How to remap keyboard key or shortcut on Windows 10

You can now use PowerToys app to remap keys on Windows 10, and here's how to do it.

Keyboard Manager remap for Windows 10
Keyboard Manager remap for Windows 10

PowerToys is a handy app that offers a slew of tools to enhance the usability of Windows 10. Among the tools, the app also includes a Keyboard Manager that allows you to remap keys and even keyboard shortcuts.

Although most users don’t need to remap keyboard keys, it’s something that may be required from time to time, if a particular key breaks unexpectedly on the keyboard, the current layout feels uncomfortable, or you need to remap a key (or keyboard shortcut) to use a specific feature on an application.

Whatever the reason it might be, the PowerToys Keyboard Manager makes it easy to remap keys on Windows 10.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to remap a keyboard key or shortcut on Windows 10.

How to remap key on Windows 10

To remap a keyboard key on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open PowerToys.

  2. Click on Keyboard Manager.

  3. Turn on the Enable Keyboard Manager toggle switch.

  4. Under the “Remap keyboard” section, click the Remap a key button.

    Remap key option for Windows 10
    Remap key option for Windows 10
  5. Click the Plus (+) button.

  6. Under the “Original Key” section (on the left), select a key using the drop-down menu or clicking the Type Key button.

  7. Under the “New Key” section (on the right), select the key you want the original key to become the new key.

    Windows 10 remap keyboard key
    Windows 10 remap keyboard key
  8. Click the OK button.

  9. Click the Continue Anyway button.

Once you complete the steps, the key will be remapped to the new key.

Unless you remap the action of the original key to another key, you won’t be able to use it. For example, if you’re remapping the left Shift key to be the new Windows key, that Shift key won’t act as a Shift key anymore.

If you want to remove the key remap, use the same instructions outlined above, but on step No. 5, click the Delete (trash can) button on the right side, and click the OK button.

How to remap shortcut on Windows 10

To remap a keyboard shortcut on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open PowerToys.

  2. Click on Keyboard Manager.

  3. Turn on the Enable Keyboard Manager toggle switch.

  4. Under the “Remap shortcut” section, click the Remap a shortcut button.

    Remap shortcut for Windows 10
    Remap shortcut for Windows 10
  5. Click the Plus (+) button.

  6. Under the “Original Key” section (on the left), clicking the Type Key button and specify the shortcut. For example, Windows key + P.

  7. Under the “New Key” section (on the right), select the shortcut you want the original shortcut to become.

    Windows 10 remap keyboard key
    Windows 10 remap keyboard key
  8. Click the OK button.

  9. Click the Continue Anyway button.

After you complete the steps, the keyboard shortcut will be remapped to the new shortcut that you specified.

Unless you remap the action of the original shortcut to another shortcut, you won’t be able to use it.

If you want to remove the key remap, use the same instructions outlined above, but on step No. 5, click the Delete (trash can) button on the right side, and click the OK button.

How to install PowerToys on Windows 10

This guide assumes that you already have PowerToys installed on your device. If you don’t have it, then you can use these steps:

  1. Open PowerToys page.

  2. Under the “Assets” section, click the PowerToysSetup-x.xx.x.msi link.

    Download PowerToys installer
    Download PowerToys installer
  3. Save the link on your device.

  4. Double-click the .msi file to begin the installation.

  5. Click the Next button.

  6. Click the Next button again.

  7. (Optional) Check the Create a shortcut for PowerToys on the desktop option.

  8. Check the Automatically start PowerToys at logon option (Recommended).

    PowerToys setup options
    PowerToys setup options
  9. Click the Next button.

  10. Click the Install button.

  11. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the PowerToys tool will install on Windows 10.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.