’ve told it to.
Microsoft says Keyboard shortcut manager will require a reboot only when it’s necessary, which means you may not need to reboot the system for some remaps.
Microsoft is also planning to add support to edit app-level shortcuts.
At the moment, it seems that Microsoft’s keyboard manager is still in the early development phase and it’s not clear when the app would become a part of the stable PowerToys release.
