Karabiner-Elements
Remap any key on your Mac keyboard
MacFree, open source
The verdict
Caps Lock wastes one of the best spots on your keyboard, and macOS only lets you remap a handful of modifier keys. Karabiner-Elements remaps anything, from a simple swap in its settings to community rules for Vim-style arrows, mouse keys or blocking an accidental Command-Q. It is free and public domain but fiddly, and if you only want Caps Lock as an extra modifier, Hyperkey is simpler.
Get it if
You want Caps Lock or another key you never press to do something useful, like Vim-style arrows.
Skip it if
You only want to swap Control and Command, which System Settings handles without extra software.
Screenshots 3
What it helps you do
- Make Caps Lock do something useful
- Move the cursor with Vim-style keys
- Stop quitting apps by accident with Command-Q
- Control the mouse pointer from the keyboard
What changed
Added to The Useful Apps
Pick something else if
HyperkeyPick it if you build custom shortcuts and only want Caps Lock turned into an extra modifier key.Free
HomerowPick this if you want to click buttons and links from the keyboard, for $49.99 once.$49.99 once
KlackPick this if you miss the sound of a mechanical keyboard while typing on a MacBook.$4.99 once
Karabiner-Elements head to head
The details
- Runs on
- Mac
- Version
- 16.3.0
- Open source
- Code is public
Developer's websiteSpot a wrong price or fact?