How to Remap Keys in Windows 10

To remap keys in Windows 10, install Microsoft PowerToys, open PowerToys Settings > Keyboard Manager, and turn on Enable Keyboard Manager. Select Remap a key, choose the key to change under Select and the key it should become under To send, then select OK.

Applies to: Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) and later. Keep in mind that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Security updates now come only through the Extended Security Updates program, which stops on October 12, 2027.

Windows 10 has no built-in key remapper in Settings. PowerToys is a free Microsoft tool that adds one. If you want one key combination to type a phrase or run several steps, create a macro in Windows 10 with AutoHotkey or Power Automate instead.

Install PowerToys

1. Open the Microsoft Store, search for PowerToys, and select Get. Or download it from Microsoft’s PowerToys page on Microsoft Learn.
2. Open PowerToys from the Start menu.

Remap a key

1. In PowerToys Settings, select Keyboard Manager.
2. Make sure Enable Keyboard Manager is On.
3. Select Remap a key.

4. Select Add key remapping.
5. Under Select, choose the key you want to change. Under To send, choose what it should do.
6. Select OK, and select Continue anyway if asked.

The new key works right away, in every app.

Remap a shortcut

Select Remap a shortcut instead. You can swap one shortcut for another, such as Ctrl + Shift + V for Ctrl + V, and limit it to one app by typing the app’s name under Target app.

Popular remaps

• Caps Lock to Ctrl: handy if you press Caps Lock by accident or use a lot of Ctrl shortcuts.
• Turn off a key: choose Disable under To send for keys you hit by mistake, such as Insert or the Windows logo key while gaming.
• Mac-style layout: swap Ctrl and Alt if you’re used to a Mac keyboard with the Command key next to the space bar.
• Media keys: map a key you never use, like Scroll Lock, to Volume Up, Volume Down, or Play/Pause.

Remap keys without PowerToys running

PowerToys remaps only work while PowerToys is running, so they don’t apply on the sign-in screen. For a remap that is built into Windows itself, use the free, open-source SharpKeys app, available in the Microsoft Store.

1. Open SharpKeys and select Add.
2. Choose the key to change on the left and what it should do on the right, or use Type Key to press each one. Select OK.
3. Select Write to Registry, then sign out or restart.

SharpKeys changes single keys only, not shortcuts. To undo it, delete the entry, select Write to Registry again, and restart. Gaming keyboards and mice from Logitech, Razer, Corsair and others also include their own remapping software, which can store the change on the keyboard.

Undo a remap

Open Remap a key, select the X next to the remap, and select OK. To pause every remap at once, turn off Enable Keyboard Manager.

Things to know

• Windows logo key + L and Ctrl + Alt + Delete can’t be remapped.
• The Fn key usually can’t be remapped. Check your PC maker’s keyboard app for Fn settings.

If a remap doesn’t work

• It doesn’t work in some apps. Apps running as administrator ignore remaps from a normal PowerToys. In PowerToys General settings, turn on Always run as administrator and restart PowerToys.
• It stopped after a restart. PowerToys wasn’t running. Turn on Run at startup in General settings.
• It doesn’t work in a game. Some games and anti-cheat tools read the keyboard directly. Use the game’s own key settings instead.
• It doesn’t work on the sign-in screen. That’s expected. PowerToys only runs after you sign in.

Frequently asked questions

My keys type the wrong characters, but I didn’t remap anything.

Your keyboard layout probably changed. Switch it back by changing the keyboard language in Windows 10.

A key is broken. Can I type without it?

Remap another key to replace it, or use the on-screen keyboard for now.

Can I copy my remaps to another PC?

Yes. In PowerToys, open General and use Backup and restore to save your settings, then restore them on the other PC after installing PowerToys.

Is PowerToys safe?

Yes. It’s made by Microsoft and is free and open source. Get it only from Microsoft Store or Microsoft’s official pages.

Do remaps change the keyboard itself?

No. PowerToys changes what Windows does when you press a key. The keyboard works normally on other PCs, and turning off Keyboard Manager restores every key.

Can I remap mouse buttons too?

Not with Keyboard Manager. Use your mouse maker’s app, or go to Settings > Devices > Mouse to swap the left and right buttons.

Does this work in Windows 11?

Yes. PowerToys and Keyboard Manager work the same way on Windows 11. Your remaps carry over if you upgrade.

Every Keyboard Manager option is listed in Microsoft’s PowerToys Keyboard Manager documentation.

Related: remapping keyboard keys in Windows 11, and how to turn off the Insert key in Windows 10.