How to reprogram a keyboard shortcut or a function key?

VeazyT · Jan 12, 2025

I have been all over the Internet trying to learn how to either create a new keyboard shortcut or reprogram a function key on my Lenovo Ideapad laptop, which runs on Windows 11. One promising Microsoft page I found here, entitled "Customize keyboard shortcuts" (for Word and probably Outlook Classic 365, which I use) sent me to File > Options > Customize Ribbon. On that screen there was supposed to be a "Keyboard shortcuts: Customize" button, but there is no such button in my app.

Another promising Microsoft page, called "How do you change the keyboard shortcuts," located here, said the following:

Open Settings: Press Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
Go to Accessibility: In the Settings menu, select "Accessibility".
Find Keyboard Settings: Under Accessibility, click on "Keyboard".
Enable Shortcut Customization: Scroll down to the "Keyboard shortcuts" section and toggle the switch to enable customization.
Remap Keys: Click on "Remap a key" and select the key you want to change. Assign the correct function (e.g., volume control).
Save and Apply Changes: Save your changes and test the new shortcuts to make sure they work as expected.

I got as far as step 4, but there was no "Keyboard Shortcuts" section; there was only a section called "Finding keyboard shortcuts." Clicking on that "button" led to a page on which a small number of standard keyboard shortcuts were listed (CTRL + C, CTRL + X, etc.). There was no mention of how to create a custom keyboard shortcut.

I found similarly promising instructions related to reassigning Fn keys, but none of them worked, either.

What would be most helpful to me is a hotkey or keyboard shortcut I could use to go directly to a document file I use a lot or even just to my Desktop. Is there no hope of achieving this?

Thanks!

Veazy

badrobot · Jan 12, 2025

Right-click on the file you want to create a shortcut for
Select Send to desktop
Select Create shortcut
Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties
Type in a keyboard combination in the Shortcut key text box
Click Apply and then OK

antspants · Jan 12, 2025

VeazyT said:
Remap Keys: Click on "Remap a key" and select the key you want to change. Assign the correct function (e.g., volume control).

Scancode Map, thanks to @pseymour I found a way to disable or remap keys quickly

Scancode Map

It all stated by me getting annoyed with F1 key. As it is only a registry change, I did it manually; easy enough. But then I got another laptop that had no context key (damn you HP). So I remapped Right Alt to Context menu. But I also wanted F1. And…

www.medo64.com

VeazyT · Jan 12, 2025

badrobot said:
Right-click on the file you want to create a shortcut for

Select Send to desktop

Select Create shortcut

Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties

Type in a keyboard combination in the Shortcut key text box

Click Apply and then OK

Oh my God, badrobot, it's a miracle!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for solving this problem so clearly and elegantly. I could not be more delighted!

I hope I wrote this in the right place...

Veazy

VeazyT · Jan 12, 2025

antspants said:
Scancode Map, thanks to @pseymour I found a way to disable or remap keys quickly

Scancode Map

It all stated by me getting annoyed with F1 key. As it is only a registry change, I did it manually; easy enough. But then I got another laptop that had no context key (damn you HP). So I remapped Right Alt to Context menu. But I also wanted F1. And…

www.medo64.com

Thank you, antspants! (I don't know how to reply to a post without quoting the post.) I appreciate this information about the scancode map, but it will take some time for me to see if it's something I would dare to do. It makes me nervous to do things to the registry. I'll try to get my courage up!

Veazy

pseymour · Jan 12, 2025

The utility that antspants linked to does the registry editing for you. It's much safer than trying to remap a key yourself. What badrobot posted is handy for creating a keyboard combination for a shortcut, but sometimes you want to remap a key for other purposes. That's what the utility antpants linked is for.

antspants · Jan 12, 2025

VeazyT said:
Thank you, antspants! (I don't know how to reply to a post without quoting the post.) I appreciate this information about the scancode map, but it will take some time for me to see if it's something I would dare to do. It makes me nervous to do things to the registry. I'll try to get my courage up!

Veazy

Here is an example: Disable Caps Lock & Windows Keys

Install, Scancode Map

Open the app

Click on the Plus symbol The "New" box will open
In the "From" section, start typing "Left Windows" or use the drop arrow to select "Left Windows"
In the "To" section start typing or use the drop arrow to select "Disable"
Select OK

There are usually two Win keys

Repeat for "Right Windows" if you also have a problem accidently tapping that key.

5. Click "Apply"

Reboot your PC

antspants · Jan 12, 2025

You can also just assign a remap by clicking the Plus Symbol +
Selecting the "From" drop down box, pick a key
Then select the "To" drop down box, choose a remap key

Example:
From F10 key (or whatever key you want to remap)
To Keypad 7 Home key

And remember to click Apply, reboot or log out and back in when finished.

VeazyT · Jan 12, 2025

antspants said:
You can also just assign a remap by clicking the Plus Symbol +
Selecting the "From" drop down box, pick a key
Then select the "To" drop down box, choose a remap key

Example:
From F10 key (or whatever key you want to remap)
To Keypad 7 Home key

And remember to click Apply, reboot or log out and back in when finished.

View attachment 121898

View attachment 121899

antspants said:
Here is an example: Disable Caps Lock & Windows Keys

Install, Scancode Map

Open the app

Click on the Plus symbol The "New" box will open

In the "From" section, start typing "Left Windows" or use the drop arrow to select "Left Windows"

In the "To" section start typing or use the drop arrow to select "Disable"

Select OK

There are usually two Win keys

Repeat for "Right Windows" if you also have a problem accidently tapping that key.

5. Click "Apply"

Reboot your PC

VeazyT · Jan 12, 2025

I'm going to have to devote some time to all of this. I'm not very confident technically, but I'm so grateful for pseymour and antspants' careful instructions.

antspants · Jan 12, 2025

You can remap (change) any key, it really is the simplest process to do. If you decide it’s something you would like to use to remap (change) a key and you have problems, we’re here.

VeazyT · Jan 13, 2025

Thank you, antspants!

antspants · Jan 13, 2025

VeazyT said:
Thank you, antspants!

No problem at all.

You can get someones attention by putting the @ symbol at the beginning of their forum name, so @VeazyT or @antspants etc

badrobot · Jan 13, 2025

antspants said:
Scancode Map, thanks to @pseymour I found a way to disable or remap keys quickly

Scancode Map

It all stated by me getting annoyed with F1 key. As it is only a registry change, I did it manually; easy enough. But then I got another laptop that had no context key (damn you HP). So I remapped Right Alt to Context menu. But I also wanted F1. And…

www.medo64.com

Hi Antspants, besides remapping keys, can this Scancode also be used to assign a keyboard shortcut to open a specific file (text or sheet file)? That's what the OP is trying to accomplish.

pseymour · Jan 13, 2025

badrobot said:
Hi Antspants, besides remapping keys, can this Scancode also be used to assign a keyboard shortcut to open a specific file (text or sheet file)? That's what the OP is trying to accomplish.

Nope, the scancodes just remap what a key does. Make F12 act like Caps Lock, for example.

But actually I missed this part...

VeazyT said:
What would be most helpful to me is a hotkey or keyboard shortcut I could use to go directly to a document file I use a lot or even just to my Desktop. Is there no hope of achieving this?

Windows Key + D will take you to your desktop, or Windows Key + M will minimize everything, which is in effect the same thing.

badrobot · Jan 13, 2025

pseymour said:
Nope, the scancodes just remap what a key does. Make F12 act like Caps Lock, for example.

But actually I missed this part...

Windows Key + D will take you to your desktop, or Windows Key + M will minimize everything, which is in effect the same thing.

Ok, not sure if the OP got her answer already. I thought i did help her with what she wanted but this thread is still open and unsolved.

antspants · Jan 13, 2025

pseymour said:
But actually I missed this part...

So did I

VeazyT · Jan 13, 2025

badrobot said:
Ok, not sure if the OP got her answer already. I thought i did help her with what she wanted but this thread is still open and unsolved.

I have just gotten this message re Win key +D. Fantastic!

As the OP (or, I assume, original poster), I consider the question regarding keyboard shortcuts to be closed. Is there a way for me to signal that?

I'm still looking into the suggestions re remapping the Fn keys and have downloaded the files scancodemap111.exe and scancodemap111.zip.

Many thanks to badrobot, antspants (Sinto?) & pseymour!

Veazy

How to reprogram a keyboard shortcut or a function key?

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