⌨️ Hotkeys
A huge shout-out to my friend @vlad-samp. Without him, implementing a low-level hook to intercept the Windows key wouldn't have been possible.
Global keyboard shortcuts.
{
"show_inputbar": "ctrl+space"
}
| Key | Description |
|---|---|
show_inputbar | Shortcut to show/hide InputBar |
How to write a shortcut
A shortcut is a string made of one or more keys joined by +.
{modifier} + {key}
{modifier} + {modifier} + {key}
{single key}
Examples:
"ctrl+space"
"ctrl+alt+p"
"alt+f1"
"f13"
"win"
"lwin+space"
Modifier keys
These are the keys you hold while pressing another.
| Value | Alias | Key |
|---|---|---|
ctrl | Ctrl (left or right) | |
lctrl | left ctrl | Left Ctrl only |
rctrl | right ctrl | Right Ctrl only |
| --- | --- | --- |
alt | Alt (left or right) | |
lalt | left alt | Left Alt only |
ralt | right alt | Right Alt only |
| --- | --- | --- |
shift | Shift (left or right) | |
lshift | left shift | Left Shift only |
rshift | right shift | Right Shift only |
| --- | --- | --- |
win | Windows key (left or right) ⚠️ | |
lwin | left win | Windows key (left only) ⚠️ |
rwin | right win | Windows key (right only) ⚠️ |
Aliases: Both forms are accepted and automatically normalised to the short form in
hotkeys.json.
Windows key: When
win,lwin, orrwinis part of the shortcut, InputBar automatically launches a background process (winkey_hook.exe) that intercepts the key at system level, preventing the Start Menu from opening. The process is completely invisible.
Regular keys
Combine these with a modifier, or use them alone.
Letters
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
Numbers (top row)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Function keys
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6
f7 f8 f9 f10 f11 f12
f13 f14 f15 f16 f17 f18 f19 f20
f13–f20are supported on extended keyboards. Useful for assigning InputBar without conflicting with anything.
Navigation & editing
| Value | Key |
|---|---|
space | Space bar |
tab | Tab |
enter | Enter |
backspace | Backspace |
delete | Delete |
insert | Insert |
home | Home |
end | End |
page up | Page Up |
page down | Page Down |
up | Arrow Up |
down | Arrow Down |
left | Arrow Left |
right | Arrow Right |
escape | Escape |
caps lock | Caps Lock |
print screen | Print Screen |
scroll lock | Scroll Lock |
pause | Pause / Break |
Numpad
| Value | Alias | Key |
|---|---|---|
num0 – num9 | numpad0 – numpad9 | Numpad 0 to 9 |
num+ | num + | Numpad + |
num- | num - | Numpad − |
num* | num * | Numpad × |
num/ | num / | Numpad ÷ |
num. | num . | Numpad . |
num enter | Numpad Enter |
Media keys (on supported keyboards)
| Value | Alias | Key |
|---|---|---|
play/pause | media play/pause | Play / Pause |
next track | media next track | Next track |
previous track | media prev track | Previous track |
stop | media stop | Stop |
volume up | Volume up | |
volume down | Volume down | |
volume mute | Mute |
Recommended shortcuts
| Shortcut | Notes |
|---|---|
ctrl+space | Default. Clean, rarely conflicts |
alt+space | Common launcher convention |
ctrl+alt+space | Safe if alt+space is taken |
f13 | Silent and conflict-free on extended keyboards |
win | Replaces the Start Menu entirely |
lwin+space | Windows key + Space — natural feel |