Disable or Reassign Keys with PowerToys Keyboard Manager

Are you tired of spawning a web search for “how to get help” when you accidentally brush the F1 key? Or are you like me and get annoyed if Scroll-Lock or Overtype (insert mode) get turned on? Here’s how to nullify these keys easily with Microsoft’s PowerToys’s Keyboard Manager utility.

The Keyboard Manager utility allows one to remap keys and shortcut combinations on their keyboard. You can use this, for example, to change the position of keys on your keyboard (press the left “Ctrl” but have it function as a press of the “Alt” key for example).

In this use case, I use Keyboard Manager to nullify keys that I do not want to function like F1, Scroll Lock, and Insert. I never use these keys purposefully; all of them lead to undesired operation in my workflow: F1 spawns an unhelpful websearch, Scroll Lock causes me headaches in spreadsheets, and Insert turns on overtype mode which I personally never want.

My method to nullify these nuisance keys is to simply remap them to an inert key: the Shift key. After remapping, they will be seen my computer as if I had pressed Shift. While I would never actually type a capital letter by holding down F1, Insert, or Scroll Lock and typing a letter — that would be exactly what would happen if I did — I’m merely using this so that the regular function of these keys is rendered inaccessible.

It may go without saying, but if you need to use the F1 key for any legitimate purpose, this setup isn’t for you. Although in the incredibly rare case that I need to open the Help directory for a program, I would just use the on-screen help menu instead of F1.

Here’s how to accomplish this task, using F1 as my example.

1. Install PowerToys and open the program.
2. Choose Keyboard Manger section, and ensure it is enabled.
3. Click Remap a Key button.
4. On the left, either select F1 in the list, or click the “Type” button and type the F1 key yourself.
5. On the right, either select “Shift” in the list, or click the “Type” button and type the Shift key yourself.
6. To remap additional keys, click the + button and repeat steps 4 & 5.
7. When done, click OK to save your settings. You’ll get a warning that the original keys are no longer accessible (exactly what we want), so confirm the warning.

Once you click OK to save your choices, a summary of the remapped keys will be reflected in the PowerToys Settings window as shown here:

Now pressing any of these keys will result in a sweet blissful nothing.