Mac App To Show What Key Is Being Pressed
How to Fix Macbook Key Press Bug: 5 Ways. Using Unshaky (Free & Open Source) Unshaky is a free and open source app that was developed by Sam Liu as a solution to the double key press issue that occurs to all the MacBooks that have the butterfly keyboard (that includes MacBook, MacBook Air 2018 and MacBook Pro 2016 and later). Similarly, by selecting “Display only Command Keys” you can choose to only show keys that are pressed along with the Ctrl, Command, Option and Shift keys. By default, your keystrokes will show up at the bottom of the screen like shown in the following image. You can also hear audible feedback when you press keys. You hear one sound when a key is pressed and a different sound when the key is accepted. This is a very good way to monitor what’s happening if you can’t see the screen. Select the checkbox labeled “Use click key sounds” under the Slow Keys On and Off buttons to turn on audible. So, the above will check the 'A' key and if it's being pressed then it'll set the horizontal speed of the object to -5. Note, that the 'A' is a capital 'A', and that when using ord the keyboard key to check must always be written in quotes and as a capital. You can also hear audible feedback when you press keys. You hear one sound when a key is pressed and a different sound when the key is accepted. This is a very good way to monitor what’s happening if you can’t see the screen. Select the checkbox labeled “Use click key sounds” under the Slow Keys On and Off buttons to turn on audible.
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For many people who spend a lot of hours on their computer, whether for casual use or business purposes, it’s a valuable and precious item which they can’t do without. That’s why it can be a little bit worrying when toddlers or young children get close to your computer, especially when you’re not 100% sure what they’re going to do when they’re near it. Most of them will be quite fascinated and want to play with the keyboard or move the mouse around.
Kid-Key-Lock is a utility to partially or completely disable mouse button and keyboard key functions to lock down things to your liking. For instance you can lock only system key combinations, lock all keys except characters, space and enter, or everything on the keyboard.
Children and pets are quite good at touching your computer when you don’t really want them to, and when they do could cause something untoward happening. One of the simplest ways of stopping that from happening is to lock down the machine so when a key or mouse button is pressed, nothing happens and your system is safe. Or if you want to show a video or movie on the screen it can’t be interrupted.
Here’s a selection of different ways you can lock the keyboard, mouse and even drives or power button from user interaction. These tools are also useful if you want to clean your keyboard and mouse without unplugging from a booted up Windows.
1. KeyFreezeKeyFreeze is a very simple tool to use, and all you have to do is install it and when it runs will show a window with a 5 second countdown timer. After the time runs down the window will fade out and then your keyboard and mouse will be locked. As it says in the dialog window, to get back to a usable keyboard and mouse simply press the standard Ctrl+Alt+Del combination and then press Escape or the Cancel button to return to the desktop. KeyFreeze has no options to configure and the only button you can press is to turn the lock on again. Works in Windows XP, Vista and 7.
Download KeyFreeze
2. ToddlerTrap
ToddlerTrap is a tiny and very basic tool to lock all keyboard actions and mouse clicks. Run it and you can interact with the programs window but can’t touch anything else. It does have a bit of a disadvantage though, because when you’re using it, the program’s window stays visible at all times. You have to drag it out of the way to stop anyone casually clicking on it because ToddlerTrap is exited and the keyboard and mouse become usable when you click on the X to close the program.
If anyone manages to do that by luck or knowing how to, your computer becomes vulnerable again. Holding down a chosen hotkey combination will temporarily allow keyboard or mouse clicks. ToddlerTrap is a simple portable executable programmed in AutoHotkey.
Download ToddlerTrap
3. Toddler Keys
Toddler Keys is quite a feature rich locking program because not only can it do what most other similar tools can do and lock the keyboard and restrict mouse usage, it can stop CD-ROM trays from opening and also disable the Power button (Windows XP only). Another interesting feature is you can add pictures and audio files via a media manager and every time a key is pressed during lock down, a new picture will be displayed and sound will be played. Useful to keep toddlers occupied without affecting Windows!
Individual functions can be toggled on or off via the tray icon context menu, and double clicking the icon will enable the lock. To exit the locked screen, just type the word QUIT which can be changed to your liking in the Options window. An autolocking timer can be setup to activate after a certain period of inactivity. Works on Windows XP to Windows 7.
Download Toddler Keys
4. Kid-Key-Lock
Kid-Key-Lock is a utility to partially or completely disable mouse button and keyboard key functions to lock down things to your liking. For instance you can lock only system key combinations, lock all keys except characters, space and enter, or everything on the keyboard. And for the mouse you can lock individual buttons, double clicks, the scroll wheel and even hide the mouse pointer (although the pointer seemed to stay visible in Windows 7). If you’re going to completely lock keyboard and mouse actions and make the program silent, be sure you know the password to show the setup screen again. Kid-Key-Lock works on Windows 2000 to Windows 7 and there are portable or ad supported installer versions available.
Download Kid-Key-Lock
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6 Ways To Disable or Remap the Caps Lock Key On Your Keyboard5 Ways Restrict or Disable Mouse Right Click on the Desktop and in ProgramsDisable Remote Desktop Auto Lock Screen on Idle5 Free KVM Switch Tools to Share Keyboard and Mouse on Multiple Computers10 Ways to Browse the Internet and Use your Computer Without a Mouse or TouchPad 22 Comments - Write a Comment
hello, I have a plug-in mechanical keyboard and would like to lock my laptop keyboard so that I can place the external keyboard over the top of it, however if I use a keyboard lock programme it also freezes my external keyboard. any hints on how to lock only the computer keyboard? cheers
ReplyI made a free Chrome extension that allow your precious infant to touch the keyboard and learn sounds while you can browse the computer:
chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/efkbgchndofhepjnknffgiegmjihkepc/publish-accepted?hl=en
ReplyI like to video chat on my laptop with my family out of state but my toddlers like to press the keyboard and exit out of everything. Do any of these apps allow a video chat to take place and lock the keyboard at the same time?
ReplyI need one that will let my son watch youtube videos while locking the keyboard mouse AND power button! which one would be the best cause i tried key freeze and it doesnt lock the power button
ReplyHi! you can set the power button to not do anything on windows. however if you hold down the power button it will force the computer off. I believe that holding the button down can not be deactivated.
Replythanks a lot for the information just what i was looking for (toddler keys) works perfectly
ReplyThanks for this advice! I am going on a camping trip this weekend and would like my 13 month old to be entertained by movies on my laptop and this will perfect for her to get her mind off wondering to all other campsites.
ReplyMac App To Show What Key Is Being Pressed Made
which option did you use so toddler can still watch movie on lap top
License: Freeware. Developer/Publisher: EagleSoft. You caneven export your data as an html-table and print labels. Modification Date: March 3, 2019. Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bitFile Size: 6.5 MBFileMaker 18.0.3Streamline your scattered information and inefficient processes. Client database app mac.
ReplyThanks, thanks this programs are helpful for me
Replywow I was looking for something like this for a long time…
ReplyCool… As informative and relevant as ever…
ReplyLocking the computer is more commonly known as “keep the kids away from the bad sites.”
ReplyGreat…….
Replyvery nice i tried it with my grandpa.
thanks dude.
Man … its like you were reading my mind
I always wondered if such programs existed
its very helpful for people with children living around
Thanks
Great tools to keep pesky little hands at bay. I really love the look of “Child Proof”
ReplyCool! I try it with my child ;D
ReplyThanks for the cool tip.
ReplyThanks for another great post! How to show my mac dock with all apps. I think I’ll give Toddler Keys a try. My toddlers are forever pushing buttons as soon as I leave the room…especially the power button.
ReplyWell, i use Transparent Screen Locker its fast and efficient and the professional version has many options to play around.
Replynice… i like the child proof app… my 2 1/2 year old likes to play on my machine from time to time… this will be a good way to keep her from messing anything up… and when she gets older, allow specific games to be played…
Thanks, Ray!
ReplyThanks Ray
This will work nicely for me, with my 2 little ones and their friends.
ReplyLeave a Reply
To use a keyboard shortcut, press and hold one or more modifier keys and then press the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use Command-C (copy), press and hold the Command key, then the C key, then release both keys. Mac menus and keyboards often use symbols for certain keys, including modifier keys:
On keyboards made for Windows PCs, use the Alt key instead of Option, and the Windows logo key instead of Command.
Some keys on some Apple keyboards have special symbols and functions, such as for display brightness , keyboard brightness , Mission Control, and more. If these functions aren't available on your keyboard, you might be able to reproduce some of them by creating your own keyboard shortcuts. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3, or other standard function keys, combine them with the Fn key.
Cut, copy, paste, and other common shortcuts
- Command-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
- Command-C: Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.
- Command-V: Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.
- Command-Z: Undo the previous command. You can then press Shift-Command-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands.
- Command-A: Select All items.
- Command-F: Find items in a document or open a Find window.
- Command-G: Find Again: Find the next occurrence of the item previously found. To find the previous occurrence, press Shift-Command-G.
- Command-H: Hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Option-Command-H.
- Command-M: Minimize the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the front app, press Option-Command-M.
- Command-O: Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open.
- Command-P: Print the current document.
- Command-S: Save the current document.
- Command-T: Open a new tab.
- Command-W: Close the front window. To close all windows of the app, press Option-Command-W.
- Option-Command-Esc: Force quit an app.
- Command–Space bar: Show or hide the Spotlight search field. To perform a Spotlight search from a Finder window, press Command–Option–Space bar. (If you use multiple input sources to type in different languages, these shortcuts change input sources instead of showing Spotlight. Learn how to change a conflicting keyboard shortcut.)
- Control–Command–Space bar: Show the Character Viewer, from which you can choose emoji and other symbols.
- Control-Command-F: Use the app in full screen, if supported by the app.
- Space bar: Use Quick Look to preview the selected item.
- Command-Tab: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.
- Shift-Command-5: In macOS Mojave or later, take a screenshot or make a screen recording. Or use Shift-Command-3 or Shift-Command-4 for screenshots. Learn more about screenshots.
- Shift-Command-N: Create a new folder in the Finder.
- Command-Comma (,): Open preferences for the front app.
Sleep, log out, and shut down shortcuts
You might need to press and hold some of these shortcuts for slightly longer than other shortcuts. This helps you to avoid using them unintentionally.
- Power button: Press to turn on your Mac or wake it from sleep. Press and hold for 1.5 seconds to put your Mac to sleep.* Continue holding to force your Mac to turn off.
- Option–Command–Power button* or Option–Command–Media Eject : Put your Mac to sleep.
- Control–Shift–Power button* or Control–Shift–Media Eject : Put your displays to sleep.
- Control–Power button* or Control–Media Eject : Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down.
- Control–Command–Power button:* Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents.
- Control–Command–Media Eject : Quit all apps, then restart your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.
- Control–Option–Command–Power button* or Control–Option–Command–Media Eject : Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.
- Control-Command-Q: Immediately lock your screen.
- Shift-Command-Q: Log out of your macOS user account. You will be asked to confirm. To log out immediately without confirming, press Option-Shift-Command-Q.
* Does not apply to the Touch ID sensor.
Finder and system shortcuts
- Command-D: Duplicate the selected files.
- Command-E: Eject the selected disk or volume.
- Command-F: Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.
- Command-I: Show the Get Info window for a selected file.
- Command-R: (1) When an alias is selected in the Finder: show the original file for the selected alias. (2) In some apps, such as Calendar or Safari, refresh or reload the page. (3) In Software Update preferences, check for software updates again.
- Shift-Command-C: Open the Computer window.
- Shift-Command-D: Open the desktop folder.
- Shift-Command-F: Open the Recents window, showing all of the files you viewed or changed recently.
- Shift-Command-G: Open a Go to Folder window.
- Shift-Command-H: Open the Home folder of the current macOS user account.
- Shift-Command-I: Open iCloud Drive.
- Shift-Command-K: Open the Network window.
- Option-Command-L: Open the Downloads folder.
- Shift-Command-N: Create a new folder.
- Shift-Command-O: Open the Documents folder.
- Shift-Command-P: Show or hide the Preview pane in Finder windows.
- Shift-Command-R: Open the AirDrop window.
- Shift-Command-T: Show or hide the tab bar in Finder windows.
- Control-Shift-Command-T: Add selected Finder item to the Dock (OS X Mavericks or later)
- Shift-Command-U: Open the Utilities folder.
- Option-Command-D: Show or hide the Dock.
- Control-Command-T: Add the selected item to the sidebar (OS X Mavericks or later).
- Option-Command-P: Hide or show the path bar in Finder windows.
- Option-Command-S: Hide or show the Sidebar in Finder windows.
- Command–Slash (/): Hide or show the status bar in Finder windows.
- Command-J: Show View Options.
- Command-K: Open the Connect to Server window.
- Control-Command-A: Make an alias of the selected item.
- Command-N: Open a new Finder window.
- Option-Command-N: Create a new Smart Folder.
- Command-T: Show or hide the tab bar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.
- Option-Command-T: Show or hide the toolbar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.
- Option-Command-V: Move the files in the Clipboard from their original location to the current location.
- Command-Y: Use Quick Look to preview the selected files.
- Option-Command-Y: View a Quick Look slideshow of the selected files.
- Command-1: View the items in the Finder window as icons.
- Command-2: View the items in a Finder window as a list.
- Command-3: View the items in a Finder window in columns.
- Command-4: View the items in a Finder window in a gallery.
- Command–Left Bracket ([): Go to the previous folder.
- Command–Right Bracket (]): Go to the next folder.
- Command–Up Arrow: Open the folder that contains the current folder.
- Command–Control–Up Arrow: Open the folder that contains the current folder in a new window.
- Command–Down Arrow: Open the selected item.
- Right Arrow: Open the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
- Left Arrow: Close the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
- Command-Delete: Move the selected item to the Trash.
- Shift-Command-Delete: Empty the Trash.
- Option-Shift-Command-Delete: Empty the Trash without confirmation dialog.
- Command–Brightness Down: Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.
- Option–Brightness Up: Open Displays preferences. This works with either Brightness key.
- Control–Brightness Up or Control–Brightness Down: Change the brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.
- Option–Shift–Brightness Up or Option–Shift–Brightness Down: Adjust the display brightness in smaller steps. Add the Control key to this shortcut to make the adjustment on your external display, if supported by your display.
- Option–Mission Control: Open Mission Control preferences.
- Command–Mission Control: Show the desktop.
- Control–Down Arrow: Show all windows of the front app.
- Option–Volume Up: Open Sound preferences. This works with any of the volume keys.
- Option–Shift–Volume Up or Option–Shift–Volume Down: Adjust the sound volume in smaller steps.
- Option–Keyboard Brightness Up: Open Keyboard preferences. This works with either Keyboard Brightness key.
- Option–Shift–Keyboard Brightness Up or Option–Shift–Keyboard Brightness Down: Adjust the keyboard brightness in smaller steps.
- Option key while double-clicking: Open the item in a separate window, then close the original window.
- Command key while double-clicking: Open a folder in a separate tab or window.
- Command key while dragging to another volume: Move the dragged item to the other volume, instead of copying it.
- Option key while dragging: Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
- Option-Command while dragging: Make an alias of the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
- Option-click a disclosure triangle: Open all folders within the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
- Command-click a window title: See the folders that contain the current folder.
- Learn how to use Command or Shift to select multiple items in the Finder.
- Click the Go menu in the Finder menu bar to see shortcuts for opening many commonly used folders, such as Applications, Documents, Downloads, Utilities, and iCloud Drive.
Document shortcuts
The behavior of these shortcuts may vary with the app you're using.
- Command-B: Boldface the selected text, or turn boldfacing on or off.
- Command-I: Italicize the selected text, or turn italics on or off.
- Command-K: Add a web link.
- Command-U: Underline the selected text, or turn underlining on or off.
- Command-T: Show or hide the Fonts window.
- Command-D: Select the Desktop folder from within an Open dialog or Save dialog.
- Control-Command-D: Show or hide the definition of the selected word.
- Shift-Command-Colon (:): Display the Spelling and Grammar window.
- Command-Semicolon (;): Find misspelled words in the document.
- Option-Delete: Delete the word to the left of the insertion point.
- Control-H: Delete the character to the left of the insertion point. Or use Delete.
- Control-D: Delete the character to the right of the insertion point. Or use Fn-Delete.
- Fn-Delete: Forward delete on keyboards that don't have a Forward Delete key. Or use Control-D.
- Control-K: Delete the text between the insertion point and the end of the line or paragraph.
- Fn–Up Arrow: Page Up: Scroll up one page.
- Fn–Down Arrow: Page Down: Scroll down one page.
- Fn–Left Arrow: Home: Scroll to the beginning of a document.
- Fn–Right Arrow: End: Scroll to the end of a document.
- Command–Up Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the document.
- Command–Down Arrow: Move the insertion point to the end of the document.
- Command–Left Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current line.
- Command–Right Arrow: Move the insertion point to the end of the current line.
- Option–Left Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
- Option–Right Arrow: Move the insertion point to the end of the next word.
- Shift–Command–Up Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document.
- Shift–Command–Down Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the document.
- Shift–Command–Left Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line.
- Shift–Command–Right Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the current line.
- Shift–Up Arrow: Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line above.
- Shift–Down Arrow: Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line below.
- Shift–Left Arrow: Extend text selection one character to the left.
- Shift–Right Arrow: Extend text selection one character to the right.
- Option–Shift–Up Arrow: Extend text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then to the beginning of the following paragraph if pressed again.
- Option–Shift–Down Arrow: Extend text selection to the end of the current paragraph, then to the end of the following paragraph if pressed again.
- Option–Shift–Left Arrow: Extend text selection to the beginning of the current word, then to the beginning of the following word if pressed again.
- Option–Shift–Right Arrow: Extend text selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of the following word if pressed again.
- Control-A: Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
- Control-E: Move to the end of a line or paragraph.
- Control-F: Move one character forward.
- Control-B: Move one character backward.
- Control-L: Center the cursor or selection in the visible area.
- Control-P: Move up one line.
- Control-N: Move down one line.
- Control-O: Insert a new line after the insertion point.
- Control-T: Swap the character behind the insertion point with the character in front of the insertion point.
- Command–Left Curly Bracket ({): Left align.
- Command–Right Curly Bracket (}): Right align.
- Shift–Command–Vertical bar ( ): Center align.
- Option-Command-F: Go to the search field.
- Option-Command-T: Show or hide a toolbar in the app.
- Option-Command-C: Copy Style: Copy the formatting settings of the selected item to the Clipboard.
- Option-Command-V: Paste Style: Apply the copied style to the selected item.
- Option-Shift-Command-V: Paste and Match Style: Apply the style of the surrounding content to the item pasted within that content.
- Option-Command-I: Show or hide the inspector window.
- Shift-Command-P: Page setup: Display a window for selecting document settings.
- Shift-Command-S: Display the Save As dialog, or duplicate the current document.
- Shift–Command–Minus sign (-): Decrease the size of the selected item.
- Shift–Command–Plus sign (+): Increase the size of the selected item. Command–Equal sign (=) performs the same function.
- Shift–Command–Question mark (?): Open the Help menu.
Other shortcuts
For more shortcuts, check the shortcut abbreviations shown in the menus of your apps. Every app can have its own shortcuts, and shortcuts that work in one app might not work in another.
Mac App To Show What Key Is Being Pressed Bad
- Apple Music shortcuts: Choose Help > Keyboard shortcuts from the menu bar in the Music app.
- Other shortcuts: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, then click Shortcuts.
Mac App To Show What Key Is Being Pressed Better
Learn more
Mac App To Show What Key Is Being Pressed Good
- Create your own shortcuts and resolve conflicts between shortcuts
- Change the behavior of the function keys or modifier keys