Powertoys: Key remaps not working on Google Chrome

[TheSimArchitect]

ℹ Computer information

• PowerToys version: 0.23.2
• PowerToy Utility: Keyboard Manager
• Running PowerToys as Admin: Yes
• Windows build number: [run "winver"] 20236

📝 Provide detailed reproduction steps (if any)

1. Remap Keys on Powertoys
2. Try to use them while operating on Google Chrome

✔️ Expected result

If I remap my search key, for example, to be Ctrl + F instead of the default behavior, I expect that to also apply when using Google Chrome, but Chrome overrides it no matter which settings I use on its advanced settings.

❌ Actual result

Keys behave as if there was no remap.

📷 Screenshots

[mykhailopylyp]

@TheSimArchitect
Could you please provide the exact keys that do not work for you? Screen from Keyboard Manager would be great.

[TheSimArchitect]

Browser Search Keys, Browser Next, Browser Previous

The Menu Key (besides right Alt) remapping works normally, though.

My keyboard is the one in the image (MS Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000)

Sometimes Browser Previous and Browser Next behave as expected (remapped), but the Browser Find key always opens Windows Search instead of sending a Ctrl F, sadly.

The key binding works normally on Notepad ++, for example (Ctrl F as expected).

[arjunbalgovind]

@TheSimArchitect when you press the Search key in Remap Shortcuts -> Type button what does it show? I don't have the exact keyboard you have, but I have the Ergonomic Desktop keyboard and when I click the Search key on that it shows Win+Shift+F21, which means it is not a Browser Search key, its a Windows Search key which is internally a shortcut and not a real key (like the Office key). Can you check what does it show for you?

[TheSimArchitect]

The key bindings above were produced by using the key.

Power toys shows "Browser Search" when I use the key and the functionality works as expected on other apps like Notepad ++, but Chrome is bypassing PowerToys and sending the regular "Windows Search" command to the operating system as you mention instead, when it has the focus.

Ironically enough, Chrome is the very place where I need to use the key binding more often, since I have some repetitive tasks that require me to use Ctrl + F and using that key would be much faster.

[mykhailopylyp]

On my keyboard search key is the Browser Search key as well.
Remapping Browser Search -> Ctrl F works for me.

[mykhailopylyp]

@TheSimArchitect
Just to clarify you get Browser Search key by clicking on the 'Type' button and then type your search key, right?

Could you try remapping Browser Search -> Ctrl Q and verify if it works for Chrome?

[TheSimArchitect]

Yes. And it does work everywhere except on Google Chrome (from what I tried this far).

It's totally ok, though, I wanted you to know about the bug. I am partially stuck with Chrome because most of my audience uses it, otherwise I'd probably have moved on to another browser...

Same thing with Ctrl Q

Same thing with either left or right control

Same thing with Alt F

No matter what I try, if I am trying to use it on Chrome Windows Search Windows will show up instead.

[arjunbalgovind]

@mykhailopylyp were you able to check if the remapping works for you on Chrome? I don't have a Browser Search key so I can't test this out. The only thing I was able to do was remap a key to Browser Search and validate that works on both Edge and Chrome.

@TheSimArchitect so on Chrome if you just press Browser Search (unremapped) it works fine? Can you send the list of all your remappings? Since you are saying it happens if you remap Browser Search to pretty much anything Win Search shows up, it's possible that maybe Chrome internally sends a key event for one of the other keys that you have remapped which in turn shows Chrome. Could you try removing all your remappings except the Browser Search one and see if it still doesn't work?

[mykhailopylyp]

@arjunbalgovind
I can not reproduce it.

[enricogior]

@TheSimArchitect
are you running Chrome in dev mode or do you have any special extension that might be interfering?

[TheSimArchitect]

I use this version of Chrome.
I don't have any special extension that should interfere.
I will uninstall Chrome Dev and install Chrome Beta Instead.
Also, I don't know why it says my browser is managed, it wasn't like that before. I think that doing some stuff to make ublock block ads on twitch yesterday messed things up a bit (unrelated to this issue but I thought it was relevant to share, so you don't think it was "managed" before, when the problem was already present).

[TheSimArchitect]

So... Chrome Beta SOMETIMES Works but now it's weirdly opening the "Find Computers" window. Weird! It worked the first time I used it, then I opened github to let you know about it, then it is acting up like that.

At same time it starts speech recognition (or closes it up, as if it were an on off toggle for that)

Same settings as before as seen above.

[mykhailopylyp]

@TheSimArchitect
Could you please try the following scenario?

• Delete all remappings except Browser Search -> Ctrl + F
• Start chrome(or restart it) and verify if remapping works. Verify it on the blank tab as well.
• Turn off the Keyboard manager. It can be done in settings.
• Return to chrome and press the Browser Search key. What is the behavior? From what I know it should focus Search google or url box.
• Turn on the Keyboard manager
• Return to chrome and verify if remappings work. Verify it on a blank tab as well.
• Send us files from C:\Users\{UserName}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\Keyboard Manager folder. Replace {UserName} by your system name.

[TheSimArchitect]

I think I found the cause!

It's a conflict between Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center taking over the key stroke processing.

I just formatted my computer and before I installed it, the key binding for the search key was working properly, then it became broken after I installed it.

A workaround is to set up the macro for the key direcly on Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center instead.

Can't avoid having Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center installed because the = ( and ) above the numpad won't work anywhere without it.

[mykhailopylyp]

After installing Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center my browser search key started triggering windows search. And it triggers it for all programs not just for Chrome. It is a compatibility issue.

[enricogior]

@TheSimArchitect
thanks for the information, added to https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/wiki/Application-Compatibility#keyboard-manager

[TheSimArchitect]

Thank you very much! I am very glad that I could find the cause, so other users facing the same problem know what to do or at least what's happening. 😇