How to Remap Only Right Command Key (But Leave Left Command Key Same)?

Questions & Suggestions
1

Hello,

How can I remap only the right-command-key, such that if I press it down it activates another key combination like Command-Option-A.

The left command key should remain a normal command key.

I don't use the right-command-key much and I would like to repurpose it. In fact, I want to do this with the right option key too.

Thanks.

2

You might find your answer on this thread. It appears to be a very similar question.

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3

I think the best tool for this purpose is Karabiner-Elements.

I set the Left ⌥ to Right ⌥ for an input method need and set Right ⌥ to a mouse key as a KM trigger. This way, I can also use the other Right Modifier keys in combination with the physical Right ⌥ key as KM triggers.

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4

Keyboard Maestro's USB Device Key Trigger works just fine for me.

Although Karabiner-Elements gets this done at a lower level than Keyboard Maestro (or so I think).

-Chris

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5

The USB Device key trigger is best if we use it to trigger macros and limit to a specific device.

Karabiner-Elements can do more if we want to have more options, for example:

  1. In addition to limiting the remapping to a specific device, it can also remap the keys for all devices. This is useful for multiple keyboards.
  2. As shown in my previous post, If we remap a modifier key to a non-modifier key (or a mouse button), we can use it to work with the other modifier keys as KM triggers.
  3. As shown in my previous post, I can remap a modifier key to another modifier key (Left ⌥ to Right ⌥). I'm not sure KM can do it.
3 Likes
6

thank you community, for your prompt advice!

1 Like
7

Does it not work only for external keyboards?

8

I don't use mouse at all. Is it still achievable somehow?

9

Nyet. It works fine for me on both my MacBook Air's internal keyboard and my external Apple Magic keyboard.

This is easy to test...

10

So I tried and I could make KM to differentiate left command key from right command key.

Screen Shot 2022-12-16 at 20.27.16
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The problem is, I am not being able to figure out how do I use this in combination of another key.
For instance, I wish to trigger macro 1 with left command + A and wish to trigger macro 2 with right command + A.

11

@fluid_eye Km can't do that. You need karabiner or BTT. BTT is better because the app offers more in other areas. But karabiner is free.

What is possible with KM: ⌘+a or ⌘+a+a or long press ⌘+a. It does not matter whether left or right cmd. This works with a multipress macro.