How to Turn the Caps Lock Key Into Something You’ll Actually Use

To repurpose the Caps Lock key into a more useful function on Windows, macOS, or Linux, you can use third-party tools or built-in system settings. Here are general guidelines for each operating system:

On Windows:

1. Using Registry Editor:
   • Open the Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter.
   • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout.
   • Right-click on the right pane, choose New, and select Binary Value.
   • Name it Scancode Map and set its value data to 00000000 00000000 0200000000 3A00 00000000.
   Note: Modifying the registry can have consequences, so proceed with caution. Backup your registry before making changes.

On macOS:

1. Using System Preferences:
   • Open System Preferences and go to Keyboard.
   • Click on the Modifier Keys button.
   • From the dropdown next to “Caps Lock,” choose a new action or select “No Action” to disable it.

On Linux (Ubuntu example):

1. Using Xmodmap:
   • Open a terminal and run xmodmap -e "remove lock = Caps_Lock".
   • To bind another key to Caps Lock, you can use a command like xmodmap -e "keycode 66 = BackSpace" (replace BackSpace with the desired key).

Third-Party Tools:

• Windows: SharpKeys
  • SharpKeys is a free, open-source tool that allows you to remap keys on your Windows keyboard.
  • Download and install SharpKeys, then follow the on-screen instructions.
• macOS: Karabiner-Elements
  • Karabiner-Elements is a powerful keyboard customization tool for macOS.
  • Download and install Karabiner-Elements, then configure key mappings in the app.
• Linux: xmodmap and xev
  • Use xev to find the keycode for the Caps Lock key.
  • Create a script to run the xmodmap command with the desired remapping.

Always exercise caution when using third-party tools or modifying system settings. Ensure that any changes made align with your preferences and won’t interfere with normal system operation.