diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 3ed0a54ed..f23a61cd2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ jobs:
           key: 0_${{ steps.set_cache.outputs.cache_name }}_${{ hashFiles('reqs/constraints.txt', 'reqs/dist.txt', 'reqs/dist_extra_gui_qt.txt', 'reqs/test.txt') }}
 
       - name: Install system dependencies
-        run: apt_get_install cmake libdbus-1-dev libdbus-glib-1-dev libudev-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev libegl-dev libxkbcommon-x11-0
+        run: apt_get_install libdbus-1-dev libdbus-glib-1-dev libudev-dev libegl-dev libxkbcommon-x11-0
 
       - name: Setup Python environment
         run: setup_python_env -c reqs/constraints.txt -r reqs/dist.txt -r reqs/dist_extra_gui_qt.txt -r reqs/test.txt        
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ jobs:
           key: 0_${{ steps.set_cache.outputs.cache_name }}_${{ hashFiles('reqs/constraints.txt', 'reqs/build.txt', 'reqs/setup.txt', 'reqs/dist_*.txt', 'linux/appimage/deps.sh') }}
 
       - name: Install system dependencies
-        run: apt_get_install cmake libdbus-1-dev libdbus-glib-1-dev libudev-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev libegl-dev libxkbcommon-x11-0
+        run: apt_get_install libdbus-1-dev libdbus-glib-1-dev libudev-dev libegl-dev libxkbcommon-x11-0
 
       - name: Setup Python environment
         run: setup_python_env -c reqs/constraints.txt -r reqs/build.txt -r reqs/setup.txt        
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci/workflow_template.yml b/.github/workflows/ci/workflow_template.yml
index ba9756543..7d6df7e85 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci/workflow_template.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci/workflow_template.yml
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ jobs:
       <% endif %>
       <% if j.type in ['build', 'test_gui_qt'] and j.os == 'Linux' %>
       - name: Install system dependencies
-        run: apt_get_install cmake libdbus-1-dev libdbus-glib-1-dev libudev-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev libegl-dev libxkbcommon-x11-0
+        run: apt_get_install libdbus-1-dev libdbus-glib-1-dev libudev-dev libegl-dev libxkbcommon-x11-0
 
       <% endif %>
       <% if j.type != 'notarize' %>
diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
index 57ff66b51..88398ea4a 100644
--- a/MANIFEST.in
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ include test/*.py
 include test/gui_qt/*.py
 include tox.ini
 include windows/*
-exclude dev/*
 exclude .pre-commit-config.yaml
 # without first including it, exluding .readthedocs.yml results in a warning when running locally
 include .readthedocs.yml
diff --git a/dev/build_hidapi.sh b/dev/build_hidapi.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index c209b64ca..000000000
--- a/dev/build_hidapi.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,158 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-set -euo pipefail
-
-# Build hidapi library locally for development.
-#
-# Usage:
-#   ./dev/macos_dev_setup.sh
-#   MACOS_UNIVERSAL2=0 ./dev/build_hidapi.sh      # macOS: don't build universal2
-#
-# Resulting libs:
-#   macOS:   build/local-hidapi/macos/lib/libhidapi*.dylib
-#   Linux:   build/local-hidapi/linux/lib/libhidapi-hidraw.so
-#   Windows: build/local-hidapi/windows/bin/hidapi.dll
-
-. ./plover_build_utils/deps.sh
-. ./plover_build_utils/functions.sh
-
-python='python'
-
-MACOS_UNIVERSAL2="${MACOS_UNIVERSAL2:-1}"
-
-# Resolve repo root relative to this script
-SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd -- "$(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
-REPO_ROOT="$(cd -- "${SCRIPT_DIR}/.." && pwd)"
-
-WORK_DIR="${REPO_ROOT}/build/local-hidapi"
-SRC_DIR="${WORK_DIR}/src"
-BUILD_DIR="${WORK_DIR}/build"
-OUT_LIB_DIR_MAC="${WORK_DIR}/macos/lib"
-OUT_LIB_DIR_LNX="${WORK_DIR}/linux/lib"
-OUT_BIN_DIR_WIN="${WORK_DIR}/windows/bin"
-
-# Clean and prep
-# Prepare directories 
-mkdir -p "${SRC_DIR}" "${BUILD_DIR}"
-
-OS="$(uname -s || true)"
-# If outputs already exist for the current platform, skip rebuilding.
-if [[ "${OS}" == "Darwin" ]]; then
-  if ls "${OUT_LIB_DIR_MAC}"/libhidapi*.dylib >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    echo "hidapi found at ${OUT_LIB_DIR_MAC}; skipping build."
-    exit 0
-  fi
-elif [[ "${OS}" == "Linux" ]]; then
-  if ls "${OUT_LIB_DIR_LNX}"/libhidapi-hidraw.so* >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    echo "hidapi found at ${OUT_LIB_DIR_LNX}; skipping build."
-    exit 0
-  fi
-elif [[ "${OS}" == MINGW* || "${OS}" == MSYS* || "${OS}" == CYGWIN* || "${OS}" == "Windows_NT" ]]; then
-  if [ -f "${OUT_BIN_DIR_WIN}/hidapi.dll" ]; then
-    echo "hidapi found at ${OUT_BIN_DIR_WIN}/hidapi.dll; skipping build."
-    exit 0
-  fi
-fi
-
-# Clean and prep for a fresh build
-rm -rf "${SRC_DIR}" "${BUILD_DIR}"
-mkdir -p "${SRC_DIR}" "${BUILD_DIR}"
-
-echo "==> Downloading & unpacking hidapi ${hidapi_version}"
-fetch_hidapi "${SRC_DIR}" "${WORK_DIR}"
-
-
-if [[ "${OS}" == "Darwin" ]]; then
-  echo "==> Configuring (macOS, IOHIDManager backend)"
-
-  # Shared fetch/build helpers (macOS)
-  # shellcheck disable=SC1091
-  . "${REPO_ROOT}/osx/build_hidapi.sh"
-
-  mkdir -p "${OUT_LIB_DIR_MAC}"
-  # Architectures
-  if [[ "${MACOS_UNIVERSAL2}" == "1" ]]; then
-    OSX_ARCHES="x86_64;arm64"
-  else
-    ARCH="$(uname -m || true)"
-    if [[ "${ARCH}" == "arm64" || "${ARCH}" == "aarch64" ]]; then
-      OSX_ARCHES="arm64"
-    else
-      OSX_ARCHES="x86_64"
-    fi
-  fi
-
-  cmake_build_macos "${SRC_DIR}" "${BUILD_DIR}" "${OSX_ARCHES}" "RelWithDebInfo"
-
-  # Find produced dylib
-  DYLIB="$(/usr/bin/find "${BUILD_DIR}" -type f -name 'libhidapi*.dylib' -print -quit || true)"
-  if [[ -z "${DYLIB}" ]]; then
-    echo "Error: libhidapi*.dylib not found in build output." >&2
-    exit 3
-  fi
-
-  BASENAME="$(basename "${DYLIB}")"
-  echo "==> Staging ${BASENAME}"
-  cp -f "${DYLIB}" "${OUT_LIB_DIR_MAC}/${BASENAME}"
-
-  pushd "${OUT_LIB_DIR_MAC}" >/dev/null
-  ln -sf "${BASENAME}" libhidapi.dylib || true
-  popd >/dev/null
-
-  echo
-  echo "✅ Built macOS hidapi at: ${OUT_LIB_DIR_MAC}/${BASENAME}"
-
-elif [[ "${OS}" == "Linux" ]]; then
-  echo "==> Configuring (Linux, hidraw backend)"
-  mkdir -p "${OUT_LIB_DIR_LNX}"
-
-  # Shared fetch/build helpers (Linux)
-  # shellcheck disable=SC1091
-  . "${REPO_ROOT}/linux/build_hidapi.sh"
-
-  cmake_build_linux "${SRC_DIR}" "${BUILD_DIR}" "RelWithDebInfo"
-
-  SO="$(/usr/bin/find "${BUILD_DIR}" -type f -name 'libhidapi-hidraw.so*' -print -quit || true)"
-  if [[ -z "${SO}" ]]; then
-    echo "Error: libhidapi-hidraw.so not found in build output." >&2
-    exit 3
-  fi
-
-  BASENAME="$(basename "${SO}")"
-  echo "==> Staging ${BASENAME}"
-  cp -f "${SO}" "${OUT_LIB_DIR_LNX}/${BASENAME}"
-
-  pushd "${OUT_LIB_DIR_LNX}" >/dev/null
-  [[ -e libhidapi-hidraw.so ]] || ln -sf "${BASENAME}" libhidapi-hidraw.so || true
-  popd >/dev/null
-
-  echo
-  echo "✅ Built Linux hidapi at: ${OUT_LIB_DIR_LNX}/${BASENAME}"
-
-elif [[ "${OS}" == MINGW* || "${OS}" == MSYS* || "${OS}" == CYGWIN* || "${OS}" == "Windows_NT" ]]; then
-  echo "==> Configuring (Windows, WinAPI backend)"
-  mkdir -p "${OUT_BIN_DIR_WIN}"
-
-  # Shared fetch/build helpers (Windows)
-  # shellcheck disable=SC1091
-  . "${REPO_ROOT}/windows/build_hidapi.sh"
-
-  # Build shared DLL
-  cmake_build_windows "${SRC_DIR}" "${BUILD_DIR}" "Release"
-
-  # Find the produced DLL (varies by generator)
-  DLL="$(/usr/bin/find "${BUILD_DIR}" -type f \( -iname 'hidapi*.dll' -o -iname 'libhidapi*.dll' \) -print -quit 2>/dev/null || true)"
-  if [[ -z "${DLL}" ]]; then
-    echo "Error: hidapi DLL not found in build output." >&2
-    exit 3
-  fi
-
-  BASENAME="$(basename "${DLL}")"
-  echo "==> Staging ${BASENAME}"
-  cp -f "${DLL}" "${OUT_BIN_DIR_WIN}/hidapi.dll"
-
-  echo
-  echo "✅ Built Windows hidapi at: ${OUT_BIN_DIR_WIN}/hidapi.dll"
-else
-  echo "Unsupported OS: ${OS}. This helper currently supports macOS, Linux, and Windows." >&2
-  exit 4
-fi
diff --git a/dev/write_hidapi_pth.py b/dev/write_hidapi_pth.py
deleted file mode 100644
index a8513c396..000000000
--- a/dev/write_hidapi_pth.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-"""
-Write a .pth into site-packages that adds the local hidapi bin dir
-to the DLL search path on Windows via os.add_dll_directory.
-
-Usage (optional): write_hidapi_pth.py <repo_dir> <env_sitepackages_dir>
-"""
-
-import sys
-from pathlib import Path
-
-
-def main(argv: list[str]) -> int:
-    if sys.platform != "win32":
-        # No-op outside Windows.
-        return 0
-
-    if len(argv) >= 3:
-        repo_dir = Path(argv[1]).resolve()
-        site_packages = Path(argv[2]).resolve()
-    else:
-        repo_dir = Path.cwd()
-        site_packages = Path(sys.prefix, "Lib", "site-packages")
-
-    dll_dir = repo_dir / "build" / "local-hidapi" / "windows" / "bin"
-    if not dll_dir.is_dir():
-        print(f"[hidapi .pth] skip: {dll_dir} does not exist", file=sys.stderr)
-        return 0
-
-    site_packages.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    pth_path = site_packages / "plover_hidapi_add_dll_dir.pth"
-
-    # Keep it one line: .pth executes arbitrary Python on import.
-    # Include defensive checks for directory existence and DLL loading
-    code = (
-        "import os,sys;"
-        "p=r%r;"
-        "os.add_dll_directory(p) if sys.platform=='win32' and hasattr(os,'add_dll_directory') and os.path.isdir(p) else None\n"
-        % (str(dll_dir),)
-    )
-
-    try:
-        pth_path.write_text(code, encoding="utf-8")
-        print(f"[hidapi .pth] wrote {pth_path}")
-        return 0
-    except Exception as e:
-        print(f"[hidapi .pth] failed to write {pth_path}: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
-        return 2
-
-
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    sys.exit(main(sys.argv))
diff --git a/linux/README.md b/linux/README.md
index 17f90702b..85ffb1d55 100644
--- a/linux/README.md
+++ b/linux/README.md
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 To be able to setup a complete development environment, you'll need to manually
 install some system libraries (including the development version of your
 distribution corresponding packages):
-- Treal support: `libusb` (1.0) and `libudev` are needed by
-  the [`hidapi` package](https://pypi.org/project/hidapi/).
 - log / notifications support: `libdbus` is needed.
 
 For the rest of the steps, follow the [developer guide](../doc/developer_guide.md).
diff --git a/linux/appimage/build.sh b/linux/appimage/build.sh
index cdb2210b5..8fd71fe59 100755
--- a/linux/appimage/build.sh
+++ b/linux/appimage/build.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 set -e
 
-. ./plover_build_utils/deps.sh
 . ./plover_build_utils/functions.sh
 
 topdir="$PWD"
@@ -197,33 +196,10 @@ run "$linuxdeploy" \
 # Install Plover and dependencies.
 bootstrap_dist "$wheel"
 
-# ------- Start: Build & bundle hidapi from source -------
-hidapi_src="$builddir/hidapi-src"
-hidapi_bld="$builddir/hidapi-build"
-
-. ./linux/build_hidapi.sh
-
-echo "Downloading and unpacking hidapi ${hidapi_version}…"
-fetch_hidapi "$hidapi_src" "$builddir"
-
-echo "Building hidapi…"
-cmake_build_linux "$hidapi_src" "$hidapi_bld" "Release"
-
-# Locate the produced .so
-hidapi_so="$(find "$hidapi_bld" -name 'libhidapi-hidraw.so*' -type f -print -quit)"
-if [ -z "$hidapi_so" ] || [ ! -f "$hidapi_so" ]; then
-  echo "Error: built libhidapi-hidraw.so not found." >&2
-  exit 3
-fi
-
-# Bundle into the AppDir's lib directory
-run cp -v "$hidapi_so" "$appdir/usr/lib/"
-base="$(basename "$hidapi_so")"
-# Add symlink for unversioned .so if needed
-if [ ! -e "$appdir/usr/lib/libhidapi-hidraw.so" ]; then
-  ln -s "$base" "$appdir/usr/lib/libhidapi-hidraw.so"
-fi
-# ------- End: Build & bundle hidapi from source -------
+# Reinstall hidapi with the hidraw backend; libusb reports usage/usage_page as 0,
+# which results in HID keyboards not being detected by Plover.
+run "$python" -m pip uninstall -y hidapi || true
+run_eval "HIDAPI_WITH_HIDRAW=1 HIDAPI_WITH_LIBUSB=0 $python -m pip install --no-binary :all: --no-cache-dir hidapi"
 
 # Trim the fat, second pass.
 run "$python" -m plover_build_utils.trim "$appdir" "$builddir/blacklist.txt"
diff --git a/linux/build_hidapi.sh b/linux/build_hidapi.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 264b8e64d..000000000
--- a/linux/build_hidapi.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-cmake_build_linux() {
-  local src="$1" bld="$2" config="${3:-Release}"
-  rm -rf "$bld"
-  cmake -S "$src" -B "$bld" \
-    -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON \
-    -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="$config"
-  cmake --build "$bld" --config "$config" --parallel
-}
diff --git a/news.d/api/1812.core.md b/news.d/api/1812.core.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c7d320d99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news.d/api/1812.core.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Migrate HID library to cython-hidapi.
diff --git a/osx/build_hidapi.sh b/osx/build_hidapi.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 3e629c76b..000000000
--- a/osx/build_hidapi.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-cmake_build_macos() {
-  local src="$1" bld="$2" arches="$3" config="${4:-Release}"
-  rm -rf "$bld"
-  cmake -S "$src" -B "$bld" \
-    -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON \
-    -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="$config" \
-    -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES="$arches"
-  cmake --build "$bld" --config "$config" --parallel
-}
diff --git a/osx/make_app.sh b/osx/make_app.sh
index d40b32560..f406ef605 100644
--- a/osx/make_app.sh
+++ b/osx/make_app.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 set -e
 
-. ./plover_build_utils/deps.sh
 . ./plover_build_utils/functions.sh
 
 topdir="$PWD"
@@ -66,37 +65,6 @@ python='appdir_python'
 # Install Plover and dependencies.
 bootstrap_dist "$plover_wheel"
 
-# ------- Start: Build & bundle hidapi from source  -------
-. ./osx/build_hidapi.sh
-
-hidapi_src="$builddir/hidapi-src"
-hidapi_bld="$builddir/hidapi-build"
-
-echo "Downloading and unpacking hidapi ${hidapi_version}…"
-fetch_hidapi "$hidapi_src" "$builddir"
-
-echo "Building hidapi…"
-cmake_build_macos "$hidapi_src" "$hidapi_bld" "x86_64;arm64" "Release"
-
-# Locate the produced dylib
-hidapi_dylib="$(/usr/bin/find "$hidapi_bld" -name 'libhidapi*.dylib' -type f -print -quit)"
-if [ -z "$hidapi_dylib" ] || [ ! -f "$hidapi_dylib" ]; then
-  echo "Error: built libhidapi*.dylib not found." >&2
-  exit 3
-fi
-
-# Bundle into the app's Frameworks directory
-run cp "$hidapi_dylib" "$frameworks_dir/"
-base="$(basename "$hidapi_dylib")"
-
-# Add alias to Frameworks dir
-ln -sfn "$base" "$frameworks_dir/libhidapi.dylib"
-
-# Add RPATH to the Python binary itself and re-sign it
-run install_name_tool -add_rpath "@executable_path/../../../../../Frameworks" "$py_binary"
-run /usr/bin/codesign -f -s - "$py_binary"
-# ------- End: Build & bundle hidapi from source  -------
-
 # Create launcher.
 run gcc -Wall -O2 -arch x86_64 -arch arm64 'osx/app_resources/plover_launcher.c' -o "$macos_dir/Plover"
 
diff --git a/plover/machine/plover_hid.py b/plover/machine/plover_hid.py
index 77e5ad860..27019454e 100644
--- a/plover/machine/plover_hid.py
+++ b/plover/machine/plover_hid.py
@@ -15,21 +15,36 @@
 import hid
 import time
 import platform
-import ctypes
 import threading
+import ctypes
 from queue import Queue, Empty
-from typing import Dict
+from typing import Any, Dict
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 
-def _darwin_disable_exclusive_open():
-    lib = getattr(hid, "hidapi", None)
-    if lib is not None:
-        func = getattr(lib, "hid_darwin_set_open_exclusive")
-        func.argtypes = (ctypes.c_int,)
-        func.restype = None
+def _darwin_disable_exclusive_open() -> None:
+    """Disable macOS exclusive HID opens while cython-hidapi lacks a Python API.
+
+    Keep this workaround until https://github.com/trezor/cython-hidapi/issues/178
+    is resolved.
+    """
+    lib_path = getattr(hid, "__file__", None)
+    if not lib_path:
+        log.warning("hidapi extension path not found; HID may open exclusively")
+        return
+    try:
+        lib = ctypes.CDLL(lib_path)
+        func = ctypes.CFUNCTYPE(None, ctypes.c_int)(
+            ("hid_darwin_set_open_exclusive", lib)
+        )
+    except Exception:
+        log.warning(
+            "failed to load hid_darwin_set_open_exclusive; HID may open exclusively"
+        )
+        return
+    try:
         func(0)
-    else:
+    except Exception:
         log.warning(
             "could not call hid_darwin_set_open_exclusive; HID may open exclusively"
         )
@@ -69,7 +84,7 @@ class InvalidReport(Exception):
 
 @dataclass
 class HidDeviceRecord:
-    device: hid.Device
+    device: hid.device
     thread: threading.Thread
 
 
@@ -86,18 +101,19 @@ class PloverHid(ThreadedStenotypeBase):
     '''
     # fmt: on
 
-    def __init__(self, params):
+    def __init__(self, params: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         super().__init__()
         self._params = params
-        self._devices: Dict[str, HidDeviceRecord] = {}
+        self._devices: Dict[bytes, HidDeviceRecord] = {}
         self._report_queue: Queue[bytes] = Queue()
         self._lock: threading.Lock = threading.Lock()
         self._device_watcher: threading.Thread | None = None
 
-    def _add_device(self, path):
+    def _add_device(self, path: bytes) -> bool:
         """Open a HID device at `path`, start its reader, and mark ready if first."""
         try:
-            device = hid.Device(path=path)
+            device = hid.device()
+            device.open_path(path)
         except Exception as e:
             log.debug(f"open failed for {path!r}: {e}")
             return False
@@ -112,7 +128,7 @@ def _add_device(self, path):
             self._ready()
         return True
 
-    def _remove_device(self, path):
+    def _remove_device(self, path: bytes) -> None:
         """Close and forget a HID device by path; if none remain, mark disconnected."""
         with self._lock:
             entry = self._devices.pop(path, None)
@@ -137,7 +153,7 @@ def _remove_device(self, path):
         if not self._devices and not self.finished.is_set():
             self._error()
 
-    def _scan_device_loop(self):
+    def _scan_device_loop(self) -> None:
         """Scan for new matching HID devices and start readers for them."""
         scan_ms = self._params["device_scan_interval_ms"]
         while not self.finished.is_set():
@@ -145,7 +161,7 @@ def _scan_device_loop(self):
                 paths = [
                     d["path"]
                     for d in hid.enumerate()
-                    if d.get("usage_page") == USAGE_PAGE and d.get("usage") == USAGE
+                    if (d.get("usage_page") == USAGE_PAGE and d.get("usage") == USAGE)
                 ]
             except Exception as e:
                 log.debug(f"device scan enumerate failed: {e}")
@@ -166,7 +182,7 @@ def _scan_device_loop(self):
             if self.finished.wait(scan_ms / 1000.0):
                 break
 
-    def _read_from_device_loop(self, path: str, device: hid.Device) -> None:
+    def _read_from_device_loop(self, path: bytes, device: hid.device) -> None:
         """Per-device reader thread: blocking read, push reports to the report queue."""
         slice_ms = self._params["repeat_interval_ms"]
         while not self.finished.is_set():
@@ -177,13 +193,18 @@ def _read_from_device_loop(self, path: str, device: hid.Device) -> None:
                 break
             if report:
                 try:
-                    self._report_queue.put_nowait(report)
+                    report_bytes = (
+                        report
+                        if isinstance(report, (bytes, bytearray))
+                        else bytes(report)
+                    )
+                    self._report_queue.put_nowait(report_bytes)
                 except Exception:
                     log.debug("failed to put report in queue")
                     pass
         self._remove_device(path)
 
-    def _parse(self, report):
+    def _parse(self, report: bytes) -> int:
         # The first byte is the report id, and due to idiosyncrasies
         # in how HID-apis work on different operating system we can't
         # map the report id to the contents in a good way, so we force
@@ -193,14 +214,14 @@ def _parse(self, report):
         else:
             raise InvalidReport()
 
-    def _send(self, key_state):
+    def _send(self, key_state: int) -> None:
         steno_actions = self.keymap.keys_to_actions(
             [key for i, key in enumerate(STENO_KEY_CHART) if key_state >> (63 - i) & 1]
         )
         if steno_actions:
             self._notify(steno_actions)
 
-    def run(self):
+    def run(self) -> None:
         key_state = 0
         current = 0
         last_sent = 0
@@ -248,13 +269,13 @@ def run(self):
                     last_sent = key_state
                     key_state = 0
 
-    def start_capture(self):
+    def start_capture(self) -> None:
         self.finished.clear()
         self._initializing()
         # Enumerate all hid devices on the machine and if we find one with our
         # usage page and usage we try to connect to it.
         try:
-            devices = [
+            devices: list[bytes] = [
                 device["path"]
                 for device in hid.enumerate()
                 if device["usage_page"] == USAGE_PAGE and device["usage"] == USAGE
@@ -278,7 +299,7 @@ def start_capture(self):
             return
         self.start()
 
-    def stop_capture(self):
+    def stop_capture(self) -> None:
         super().stop_capture()
         # Stop device watcher
         t_watch = getattr(self, "_device_watcher", None)
diff --git a/plover_build_utils/deps.sh b/plover_build_utils/deps.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 4d82e557a..000000000
--- a/plover_build_utils/deps.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-hidapi_version=0.15.0
-hidapi_sha1='3bed4e9a3b523d998a96f2ec52824bc69422c222'
diff --git a/plover_build_utils/functions.sh b/plover_build_utils/functions.sh
index c8b7918e2..d5b2b3b26 100644
--- a/plover_build_utils/functions.sh
+++ b/plover_build_utils/functions.sh
@@ -239,17 +239,6 @@ osx_standalone_python()
   run rm -rf "$reloc_py_dir"
 }
 
-fetch_hidapi() {
-  local src_dir="$1" download_dir="$2"
-  local file_name="hidapi-${hidapi_version}.tar.gz"
-  local url="https://github.com/libusb/hidapi/archive/refs/tags/${file_name}"
-  run "$python" -m plover_build_utils.download "$url" "$hidapi_sha1" "$file_name" "$download_dir"
-  hidapi_tar="$download_dir/$file_name"
-  rm -rf "$src_dir"
-  mkdir -p "$src_dir"
-  tar -xzf "$hidapi_tar" -C "$src_dir" --strip-components=1
-}
-
 packaging_checks()
 {
   run rm -rf dist
diff --git a/reqs/constraints.txt b/reqs/constraints.txt
index 812e72a57..3667d80da 100644
--- a/reqs/constraints.txt
+++ b/reqs/constraints.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ dmgbuild==1.6.5
 docutils==0.21.2
 ds-store==1.3.1
 evdev==1.9.1
-hid==1.0.8
+hidapi==0.15.0
 idna==3.10
 importlib-metadata==8.6.1
 incremental==24.7.2
diff --git a/reqs/dist.txt b/reqs/dist.txt
index d0a44a42b..eeafe5a2e 100644
--- a/reqs/dist.txt
+++ b/reqs/dist.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 appdirs
 appnope; "darwin" in sys_platform
-hid
+hidapi
 pkginfo
 plover-stroke
 plyer; "win32" in sys_platform
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 2cf3edb9e..e736e3c01 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ install_command =
 
 # Default, Python 3 based, environment.
 [testenv]
-commands_pre =
-	bash {toxinidir}/dev/build_hidapi.sh
-	{envpython} {toxinidir}/dev/write_hidapi_pth.py "{toxinidir}" "{envsitepackagesdir}"
-
 envdir = {toxworkdir}/dev
 extras =
 	gui_qt
@@ -50,18 +46,6 @@ passenv =
 setenv =
 	SSL_CERT_FILE={envsitepackagesdir}/certifi/cacert.pem
 
-	# Repo-relative folders where dev/build_hidapi.sh drops the libs
-    HIDAPI_DEV_LIB_MAC = {toxinidir}/build/local-hidapi/macos/lib
-    HIDAPI_DEV_LIB_LNX = {toxinidir}/build/local-hidapi/linux/lib
-
-    # macOS: add to library path so ctypes can find hidapi libraries
-    DYLD_FALLBACK_LIBRARY_PATH = {env:HIDAPI_DEV_LIB_MAC}{:}{env:DYLD_FALLBACK_LIBRARY_PATH:}
-
-    # Linux: add to library path so ctypes can find hidapi libraries
-    LD_LIBRARY_PATH = {env:HIDAPI_DEV_LIB_LNX}{:}{env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH:}
-
-	# Windows: not done via path; see dev/write_hidapi_pth.py
-
 # Lightweight tests only environments.
 [testenv:py3{,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13}]
 description = run tests using {envname}
diff --git a/windows/build_hidapi.sh b/windows/build_hidapi.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 155cb117e..000000000
--- a/windows/build_hidapi.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-cmake_build_windows() {
-  local src="$1" bld="$2" config="${3:-RelWithDebInfo}"
-  rm -rf "$bld"
-
-  # Architecture override: WIN_ARCH=Win32|x64|ARM64 (default x64)
-  local arch="${WIN_ARCH:-x64}"
-
-  local -a cmake_args=(
-    -A "$arch"
-    -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON
-    -DHIDAPI_BUILD_HIDTEST=OFF
-    -DHIDAPI_BUILD_TESTS=OFF
-    -DCMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY=MultiThreadedDLL
-  )
-
-  echo "==> running cmake (arch: $arch, config: $config)"
-  cmake -S "$src" -B "$bld" "${cmake_args[@]}"
-  cmake --build "$bld" --config "$config" --parallel
-}
diff --git a/windows/dist_build.sh b/windows/dist_build.sh
index cd14151e3..e87970cbe 100755
--- a/windows/dist_build.sh
+++ b/windows/dist_build.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 set -e
 
-. ./plover_build_utils/deps.sh
 . ./plover_build_utils/functions.sh
 
 opt_incremental=0
@@ -74,29 +73,6 @@ build_dist()
   # Install Plover and dependencies.
   bootstrap_dist "$wheel" --no-warn-script-location
 
-  # ------- Start: Build & bundle hidapi from source  -------
-  . ./windows/build_hidapi.sh
-
-  hidapi_src="$builddir/hidapi-src"
-  hidapi_bld="$builddir/hidapi-build"
-
-  echo "Downloading and unpacking hidapi ${hidapi_version}..."
-  fetch_hidapi "$hidapi_src" "$builddir"
-
-  echo "Building hidapi…"
-  cmake_build_windows "$hidapi_src" "$hidapi_bld" "Release"
-
-  # Find the built DLL - should be in Release/ subdirectory
-  hidapi_dll="$(/usr/bin/find "$hidapi_bld" -name 'hidapi.dll' -type f -print -quit)"
-  if [ -z "$hidapi_dll" ] || [ ! -f "$hidapi_dll" ]; then
-    echo "Error: built hidapi.dll not found." >&2
-    exit 3
-  fi
-
-  # Copy hidapi.dll to distribution directory where the exe will find it
-  run cp "$hidapi_dll" "$dist_data/"
-  # ------- End: Build & bundle hidapi from source  -------
-
   # Trim the fat...
   if [ $opt_trim -eq 1 ]
   then