powertoys-keys

powertoys-keys is a simple command line script takes the JSON settings file from the PowerToys Keyboard Manager utility and converts it to a more usable YAML format. This makes it easier to bulk-edit the list of shortcuts. It also supports mapping a single shortcut to multiple apps, without having to recreate that shortcut over and over.

Usage

powertoys-keys requires Node.js to be installed on your computer.

Open a Windows Terminal in a directory where you want to store your editable keyboard shortcuts file. Then run:

npx powertoys-keys export

After you confirm the temporary installation of the script, this will create a Keyboard Manager Shortcuts.yaml file in the local directory. Open this file in your preferred text editor. The contents will look something like the following (though the list of shortcuts and apps will obviously depend on your existing settings):

version: 0
keys:
  inProcess:
    - from: F1
      to: F2
shortcuts:
  global:
    - from: LWin D
      to: <Disable>
      ...
  "chrome, firefox, msedge":
    - from: LCtrl LAlt I
      to: Up
    - from: LCtrl LAlt K
      to: Down
      ...
  notepad:
    - from: LAlt S
      to: LCtrl S
      ...

App lists

The shortcut mappings are grouped by the applications they apply to, under the shortcuts: section. Each list of app-specific mappings starts with the app's process name, followed by a colon, like notepad: in the example above. Mappings in the global: list apply to all apps.

Multi-app shortcuts

Besides specifying a single app, the app list can be a quoted, comma-delimited list of multiple app names. In this example, all of the shortcuts in the "chrome, firefox, msedge": list apply to Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge:

  "chrome, firefox, msedge":
    - from: LCtrl LAlt I
      to: Up
    - from: LCtrl LAlt K
      to: Down

This makes it easy to share a set of shortcuts across many apps, without having to manually recreate them for each app in the Keyboard Manager UI.

Each list name has to be unique, but the same app can appear in multiple lists. For instance, you could have Chrome-specific shortcuts in a chrome: list, in addition to the "chrome, firefox, msedge": list.

  "chrome, firefox, msedge":
    - from: LCtrl LAlt I
      to: Up
    - from: LCtrl LAlt K
      to: Down
  chrome:
    - from: LWin B
      to: LCtrl LShift O

Note that when the YAML file is imported into Keyboard Manager, all of the shortcuts in a multi-app list are duplicated, once for each app, since PowerToys doesn't natively support this feature. This means that if you have 20 shortcuts in a list for 10 apps, 200 individual shortcuts will be shown in Keyboard Manager UI. So don't go too crazy with lots of shared shortcuts!

Shortcut mappings

Each mapping is defined using an object with from and to fields. For instance, in the notepad: list above, the shortcut Alt (Left)S is mapped to Ctrl (Left)S. Pressing the from shortcut triggers the to shortcut in the app. (The - before each from indicates that the from/to object is part of a list.)

Each shortcut is defined by one or more keys, separated by spaces. The raw key codes used in the Keyboard Manager JSON file are mapped to human-readable key names in the YAML file. See the full list for the available key names.

Modifiers, like alt or ctrl, have names that specify the left modifier key (LAlt), the right (RAlt) or either (Alt). Key names are currently case-sensitive, so they must be typed exactly as shown in the list.

Shortcuts that are meant to be disabled can be mapped to a "key" named <Disable>. That will prevent the shortcut from working in the associated app.

Applying the new shortcuts

Once you have created the desired list of shortcuts, you must import them into Keyboard Manager by running:

npx powertoys-keys import

This converts your YAML file back into the required JSON format, substituting codes for the key names and expanding multi-app shortcuts into individual entries.

Unfortunately, this won't automatically apply the new settings. To do that you must open PowerToys, then click Keyboard Manager in the left column, and then click the Remap a shortcut button. After the Remap shortcuts dialog opens, click OK to apply the new shortcuts.

Note that the new JSON file completely replaces the existing settings, which means that if you remove a shortcut in the YAML file, it will also be deleted from Keyboard Manager once you run the import command. However, the script backs up the current JSON file as default-backup.json in the Keyboard Manager settings directory (usually %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\PowerToys\Keyboard Manager). It also creates a default-original.json backup the first time it runs, so you can get back to the settings you started with, if necessary.

International keyboards

This script hasn't been tested at all with international keyboards, so YMMV.

Command line options

--settings-dir

The script will look for the settings in the default directory for Keyboard Manager. If you've installed PowerToys somewhere else, you can specify a path to a different directory with the --settings-dir flag:

npx powertoys-keys export --settings-dir="C:\path\to\PowerToy\Keyboard Manager"

--yaml-file

To specify a different name for the YAML file, use the --yaml-file flag:

npx powertoys-keys export --yaml-file="My Shortcuts.yaml"

You'll need to specify the same flag when running the import command so that the script knows which file to import.