With a lot of 60% keyboards it can be hard to access the arrow and navigation keys, so this is a guide how to add your own custom arrow keys with Karabiner Elements.
- Install Karabiner Elements
- Assign macOS Fn-key in simple modifications tab. You can use a different modifier key, but using the Fn-key avoids most remapping conflicts.
- Add a custom rule (shown below) as a json-file to
~/.config/karabiner/assets/complex_modifications - Enable custom rule in complex modifications tab.
- Done
Complex rule JSON file:
{
"title": "WASD & QE navigation keys",
"rules": [
{
"description": "Fn + W/A/S/D to Arrow Keys",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "w", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "fn" ], "optional": [ "any" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "up_arrow" } ]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "a", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "fn" ], "optional": [ "any" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "left_arrow" } ]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "s", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "fn" ], "optional": [ "any" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "down_arrow" } ]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "d", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "fn" ], "optional": [ "any" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "right_arrow" } ]
}
]
},
{
"description": "Control + W/A/S/D to Arrow Keys",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "w", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "control" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "up_arrow" } ]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "a", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "control" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "left_arrow" } ]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "s", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "control" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "down_arrow" } ]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "d", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "control" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "right_arrow" } ]
}
]
},
{
"description": "Fn + Q/E to pgup/pgdn",
"manipulators": [
{
"from": { "key_code": "q", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "fn" ], "optional": [ "any" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "page_up" } ],
"type": "basic"
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "e", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "fn" ], "optional": [ "any" ] }
},
"to": [ { "key_code": "page_down" } ]
}
]
},
{
"description": "FN + Shift + Q/E to Home/End",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "q", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "fn", "right_shift" ], "optional": [ "any" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "home" } ]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "e", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "fn", "right_shift" ], "optional": [ "any" ] } },
"to": [ { "key_code": "end" } ]
}
]
}
]
}