Remapping Function Keys F1-F12 to F13-F24 with Caps Lock

Remapping Function Keys F1-F12 to F13-F24 with Caps Lock

17 OCT 2022 | Ver. 2.1.0


Requirements

  • Windows 7 or newer
  • Autohotkey (For the source version)

Last update: 17 Oct 2022

Description

This application remaps the F1F12 keys to F13F24 when the Caps Lock key is pressed. Pressing the Caps Lock key again disables the remapping and restores the F1F12 keys’ default function.

Shift does not affect the remapping. For instance, if you press Shift+F1 while Caps Lock is enabled, the system will interpret it as Shift+F13.

This application is created and compiled using AutoHotKey.

Potential Uses

This script is compatible with any application that supports the additional function keys F13F24, such as:

  • DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) like Bitwig Studio, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, etc.
  • Graphic editors like Affinity Photo/Designer, Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, GIMP, Krita, Inkscape, etc.
  • Video editors like Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, etc.
  • CAD software like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, etc.
  • Broadcasting software like OBS, Streamlabs, etc.
  • Code editors like Visual Studio Code, Atom, etc.
  • Other AutoHotKey scripts
  • Most modern video games

Why I Made It

While the remapping is really simple and can be done in less than 20 lines of code, I wanted to create a script that covers many AutoHotkey functionalities that are often asked about on the official AutoHotkey Forum, Reddit, and Stack Overflow communities. I tried to comment on the script as much as possible without being too verbose. The scope of the source version is to be used as a reference for AutoHotkey beginners; the compiled version is for everyone to use.

Manual

Installation

The application doesn’t require installation. Simply download and run the .exe file appropriate for your system (32-bit or 64-bit).

How It Works

This application remaps the F1 to F12 keys to F13 to F24 when the Caps Lock key is pressed. Pressing the Caps Lock key again disables the remapping and restores the F1 to F12 keys’ default function.

Systray Icon Animation
Systray Icon Animation

Note:

Shift does not affect the remapping. For instance, if you press Shift+F1 while Caps Lock is enabled, the system will interpret it as Shift+F13.

Default Behavior

Caps Lock   Enable or disable the F13-F24 remapping.

When Caps Lock is enabled:

  • F1 to F12   Remapped to F13 to F24 respectively.

When Caps Lock is disabled:

  • F1 to F12   Function as normal F1 to F12 keys.

Tray Menu

When you start the application, a new icon will appear in the system tray. Right-clicking the icon opens a menu with the following option:

  • Help   Open a simple help dialog.
  • About   Opens the About dialog.
  • MIT License   Opens the License dialog.
  • Exit   Closes the application.

Enabling the F13-F24 Remapping

  1. Run the downloaded .exe file. The icon in the system tray near the clock will appear.
  2. Press Caps Lock to enable the remapping. Press it again to revert to the normal F1 to F12 keys.

The system tray icon will change color to indicate the current state:

  • When remapping is enabled, the icon will be violet.
  • When remapping is disabled, the icon will be green.

Testing the Application

You can test if the application is working correctly using this website: Key Test. Check the Last Key Pressed section to confirm if F13-F24 are being registered when Caps Lock is enabled.

Uninstalling

To uninstall the application, simply delete the .exe file. The application must be closed before it can be deleted.

For any further assistance or to report issues, please visit the GitHub repository.