[Run] Support single key press to open Run (e.g. caplock)

[khalido]

Launch PowerToys Run by pressing capslock

Make Capslock into a hyper key, ideally to launch PowerToys Run (or other uses as ppl see fit).

Advantages:

• save time: Alt-Space is two key presses, capslock is one.
• Capslock is obsolete. ChromeOS has already turned it into a search key so for kids using chromebooks in school it makes for an easier transition.

Note: I used the Keyboard Manager powertoy to remap capslock to another key, but its still not working to launch Run. Also tried remapping CapsLock to Alt-Space (in remap shortcuts) but that didn't work either.

[danbrakeley]

I also attempted to work around the issue using Keyboard Manager. I remapped CapsLock to F13, but PowerToys Run would not allow me to change the shortcut to just F13. It appears to require a modifier, ie Ctrl+F13.

[jyuwono]

Related to #3279

[crutkas]

This is being tracked by #2325 which is the larger work item.

[danbrakeley]

The fix for #2325 did not fix this ticket.

[crutkas]

Actually looks like we force a key and modifer. you could do caplock + ctrl.

[crutkas]

Good idea but not something we are viewing as stability effort for core team. If a community member wants to help out, I think we should have an approved list of keys maybe

[enricogior]

Related to #3957

[Unknown-Guy]

Upgraded to Win11, there's nothing in start menu I would want to click, so using Win key for Run now looks pretty attractive option to have.

[marklagendijk]

A terrible workaround is to remap the key you want to use to Alt + Space (the default run key combo).
It works, but the terrible part is that other key combo's with that key won't work.

Example:

• You can map Win to Alt + Space, and pressing Win pops up the run dialog.
• Other combo's such as Win + Arrow Key for managing window positions no longer work.

[derac]

I would use this program if I could replace the start menu with it while retaining the ability to use other windows key functions, such as win+left. This must be possible as there are a number of start mneh replacement apps.

[guplem]

Same for me, I keep "forgetting" that PowerToys Run exists because I after so many years of pressing "Win" to open a windows search I do it completely by instinct.

Adding a key remap with the Keyboard manager "is not a good idea" since then I can't use clipboard history since there is no way of linking the key remap to "on key up" instead of "on key down". So, every time I want to open clipboard history with Win+V i open PowerToys Run...

[carlreinke]

FWIW, you can currently set a single-key shortcut by editing "%localappdata%\Microsoft\PowerToys\PowerToys Run\settings.json" and restarting PowerToys.

• For caps lock, you can set "open_powerlauncher":{"win":false,"ctrl":false,"alt":false,"shift":false,"code":20,"key":""}, but everything you type into the search box will be in all caps unless you enable the "Use central keyboard hook" setting.
• For the Windows key, "open_powerlauncher":{"win":false,"ctrl":false,"alt":false,"shift":false,"code":91,"key":""}, but you must enable the "Use central keyboard hook" setting and all other shortcuts that involve the Windows key will no longer work.

[jantajov]

Any update for 2024?

[ravindUwU]

I'm using a little program that uses SharpHook to remap Win to Win+Space (which is my PowerToys Run activation shortcut) until this is resolved 😅.

https://github.com/ravindUwU/dotfiles/blob/aeba39b27dfde83f7da565ce427f2239f7df4ea0/cs/Dotfiles.RemapLWin/Program.cs#L34-L72

[ghosty141]

The most seemless way to make Win open run and not the startmenu is described in this comment. Also retains windows shortcuts!

[ebastler]

Any News on the original? I dislike needing 3 tools to do a job, so any AHK/Poweroys Keyboard Manager workaround is - at best - an ugly workaround.

I have a custom mechanical keyboard which I can easily set to send LGUI on hold and for example F13 on tap, which would be perfect - if I could launch Powertoys Run with a single button...

[AJolly]

The most seemless way to make Win open run and not the startmenu is described in this comment. Also retains windows shortcuts!
Except it shows powertoys run even when using other shortcuts. (triggers on jkeydown, not keyup)

[marypcbuk]

Without getting into any of the complex scripts and extra tools, I'm using a fairly simple workaround to get the Windows key to open PTR instead of the Start menu on my Windows 11 PC which seems to allow most of the Win key combo shortcuts to still work: I used PowerToys Keyboard Manager to remap the Windows key to send Alt-Space!

WARNING: if you hold down the Windows key and then press the rest of the keyboard shortcut like Win-R for normal Windows Run, you will see PTR and then the Run command, but if you press Win and R at the same time, you don't see PTR at all. it's a bit fiddly to do the simultaneous chords, which the more complex solutions may avoid, but I wanted to share it in case anyone else found it useful.