Free
Absolutely Free
Karabiner Elements overview
Karabiner Elements (earlier was Karabiner, and even earlier was KeyRemap4MacBook) is powerful and stable keyboard customizer for macOS.
Features:
- Simple Modifications: Map normal keys to arbitrary key functions
- Complex Modifications: Map keys by complex rules. e.g., key to modifiers, modifiers+key to key, send key event if pressed alone, etc
- Function Keys: Map function keys to arbitrary key functions
- Devices: Apply modifications to specified keyboards only
- Profiles: Support the creation of multiple profiles that the user can switch between
- Modifier Flag Sync:Synchronize modifier flags across all connected keyboards
- Secure Keyboard Entry Support:Work well on Secure Keyboard Entry environment such as a password prompt, terminal with Secure Keyboard Entry, etc
What’s new in version 14.13.0
Updated on Dec 11 2023
Important Notes
- A reboot is required when upgrading from version 14.12.0 or earlier, to update the virtual keyboard driver.
New Features
- Palm detection is supported in MultitouchExtension. (Thanks to @quarkw)
- Use Bluetooth address (Bluetooth MAC address) is used to identify the device when the Bluetooth device does not have Vendor ID and Product ID. (Thanks to @stackia)
- Add the following settings into Devices tab: Flip mouse X, Flip mouse Y, Flip mouse vertical wheel, Flip mouse horizontal wheel, Swap mouse X and Y, Swap mouse wheels
- Gamepad support (DirectInput devices are supported. Xinput is not supported at all)
- Added "Add your own rule" button into Complex Modifications settings.
- The json content of Complex Modifications can now be changed via the Edit button.
- Added "Move item to top" and "Move item to bottom" into the context menu of the Complex Modifications list.
- Add the following options to karabiner_cli, --format-json, --eval-js, --silent
- Changes for users who write their own json: The device_address condition has been added into device_if and device_unless. (Thanks to @stackia). Added key_up_value to set_variable. Added mouse_basic manipulator.
Improvements
- Added the ability to filter by keywords when adding Complex Modifications rules.
- Adjusted the position of the Add rule button in Complex Modifications. (Thanks to @GanZhiXiong)
- MultitouchExtension has been rewritten in Swift.
Information
App requirements
- Intel 64
- Apple Silicon
- macOS 11 or later
Try our new feature and write a detailed review about Karabiner Elements. All reviews will be posted soon.
What customer like
User Experience
Performance
Customization
What needs improvements
Support
(0 Reviews of )
There are no reviews yet
Comments
User Ratings
Jan 7 2022
Version: 14.3.0
Trying to swap the fn and left_ctrl keys on my new Logitech MX Mini but it's not working… Like, nothing changes. Any tips?
Nov 5 2021
Version: 14.2.0
It would be great if it worked. My fn key and touchbar are completely messed up, it shows F-keys but when pressed it actually adjusts sounds/screen so it is obviously not running the F-keys.
Sep 7 2021
Version: 13.7.0
UNINSTALLING & UPDATING: Karabiner Elements is ODD in that it root locks its two apps such that no administrator can unlock them and therefore cannot toss them into the Trash for removal. BE NOT AFRAID! If you go into the 'Misc' tab inside the app, you'll find you can 'Uninstall' from there, and it works. You'll also find under that tab the 'Update' option, which will also work, despite the app being root locked. Yes, this is unheard of in my long Mac experience! But the app itself provides access to both options.
Mar 16 2021
Version: 13.3.0
Thanks Tony, being locked out from removing the app scares the hell out of me. I followed your tip, but now I have 2 remnants folders and apps I can't delete, but zero bytes, so no problem. However, after restarting I still have 4 (or maybe 5) Karabiner processes running: Karabiner-DriverKit-VirtualHIDDeviceClient
karabiner_grabber
karabiner_observer
karabiner_session_monitor and maybe kdc
Who knows what they're up to?
Mar 14 2021
Version: 13.3.0
Version 12.10.1
Good for my simple needs:
1. Right Option Key -> Control key
2. Touchbar function key changes: With fn key down:
f10-> sound off, f11-> sound volume down slider; , f12 -> sound volume up slider
f8-> brightness down slider f9-> brightness up slider
That said, I won't be updating to 13.10 as, according to the What's New list, the app will no longer change touchbar function keys.
Nov 17 2020
Version: 13.1.0
Can this program remap the "Office key" on a Microsoft keyboard to a "right command key"?
Jun 21 2020
Version: 12.9.0
Coming from a Linux/Windows background, switching to a Macbook pro was really difficult for me becuase the keyboard shortcuts were really hard to get used to.
In particular, when I had to switch between Remote Desktop and RemoteViewer (Spice) to access my other enviornments keyboard shortcuts were all messed up b/c of muscle memory on what keys I hit.
So glad I found Karabiner Elements, having the ability to re-map keys (by application, by which keyboard I had plugged in) has been an absolute game changer. It's turned my Mac experience from mildly annoying to almost enjoyable!
Jun 8 2020
Version: 12.9.0
I'm an electrical engineer who's been writing software for over 40 years, so it's hard to come up with anything that confuses me. On the other hand, I think a non-technical person could get overwhelmed by this utility. That being said, I can't live without this. I use Parallels VM manager with Windows and Linux on my MAC and I need the mapping control. The ability to program the rocker buttons on my Logitech trackball to slide between Mac desktops is addictive.
May 3 2020
Version: 12.9.0
for non technical person it is very easy and fast to use. the software comes with online resources to download without much configuration. i installed and download the "halfqwerty" configuration within the app and got it working in less than 5 minutes!
Apr 25 2020
Version: 12.9.0
Agreed with last poster. Impossible to install unless you do it at the command level. It's locked on install and no way to unlock it. I was going into the Contents folder of the app (right click on the app > Show Package Contents) and found everything there was locked too. I literally Got Info on every item, added myself to Permissions and then gave myself Read/Write privileges so I could at least delete those files. But I couldn't delete the app itself until I found this site: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/362662/how-to-delete-a-locked-app
It seemed to work (the app icons were gone from the Applications folder) but if it was running before you uninstalled it, look at your status bar at top. I noticed that despite uninstalling it, it was open and active in the status bar. Found another page dealing with that issue: https://github.com/pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements/issues/459
All in all, if an app makes it this hard to uninstall, I'm 100% suspicious. Install at your own risk. I hope I got everything off!
Oct 18 2019
Version: 12.7.0
Using IBM Model M keyboard with 2019 Macbook pro. Needed Karabiner to create a keyboard mapping for "command" key. Sacrificed F5/F6 to left/right command keys; works. I'm not using complex mappings, but for this simple, but essential mapping, no issues.
Jul 9 2019
Version: 12.5.0
I would recommend that unless you are a very experienced Mac user you steer clear - this software may do what it says it will do re keyboard remapping, but when it comes time you dont want it on your system anymore, good luck! The app is installed with something called an Immutable Flag. it will ask permission to bypass your security settings, install itself, locked, and almost nothing you can do as a User will allow you to get rid of it. I had log in as a Root user and then use several Terminal commands to change the locked flag just to allow me to delete it.
Jun 10 2019
Version: 12.5.0
Recommended! Highly useful and versatile key mapper - I have mapped the back slash to a forward delete function on my MacBook's keyboard. Huge numbers of options for any remapping you want to do to customise your work flow. 5 stars!
Apr 18 2019
Version: 12.2.0
Skip 12.2.0 if you have a 15-inch 2018 MacBook Pro. On mine, 12.2.0 disabled the keyboard backlight and at one point completely disabled the keyboard until I restarted. There are similar reports from several others on Github.
Nov 12 2017
Version: 10.22.0
The developer has now released version 11 of Karabiner and it works on macOS High Sierra! I am looking forward to trying it out, as it used to be one of my indispensable apps.
Jun 15 2017
Version: 10.22.0
This was great, until OSx 10.12. Has this been updated to work properly with Sierra (10.12)? :-(
Oct 6 2016
Version: 10.21.0
I hear switch fn and ctrl_l is impossible from some anwser on stack overflow. But it well done with this app.
Jul 12 2016
Version: 10.21.0
1. How do you use Karabiner to map the keys of a gamepad?
2. How do you make Karabiner map the button under the scroll wheel to the play/pause button on the keyboard so you can play or pause a song just by depressing the button under the scroll wheel?
Free
Absolutely Free
Similar apps
Mocha Keyboard
Use your mac as a keyboard for iOS and android devices.
Is this app is similar to Mocha Keyboard? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
1
Upvotes
1
Total score
0
Downvotes
Remap Keyboard
Modify keys on your Mac keyboard.
Is this app is similar to Remap Keyboard? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
1
Upvotes
1
Total score
0
Downvotes