Remapping shortcuts to include a remapped key works inconsistently

[soliton-bryenton]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.66.0

Installation method

PowerToys auto-update

Running as admin

Yes

Area(s) with issue?

Keyboard Manager

Steps to reproduce

Recently discovered PowerToys and it is a godsend for someone who runs a mac at home but a windows computer at work.

For consistency and ergonomics I much prefer the location of the command key for functions rather than using control as it is on windows. I've swapped my keycaps around to order windows / alt / control, and done the same inside of PowerToys. Amazing! However this results in the alt + tab functionality that I use a ton being a bit more out of reach (and inconsistent with the mac command + tab). When swapping control + tab > alt + tab, and vice versa - sometimes it will work and sometimes it will not.

Upon initial setup the first time using PowerToys everything was great. Then all of a sudden (perhaps some specific app is override keyboard settings?) I lost my alt + tab rebind.
Disabling and re-enabling keyboard manager did not resolve the issue, but restarting my computer brought back the functionality. However after a bit it was gone again.
Restarting PowerToys will bring back the functionality as well.

I am running as administrator.

I'll test with the applications I have on my computer to try to find what might be overriding if that's the case. However I thought I'd post first as I generally have a multitude of apps open at the same time for development.

✔️ Expected Behavior

Control + tab sends command for alt + tab on repositioned alt/control keys.

❌ Actual Behavior

Alt + tab remapping is overidden and returns to functionality as if remap never took place (individual key remaps continue to work as expected)

Other Software

No response

[soliton-bryenton]

As of so far I have yet to find any consistent repro steps. However I have found another keybind that "loses" it's binding.
I've bound Ctrl + Shift + 4 > Win + Shift + S, as that's the mac shortcut for the equivalent snipping tool. When I lose the ability to ctrl + tab I also lose this functionality.

[Jay-o-Way]

Looks like the Keys and the Shortcuts are conflicting. Since one needs to press a few keys to type a shortcut. Key remappings are maintained, even "inside shortcuts". Maybe there's another app that can help you for this specific case, for example Microsoft Power Automate, or AutoHotkey?

[soliton-bryenton]

When you say conflicting do you mean that the app itself is running into conflicts or that I've mapped something incorrectly?
My understanding was that remapping of individual keys took precedence, meaning that if I'd remapped windows to alt. Any remapped shortcuts including alt would only activate when they receive the "input call" for alt, which should now be originating from the windows key location.

I've thought about AutoHotkey as well, and can definitely set that up without issue. I was just very attracted to PowerToys thanks to all the other additions that are included (PowerToys Run is insane with how much better it is than the default windows search)

The thing that led me to believe that perhaps it was something getting into conflict with the app (or potentially a PowerToys bug) was that it will work for a set period of time, but then eventually (still no consistent repro) will stop until a PowerToys restart.

Again if I have misunderstood something, my apologies. But from reading the documentation I gathered my above assumption. :)

[soliton-bryenton]

I should also mention that the individual key remaps continue to work. So for my use case I have swapped the alt key to control. All the usual ctrl + c / ctrl + t / etc. continue to work after the loss of functionality for the above mentioned shortcut rebinds.

[lwqisme]

same issue as yours

I should also mention that the individual key remaps continue to work. So for my use case I have swapped the alt key to control. All the usual ctrl + c / ctrl + t / etc. continue to work after the loss of functionality for the above mentioned shortcut rebinds.↳

[kvervo]

Having the same issue. Had it for years now. Raised today #36334 to discover there was already this issue.

Noticed I moved from AutoHotkey of the same reason.

Happy to provide any logs or debugging information for this issue to be solved.

[creative-resort]

In my case, deactivating and re-enabling the Keyboard Manager successfully re-applies the shortcuts, only for it to stop working after a single shortcut use.

It doesn't matter in which application I am when pressing a configured key combination. Once the shortcut has been used, the functionality is "spent" and none of the shortcuts work anymore.

Windows 11

[vttale]

I don't quite get why issues that people are reporting with straight mapping doesn't involve remapping shortcuts are being duped to here. If the PT team has insights as to how they are the same issue, it would be great to see an explanation to that end.

For example, my Caps Lock to Control remapping randomly stops working, and that's the only remapping I have.