The easiest way to remap keyboard keys in Windows 10 is Microsoft’s free PowerToys app. Install it, open Keyboard Manager, turn it on, and click Remap a key. Pick the key you want to change under Select, pick what it should do under To send, and click OK. The change works right away, as long as PowerToys is running. Windows 10 has no built-in setting for remapping keys, so you’ll need PowerToys, your keyboard maker’s software, or a registry-based tool.
This guide covers all three methods, how to remap shortcuts, how to undo changes, and what to do if a remap doesn’t work.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Best for | Needs to keep running? |
|---|---|---|
| PowerToys Keyboard Manager | Most people. Remap keys and shortcuts, even for single apps. | Yes |
| Keyboard maker’s software | Gaming and brand-name keyboards with extra keys | Usually |
| Registry (Scancode Map) via SharpKeys | Simple, permanent key swaps that work at the sign-in screen | No, but needs a restart |
Method 1: Remap keys with PowerToys
Step 1: Install PowerToys
- Open the Microsoft Store and search for Microsoft PowerToys, or download it from Microsoft’s official PowerToys page on GitHub.
- Click Get or Install. PowerToys needs a reasonably recent, 64-bit version of Windows 10.
- Open PowerToys from the Start menu.
Step 2: Remap a key
- In PowerToys, click Keyboard Manager in the left menu.
- Make sure Enable Keyboard Manager is on.
- Click Remap a key.
- Click the + (Add key remapping) button.
- Under Select, choose the physical key you want to change, or click Select and press it.
- Under To send, choose the key it should act as. Choose Disable to turn the key off.
- Click OK. If Windows warns that a key will be left without a function, click Continue anyway if that’s what you want.
Popular remaps include Caps Lock to Ctrl, Insert to nothing, and the right Alt or Menu key to Print Screen on keyboards without one.
Step 3: Remap a shortcut (optional)
- In Keyboard Manager, click Remap a shortcut.
- Click +, then enter the shortcut you’ll press and the shortcut, key, or text it should send.
- To make it work in just one program, type the program’s file name (for example, chrome.exe) in the Target app box.
- Click OK.
Keep PowerToys running
PowerToys remaps only work while PowerToys is running. Go to General in PowerToys and turn on Run at startup. Remaps also don’t work on the sign-in screen, in some games that run as administrator, or when PowerToys isn’t running as administrator and you’re using an elevated app. You can turn on Always run as administrator in PowerToys’ General settings to fix the last one.
Method 2: Use your keyboard maker’s software
Many keyboards come with free software that can reassign keys, set up macros, and save profiles, such as Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center, Logitech Options+, Razer Synapse, or Corsair iCUE. Some mechanical keyboards can store remaps on the keyboard itself using tools like VIA, so they work on any computer. Check your keyboard maker’s support site for the right app.
Method 3: Permanent remap in the registry with SharpKeys
Windows can remap keys at a low level using a registry value called Scancode Map. The free, open-source tool SharpKeys writes this value for you, so you don’t have to edit the registry by hand.
- Download SharpKeys from its official GitHub page or the Microsoft Store and open it.
- Click Add. Choose the key to change on the left (or click Type Key and press it) and the new key on the right. Click OK.
- Click Write to Registry.
- Sign out or restart your PC.
This method works everywhere, including the sign-in screen, and doesn’t need an app running in the background. It only swaps single keys, though, not shortcuts. It applies to every user and every keyboard on the PC. Changing the registry needs administrator rights, so consider creating a restore point first.
How to undo a remap
- PowerToys: Open Remap a key or Remap a shortcut, click the trash can next to the mapping, and click OK. Or turn off Enable Keyboard Manager to pause all of them.
- SharpKeys: Open it, click Delete All, click Write to Registry, and restart.
- Keyboard software: Restore the default profile in the app.
Troubleshooting
- The remap doesn’t work at all. Make sure PowerToys is running (look for its icon in the notification area) and Keyboard Manager is turned on.
- It works in some apps but not others. Turn on Always run as administrator in PowerToys, or check that you didn’t set a Target app for a shortcut.
- The Fn key can’t be remapped. On most laptops, Fn is handled by the keyboard itself, not Windows, so no Windows tool can change it. Check the BIOS or your laptop maker’s software instead.
- WASD and arrow keys are swapped. That’s usually a keyboard mode, not a Windows remap. See how to fix WASD swapped with arrow keys.
- You only want to disable Caps Lock. In Keyboard Manager, remap Caps Lock to Disable, or use SharpKeys to turn it off permanently.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 10 have a built-in key remapper?
No. Windows 10 lets you change some keyboard settings, like the language-switch shortcut, but not what individual keys do. PowerToys is Microsoft’s free tool for that.
Is PowerToys safe?
Yes. It’s made by Microsoft and is open source. Download it from the Microsoft Store or Microsoft’s official GitHub page.
Can I remap mouse buttons too?
Not with Keyboard Manager. Use your mouse maker’s software, or Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center for Microsoft mice.
Do these steps work on Windows 11?
Yes. PowerToys, keyboard software, and SharpKeys all work the same way on Windows 11.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.