How to Change a Keyboard Layout in Windows 10
The easiest way to customize your keyboard is by using PowerToys, a free program made by Microsoft. It allows you to reassign keys and change your keyboard shortcuts using a simple interface. PowerToys also enables you to personalize the layout and appearance of the operating system.
Can You Reassign Keyboard Keys?
Follow these steps to reassign keys in Windows 10:
Download Microsoft Power Toys and install it on your PC. Open Power Toys and select Keyboard Manager in the left sidebar. Select Remap a Key. If the keyboard options are grayed out, select the Enable Keyboard Manager switch. Select the Plus (+) under Key. Under Key, choose the key you want to reassign from the drop-down menu, or select Type and enter a key. Under Mapped To, choose the new key. If you want to switch two keys, repeat steps 5 and 6 to create another entry, reversing the keys. To reset the key to its default, return to this screen and select the Trashcan icon beside the entry. Select OK. Select Continue Anyway, if you see a notice telling you you’ll no longer be able to use the keys for their original purpose.
How to Remap Windows 10 Shortcuts
You can change keyboard shortcuts for specific apps or your whole system:
Open Microsoft Power Toys and select Keyboard Manager in the left sidebar, then select Remap a Shortcut. Select the Plus (+) under Shortcut. Choose the key you want to reassign from the drop-down menu under Shortcut or select Type and enter a keyboard shortcut. Under Mapped To, choose the new key or shortcut. Under Target Apps, enter the name of an app (if you leave this section blank, the change is applied system-wide). Select OK.
How to Reset Keyboard Mapping
To set your key reassignments back to the defaults, go to Keyboard Manager in PowerToys, select Remap a shortcut, and then select the Trashcan icon beside the entry you want to delete.
How Can I Customize My Keyboard?
PowerToys lets you reassign keys and shortcuts, but some keyboards come with customization software that gives you even more control over how your device works. For example, you could create multi-key macros and insert blocks of text with a single keystroke. You can customize both with the Windows Mouse and Keyboard Center tool if you have an external keyboard and mouse.
