I have the Keychron K2 v2., that I've had for two days now. I usually use AutoHotKey in Windows to do my macros and such, so I didn't really think I had a need for any on-board scripting. But just in case I want to upgrade down the road, what have your experiences been? Does having the scripting be directly on the board itself make a difference?

Is Keychron's QMK and/or VIA features driverless is what I continue asking myself and is why I haven't pulled the trigger.

I'm a coder by trade and am currently employed by an organization that, for the most part, doesn't allow third-party software of any kind. To the extent of either disabling and/or stripping built-in default Windows 11 OS apps and features.

In the end, I'm either left with attempting to get approval which almost takes a blood sacrifice and is a very lengthy process, or discovering "driverless" solutions.

I'm pretty sure QMK isn't as it has its own software however, VIA seems like a good choice from what I gather.

I need to be able to configure repetitive tasks on my personal laptop or gaming pc, and then be able to use the pre-configured shortcuts on my work computer with both wired and 2.4-GHz communication options (in case they start making us used wired) without the need of any support on my work laptop's behalf.

Hi Keychron Komrades!

Wondering if anyone who has experience with the QMK/VIA keyboards could answer a question. I’m looking at getting a Pro or the Q1.

I assume this software configures onboard profiles, so do these profiles remain the same whether you’re in Windows or Mac mode? Or can you set a Windows custom profile, and a Mac custom profile, that allow the keyboard to behave differently when using different operating systems?

Can you set up these profiles on your own personal computer, save them to the keyboard, and then simply use and execute them on another computer such as your work computer (which you didn’t specifically configure on)?

Hello,
now that the QMK/VIA has been announced and the first prototype pictures have been posted, I'd like to start a Q&A thread for you guys, where you can ask whatever you want and I'll answer all questions to the best of my ability.

Thank you for all of your inquiries.

Hello All,

Is Via/QMK supported on the non pro version of the K10? I actually like the non pro version because it has better keycaps, that's why I bought it.

I have the UK version of the K10.

Thanks for the help.

Edit: In recent months, QMK has added actual key codes for Mission Control (KC_MCTL) and Launch Pad (KC_LPAD). Compiling the Keychron firmware against a recent version of QMK should give you those codes so you can use them properly.

I received my Q1 and really like it so far. I'm looking into getting rolling with QMK/Via but am completely new to these pieces of software.

What I'm trying to do is assign F3 and F3 to Mission Control and Launchpad on my Mac. I know that, at a basic level, I can setup a Macro within VIA, or, just assign F3 and F4 within System Preferences to those relevant commands.

However, I don't want to do that - that would lose the ability to use the F3 key as a 'real' key for example. And, there's just the sheer fun of it ha - I want to use the actual Mac keycode (as if you were buying a Magic Keyboard) and learn about VIA/QMK in the process.

I found some information about those keys (and other Mac-specific key codes) at https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/issues/10111. These steps however refer to editing the raw source code of the firmware.

As far as I can tell, that's not something Keychron has made available? I can see the hex file for the firmware listed https://www.keychron.com/blogs/archived/how-to-reset-your-keychron-q1-to-factory-settings, but I don't see a way online to 'decompile' that into the C files.

I feel like others will have this question as more Q1s are sold, so what I've love to have more information about is:

1. How do I use QMK to edit the firmware of my Keychron Q1? I don't want to write a completely new one, I just want to make small modifications to the existing firmware.

2. How can I pass specific key codes in VIA (such as 0x29F and 0x2A0 https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/hut1_2.pdf)? Is this possible?

3. With the hex file provided by Keychron, can I 'edit' that file in any way?

Not sure these are the right questions to ask. Most of the documentation I can find on QMK and Via is really not geared at folks getting started, so hopefully any information here will get me over that initial hurdle.

I've been using an ergodox for a number of years at home, but now that I'm going back into the office a couple days as week I thought I would invest in another programmable keyboard. I settled on the K8 pro which arrived a couple days ago. So far so good but I'm new to VIA and haven't touched QMK config so figured I'd ask before I delve to deep down this rabbit hole.

When I load the Design into VIA, it looks like I'm limited to 4 layers and 15 maros. Is this a hard limit? Is there a way to exceed that? Mostly interested in Macros. I think I have something like 45 on my ergodox.

Is there a way to do double tap/single tap/long hold functionality. Again this is something the ErgoDox does easily with their configurator, but something I don't see an easy way to do with VIA.

I've seen that there's a spacebar/layer1, I'm not a huge fan using spacebar. I've used capslock in the past and it's worked really well for mem but again I don't see any easy way to do this in VIA.

Other than a bit of a learning curve I'm really liking the keyboard so far.

Currently have a K10, thinking of getting a Q series but want to know if customizations and key mappings are saved on the keyboard or on the computer. I'd like to use this on my work and personal Laptops.

I'm trying to customize my Keychron K15 Max. I downloaded original firmware from https://www.keychron.com/pages/firmware-and-json-files-of-the-keychron-qmk-k-pro-and-k-max-series-keyboards, downloaded QMK toolbox.

When I try to use my keymap JSON file in the QMK Configurator https://docs.qmk.fm/ that I downloaded from the Keychron website to modify it I get "Sorry, this doesn't appear to be a QMK keymap file."

https://imgur.com/a/d6x6PRI

How would I get this to work? https://docs.qmk.fm/feature_macros#using-macros-in-json-keymaps

Is this not the right way to edit a keymap file and 'compile' it via QMK Toolbox /Configurator. Do I need to do it a different way for Keychron K15 max?

What I'm trying to achieve is to create a Macro that would run a exe and also perform some other functions

I've recently bought Keychron V1. One of my main driving forces in picking up this keyboard is its potential for custom firmware via QMK. In my research, I haven't found starting points for this custom firmware thing. I'd love to make my keyboard perform one-shot layers. Can you guys please point out a good starting point where I can start my research. I do have a decent background in Programming and code

[Edit]: I've found a good starting point for those who are trying to attempt the same. Try checking out: https://thomasbaart.nl/category/mechanical-keyboards/firmware/qmk/qmk-basics/

Hey there! We've compiled instructions on how to install qmk on a K6 with some guys over at Sonix Keyboard Hacking Community Discord Channel. Currently, the guide focuses on K6 with some basic functionality to get newbies started, though it is pretty much applicable to other supported/community-supported keyboards with appropriate MCUs.

Here's the link to the guide, comments and suggestions are welcome:

https://github.com/CanUnesi/QMK-on-K6/blob/main/README.md

Disclaimer: I am by no means an expert on the subject. I was just disappointed with the abandonment of the official software so I looked up online to see what I could do about it. Then I found this community and some talented people over there helped me through the steps. After I was able to get my keyboard working on qmk, I decided to make a guide for dummies. Please join us over at the community if you have additional questions!

Edit: Moved the guide to github

Edit 2: I haven't been able to keep up with the recent updates on the repo, some stuff has changed and I couldn't find the time to update the guide so here's another page managed by another member of the community, user jpe230 on the discord channel if I'm not mistaken.

https://sonixqmk.github.io/SonixDocs/

I recently got a new keychron keyboard and I was replacing an old Razer keyboard that I had. The razer keyboard came with Razer central which was like a software to program and change the lighting on my keyboard, is there something similar for keychron keyboards?

I'm planning to get a Keychron V1 Max or V2 Max because their specs fit so well with what I need. However, based on what I read, Keychron's QMK Fork is a bit different for wireless. This would also be my first time flashing firmware if ever I push through with the purchase and this is the reason I'm a bit worried. How much more of a headache would customizing a wireless QMK keyboard be compared to a standard QMK board? For reference, here are the features I am looking to explore:

Leader key
Mod tap or Space cadet shift
Caps Word
Autoshift or Tap-Hold
Combos
Layers and Layer Lock

I have a Keychron V6 Max with the knob for home use and a Keychron K10 Pro for office use. I would like to get started on using QMK to customize them. Let's face it, it's one of Keychron's greatest advantages over other brands. Can someone answer these questions for me?
a) Which one is more powerful? QMK or Keychron Launcher?

b) Can someone recommend me a QMK tutorial for a newbie for me that doesn't make me want to pull my hair out?

c) Can someone also explain to me what a tapdance is in keyboard parlance? And how VIAL comes into it?

d) Can someone recommend great macros that has made your life easier? One of my favourites that I use the Launcher to program is the quick Equation Box macro in MS Word. I also have PowerToys installed on my laptop.

Thanks in advance for answers.

So I'm a happy K8 user, but I'm in a job that requires moving between computers and a lot of keyboard shortcuts like CRTL+ALT+F9. I used to use a Logitech G13 with everything programmed into it, but now I'm working on a locked down corporate IT network, so loading software onto the work computer is out.

But from what I can see QMK/VIA appears to reprogram the keyboard firmware, so I'm wondering if I can program macros into something like a Q0 at home, and have those macros function at work.

I can't find anything specifically talking about this type of situation, and I'd rather not waste the time and money, so I'm asking y'all...

Am I correct in my understand of what QMK/VIA is doing? It's rewriting the firmware to send specific key combos / commands from the device, not translating them once they arrive at the PC?

Has anyone already tried this? Did it work?

https://www.alternate.nl/Keychron/V6-A1-gaming-toetsenbord/html/product/1886460

I wanted to do some advanced customizations for my Q3 Pro and found out about qmk fork: https://github.com/Keychron/qmk_firmware/tree/bluetooth_playground/

This is really something cool! I managed to do everything what I wanted with 'my keymap.c. But later I discovered that bluetooth is not working.

So I spent hours debugging until I discovered that using SAFE_RANGE for enum definitions is not actually safe. Keychron introduced new enums and defined NEW_SAFE_RANGE. So what I what i needed to do to resolve my bluetooth issue was to fix the enum value assignment:

enum custom_keycodes {
   KC_MYKEY = NEW_SAFE_RANGE 
}

Hopefully this would help somebody...

I have a keycrhon Q6; my first 'real' mechanical keyboard.

I have a few questions, if some of the more experienced users could help me out here

1. QMK and the Keychron Q6. If I understand correctly, the Keychron is QMK compatible. Does this mean that the Keychron firmware IS qmk/open source? Or does that mean its just compatible with QMK, and the actual keyboard firmware isnt open source itself?

2. VIA is just a streamlined version of QMK with GUI, right?

3. Third, I am using VIA. I am trying to program macros, but I REALLY need a delay (500ms) function. For example, press Macro key 1, which activates the sequence {KC_T}(delay}{500ms}{'Git Gud'}. As I understand it, VIA cannot do this delay function yet. But apparently that will be a thing in VIA version 3? I looked, but I cannot find an ETA. Does anybody have one for me?

Thanks for listening to a newb's questions. Any feedback you have is appreciated

So I recently got an interest in custom keyboards and came across QMK VIA firmware? Could somebody explain what this is and if this is the best/easiest firmware to use. I also see QMK configurators but does this work with keyboards with VIA?

Thanks in advance

Just got a K5 QMK Version 2 and it seems good so far, but I want to set up my own custom lighting setup. I did enough research to know it is possible, but the Git repo linked on the QMK site doesn't have this particular model's source code in their keyboards section. I found the source code for this model on Keychron's website and added it to my local copy of the repo, and it does show up in the QMK MSYS program when I check then list of keyboards. But when I try to compile it I get a large number of warnings/errors. The first two are unique, but the third occurs may times over, iterating over the key numbers, then the available keyboard layouts. I didn't see much on this subreddit about this sort of thing, but I saw enough to think someone here might be able to help, or at least point me in the right direction.

So, does anyone here know enough about custom QMK firmware to help me with this?

qmk compile -kb keychron/k5_version_2/ansi/rgb -km default

☒ Not including data from file: keyboards/keychron/k5_version_2/ansi/rgb/keyboard.json

☒ rgb_matrix.driver: 'snled27351_spi' is not one of ['aw20216s', 'custom', 'is31fl3218', 'is31fl3236', 'is31fl3729', 'is31fl3731', 'is31fl3733', 'is31fl3736', 'is31fl3737', 'is31fl3741', 'is31fl3742a', 'is31fl3743a', 'is31fl3745', 'is31fl3746a', 'snled27351', 'ws2812']

☒ keychron/k5_version_2/ansi/rgb: LAYOUT_108_ansi: Matrix row for key 0 (k0A) is 0 but must be less than 0

Unrelated, but the extra Esc, Windows, and Alt keys that came with my keyboard in a small bag all seem to have scuff marks (the kind that don't just rub off) and scratches. The Esc key in particular has very obvious scratches. They keys on the board were all fine. Does anyone know the odds I'll be able to get replacements from Keychron if I ask?