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Change keyboard layout Don’t like your computer’s keyboard layout? KeyTweak is a free software that allows you to map the keys on your keyboard. If you change your mind and want to go back, you can easily reset all your cards with one click. You can also disable keys, enable others, and save overrides with just a few. KeyTweak allows you to change the way your keyboard behaves when you press its buttons. After using KeyTweak, your keys will press the selected keys.
KeyTweak is useful for people who work with an alternative keyboard layout, such as using a computer in another country. You may also need to customize your keyboard for a specific game or computer program.
KeyTweak is a small, lightweight tool (less than 500KB) developed by Travis Kramsik. The program is available on PCs with Windows Vista. It is also compatible with Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows 7. Although KeyTweak is no longer developed or supported, it works on Windows 10 machines.
KeyTweak is not available for Mac. Alternatives to KeyTweak include Sharpkeys, Autohotkey, Google Input Tools for PC, and On-Screen Keyboard Portable.
How to install KeyTweak? It’s easy and safe to download KeyTweak on Softonic. All you need to do is run the exe installer and then follow the on-screen instructions, including accepting the license agreement. Then go to the Start menu and look for the KeyTweak submenu. Here you will also find a guide and an uninstaller. To run the program, simply click on KeyTweak in the KeyTweak menu.
How to use KeyTweak When KeyTweak is opened, the main window displays an image of the keyboard along with a menu bar, a remapping section, a keyboard control section, a special buttons section, a pending change section, and buttons to switch between full and half learning modes. You can also access the KeyTweak guide here from the Help menu. Note that the mapped keyboard is not specific to your keyboard, it is universal.
Below the menu bar at the top of the window, the “Overrides” section lists the currently overridden keys and buttons to restore default values and show the raw map. Keyboard management is where you can choose a new mapping for the selected key. You can do this using the drop-down list and the Remap button.
The custom buttons on the right side of the window allow you to reassign some (not all) custom buttons you may have on your keyboard, such as video playback controls. In the lower-right corner, the Pending changes area displays all the changes that will take effect the next time you restart your computer. The full/half training mode buttons at the bottom of the window allow you to switch between the two respective training modes.
At first glance, KeyTweak may seem difficult to use, but the detailed guide provides step-by-step instructions. Just select the virtual keyboard key you want to change. It will correspond to a key on your own keyboard and will have its own number. When you click on the virtual key, you will see its current screen in the areaKeyboard commands.
Then go to the Select New Mapping drop-down list to select a new mapping for this key. Then press the replace key and you will see the replacement appear under Pending changes. Any changes made with KeyTweak require a reboot to take effect. You will then click the Apply button to apply the changes and the program will prompt you to restart your computer immediately. You can also stop the reassignment by clicking the Clear All button.
You can repeat this process for any number of keys by defining new mappings or disabling key functions. After restarting, the keyboard will be mapped as you set it up when using the app. KeyTweak is great primarily for replacing individual keys and fixing minor keyboard issues, not for changing the behavior of the entire keyboard.
Remember that the changes you make to KeyTweak are global, so they will affect all users of the device.
Full Teach mode is an alternative method of resetting selected keys. When you click the Full Learning Mode button, a new window opens. After clicking Start Learn Mode button, you can select a key on the current hand keyboard for one slot (#1) and another key for the other slot (#2), then change the order from #1 to #2.
Half Teach mode wasn’t helpful as it’s basically the same method as the default key remapping method.
Does KeyTweak have any limitations? While it is an effective program for changing the way your keyboard works, KeyTweak has some limitations. KeyTweak cannot combine keys, so you won’t be able to map Ctrl-Alt-Delete to the same key, for example. It also cannot affect function keys on laptops or the Pause/Pause key.
Some users may also be frustrated by the fact that not all custom buttons on their keyboard are supported.
An efficient and free keyboard layout program
There are many reasons why you might want to change the behavior of your keyboard. You might be pressing the wrong key on your new laptop by mistake. Or maybe you need to replace your keyboard to run an app or play a specific game. KeyTweak can help you do this simply and effectively, despite some limitations.
KeyTweak is even useful if your keyboard is broken and some keys no longer work. It is a free program that is a simple solution to reconfigure keyboard inputs to your needs.
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