How to turn Caps Lock keys into modifier keys on Mac

Many computer users find the Caps Lock key useless, they rarely or even not use it for a long time. Have you noticed that this Caps Lock key is left next to a bunch of other useful plugins, it is a waste if you don't use it? This is how to make Caps Lock keys more useful on Mac.

1. Turn off Caps Lock keys in Mac OS X
2. Display notification of Caps Lock macOS key with Captin
3. Fixed a bug with the Cap Lock key on Windows 10 suspended

What can you do with an additional key?

Perhaps the most interesting thing is to create custom hotkey keys. With the help of an application like BetterTouchTool, you can use an additional modifier key to add action to create hotkey keys (application shortcuts). For example, press Caps + B to activate the shell script or open a new email tab.

You can perform custom hotkeys without using Caps Lock, but there may be problems pressing combinations like Shift + Control + Command without interfering with the default shortcuts. With this method, any application that allows you to set your own hotkeys will support the new Caps Lock modification tool.

You can also link existing shortcuts for use with Caps Lock. If there is a too complicated shortcut, you can edit it in the macOS keyboard settings to make it easier to press. For example, the hotkey for taking screenshots on macOS is Shift + Command + 5, but you can reset it to Caps + S.

Edit the Caps Lock key function with Karabiner

Now, there is no way to simulate the modifier key properly for compatibility reasons, so a better way to reset the Caps Lock key function is to reset the key (remap) so it works. like when pressing Shift, Control, Option and Command keys at the same time. Since this is an absurd combination, there is no application that requires you to press each of these keys to create a hotkey.

This does not mean you will lose combinations like Caps Lock + Command, but it will work more simply with any number key. You can remap the Caps Lock key into an additional function key, like the F13 - F20 keys, but it may not work as a hotkey in any application. You can also turn the Caps Lock key into Escape (or any other modifier key), but this doesn't add any additional functionality.

Here we will use the Karabiner application to reset Caps Lock functionality. This is a free key character reset tool for macOS. Download and install the application, open options. In the Complex Modifications tab, add a new rule by clicking Add rule .

1. Karabiner download link: https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/

Usually, with Karabiner, you will have to edit JSON for your new rule and add it manually. However, here, you do not have to make any additional settings, just click + Enable next to Change caps_lock to command + control + option + shift to add rules to Karabiner.

You should make sure Caps Lock is turned off before adding rules. You can turn this rule off to switch Caps Lock to its proper function and you will no longer be able to use these specific rules.

If you still want to use the Caps Lock key with regular functions and auxiliary functions, you can click Import more rules from the Internet and download Change caps_lock from the official page.

You will see a new rule list and there is a rule that will allow you to use Shift + Caps Lock as the usual Caps Lock key. You can activate this rule and use Caps Lock key as additional modifier key.

I wish you all success!