Key Mapping Tools
Users are free to customize many aspects of their computing experience, and that includes changing up the mapping of the keys on their keyboards. Want the backspace key to be a space? How about turning the Q key into an alternate A key? More practically, how about custom shortcuts for your most common complex actions not already mapped to dedicated keys? Apps like SharpKeys for Windows and Karabiner for macOS make this and more possible.
- SharpKeys is a utility that manages a Registry key that allows Windows to remap one key to any other key. Included in the application is a list of common keyboard keys and a Type Key feature to automatically recognize most keyboard keys. It was developed in C# using .NET v2.
- Karabiner, previously called KeyRemap4MacBook, is a very powerful keyboard remapper for Mac OS X. In addition to simple key remapping, it has special remapping modes like Emacs-mode, SandS-mode (Space and Shift).
- antimicro is a graphical program used to map keyboard keys and mouse controls to a gamepad. This program is useful for playing PC games using a gamepad that do not have any form of built-in gamepad support.
- Free • Open Source
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
Discontinued
The latest release was on November 5th, 2016. A new generation of the program called AntimicroX is available.
- KeyTweak is a free keyboard remapper for Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/Win 7. It makes use of Microsoft's Scancode Map registry key to remap your keyboard.
- A utility for mapping keyboard keys and mouse button actions to your game controller buttons for PC gaming.
- Paid • Proprietary
- Windows
- A tool to change and program the mapping of your input device buttons.
- Ever wanted to quickly and easily define your own keyboard layout for a language Microsoft doesn't support? Or define your own keyboard layout so you can quickly and easily enter your favorite symbols with a simple keystroke?
- Key Manager reveals the full potential of your keyboard and mouse and allows you to save time and efforts while working with your computer.
- VJoy Virtual Joystick is a software application and virtual driver system that allows keyboard input to be translated to joystick input.
- TouchCursor lets you use the home keys as cursor keys – in all Windows programs – keeping your fingers in the best position for fast typing. Its free and open-source.
- The macOS supports an XML-based format for keyboard layouts (.keylayout files). However, modifying keyboard layouts—let alone creating entirely new keyboard layouts, such as for a new script—by directly editing the XML text is tedious and error-prone.
- Spark is a powerful and easy shortcuts manager. With Spark you can create Hot Keys to launch applications and documents, execute AppleScripts, command iTunes, and more...
- Pinnacle Game Profiler allows you to emulate your keyboard and mouse with your video game controller, and otherwise customize the controller's behavior.
- HotKeyBind is a program that lets you use hotkeys (shortcut key combinations) to do common tasks: opening a web page, launching applications, opening files, shutting down the computer and so on.
Discontinued
last update was in 2013 : appears discontinued/unmaintained as of May 2021 , but still available on sourceforge
- An Xbox Controller Mapper which allows you to simulate mouse and keyboard events, media functions and create process profiles individually, as well as offer the ability to turn off Xbox 360 wireless controller with very low CPU and memory usage.