How to Create a Windows Key If You Don’t Have One

If you choose making use of an older typical keyboard these types of as the IBM Product M that doesn’t consist of a actual physical Windows key, there’s a neat way to “add” one employing Home windows 10 by borrowing a important you never use really usually. Here’s how to do it.

Applying Microsoft’s free of charge PowerToys utility, you can easily reassign any important to work like any other key (or even give them a novel perform like muting your audio). In our case, we’ll be assigning the Windows essential purpose to a essential of your alternative.

(By default, the Command critical on a Mac keyboard functions as the Home windows essential if plugged into a Home windows 10 machine. There’s no want to use this trick when you’re utilizing a Mac keyboard with Windows—just use the “Command” essential as your Home windows key.)

1st, if you never already have PowerToys for Windows 10, obtain it for free from Microsoft’s web page. Right after that, launch PowerToys, and click on the “Keyboard Manager” choice in the sidebar. In the “Keyboard Manager” possibilities, click “Remap A Key.”

In the “Remap Keyboard” window that pops up, simply click the in addition sign (+) to increase a important mapping.

Now you have to come to a decision which critical you want to double as the Home windows vital. We uncover that the ideal Alt key performs incredibly perfectly (if you have just one), due to the fact it is quick to use for 1-handed Windows shortcuts and most individuals use the still left Alt critical extra commonly. You could also decide on a seldom-employed important, these as Scroll Lock or appropriate Ctrl rather. It is completely up to you.

While defining the mapping in PowerToys, use the fall-down menu underneath the “Key:” heading on the left to decide on the important you’d like to purpose as your Home windows essential. In this example, we’re making use of “Alt (Correct).”

In the “Mapped To” section on the correct, find “Win” (which signifies the Windows critical) from the drop-down menu.

Click on “OK.” Home windows will likely alert you that the critical you are remapping will not be usable due to the fact you have reassigned it to yet another perform. In that scenario, simply click “Continue Anyway.”

Soon after that, the new Home windows crucial mapping should really be energetic. Examination it out. If you faucet the essential you assigned to Home windows, your Start Menu ought to pop up. From then on, you must also be capable to use it to start helpful shortcuts these kinds of as Home windows+I to open up Configurations.

When you are completely ready, shut PowerToys, and you can use your laptop as normal. You won’t have to log out or restart your Laptop your modify will take result promptly.

How to Eliminate the New Home windows Essential Mapping

If you improve your intellect and want to assign a distinctive important to Home windows or restore the operate of the crucial you remapped, start PowerToys, and navigate to Keyboard Supervisor > Remap A Critical.

Locate the mapping you outlined previously and click the trash can to delete it. Then click “OK” to shut the window. Just after that, you are cost-free to produce a new mapping or basically close Electrical power Toys.

Linked: Why I Still Use a 34-Calendar year-Previous IBM Product M Keyboard