--- key: mechanic/keyboard--family-modes type: mechanic id: keyboard--family-modes lang: en title: Modes and assignment of keys summary: >- A key’s assignment changes through settings or context. PowerToys can swap A and B without changing the keyboard’s physical labels. updatedAt: '2026-10-22' status: active url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/keyboard--family-modes/' jsonUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/keyboard--family-modes.json markdownUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/keyboard--family-modes.md aliases: [] tags: - Physical keyboard interactions - Mapping signals to actions sourceIds: - source-719540110f02454c sources: - id: source-719540110f02454c title: PowerToys Keyboard Manager url: 'https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager' verifiedAt: null relations: [] placements: - catalogId: keyboard id: family-modes title: Physical keyboard interactions url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/keyboard/#family-modes' categoryIds: - section-2 supersededBy: [] attributes: preview: updatedAt: '2026-10-22' title: Modes and assignment of keys description: >- A key’s assignment changes through settings or context. PowerToys can swap A and B without changing the keyboard’s physical labels. image: src: images/mechanics/control-powertoys-remap.webp width: 1440 height: 901 crop: x: 0 'y': 266 width: 1440 height: 398 game: PowerToys Keyboard Manager sourceUrl: 'https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager' originalUrl: >- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/images/keyboard-manager/keyboard-remap-a-b.png credit: Microsoft rights: >- Imagery © Microsoft. Developer-distributed screenshot or frame; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. caption: 'PowerToys: mutually remapping the A and B keys' alt: 'PowerToys: mutually remapping the A and B keys' markers: - x: 38 'y': 47 label: Physical A sends B to the application tips: - Show the assigned action using the current layout and mode. examples: - title: PowerToys Keyboard Manager url: 'https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager' endsAt: null provenance: >- Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review. license: CC-BY-4.0 codeLicense: MIT attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors catalogKey: catalog/keyboard --- # Modes and assignment of keys id: keyboard--family-modes type: mechanic key: mechanic/keyboard--family-modes lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/keyboard--family-modes/ A key’s assignment changes through settings or context. PowerToys can swap A and B without changing the keyboard’s physical labels. ## At a glance ![PowerToys: mutually remapping the A and B keys](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/control-powertoys-remap.webp) [PowerToys Keyboard Manager](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager) · Imagery © Microsoft. Developer-distributed screenshot or frame; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. 1. Physical A sends B to the application - Show the assigned action using the current layout and mode. - [PowerToys Keyboard Manager](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager) ## How it works The same physical input takes on a different meaning depending on the state. ## Variants ### Variants and applications - Contextual action. Action: The meaning of a key is determined by an object, state or environment. Application: One button opens a door, picks up an item and starts a conversation. Conditions: Show the actual action before pressing. Equipment: Regular keyboard. - Layer on hold. Action: A held key temporarily enables another set of assignments. Applications: Alternate ability panel, note octave, fine editing. Conditions: System Fn is frequently processed by the device; for the game layer, select an available key. Equipment: Regular keyboard. - Fixed mode. Action: Pressing toggles a whole set of assignments until the next switch. Application: Construction mode, camera control, command and text editor mode. Conditions: Caps Lock or Num Lock can be taken into account when supporting the platform, but this is an OS state. Equipment: Regular keyboard. - The command after the prefix. Action: A separate key temporarily switches the following presses to command mode. Application: Leader commands, accessing rarely used functions, selecting a school of magic. Conditions: Set a timeout and show an incomplete prefix. Equipment: Regular keyboard. - Variable compliance. Action: Assignments change as the game progresses. Application: Cursed keys, panel rearrangement, test of ability to relearn controls. Conditions: New match requires a readable hint or an honestly assigned memory task. Equipment: Regular keyboard. - Setting up controls like a mechanic. Action: The user himself assembles or rearranges assignments within the rule system. Application: Design a ship panel, optimize a workplace, assemble a robot controller. Conditions: Maintain the ability to restore a working circuit. Equipment: A regular keyboard. - Distinguishing identically labeled keys. Action: The main Enter and Enter of the digital block or the left and right Shift act differently. Application: Two independent levers, musical registers, commands for different characters. Conditions: Distinction and availability of keys depend on the device and API. Equipment: Regular keyboard. - Separate blocks as a function panel. Action: F-keys, number pad and available additional keys are given a separate role. Application: Soundpad, numeric keypad, instrument selection, sequencer transport. Conditions: Media keys and macro keys can be intercepted by the OS or issue normal remapped events. Hardware: Regular keyboard. ## Context and limits Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations. ## Connected materials ## Sources and provenance Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review. - [PowerToys Keyboard Manager](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager) (id: source-719540110f02454c) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors