Keyboard Manager: Remapped Shortcut Stops Working After a While

[sudosys]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.85.1

Installation method

PowerToys auto-update, GitHub

Running as admin

Yes

Area(s) with issue?

Keyboard Manager

Steps to reproduce

1. Open PowerToys Settings
2. Go to "Keyboard Manager"
3. Enable "Keyboard Manager"
4. Remap a key (e.g. "Ctrl + Q" to "Alt + F4")
5. Close PowerToys Settings
6. Use remapped shortcut combination for a while

✔️ Expected Behavior

Remapped shortcuts should behave as expected all the time.

❌ Actual Behavior

I observed that after a bit of time, the remapped key combo stops working as if I did not remap it at all. I had to go to the Keyboard Manager and re-enable it for it to work but unfortunately it stops working again after a while. Also re-opening the PowerToys fixes the issue temporarily.

This bug is reproduced both on Windows 10 (22H2 Build 19045.4780) and Windows 11 (24H2 Build 26100.2161).

Other Software

No response

[similar-issues-ai]

We've found some similar issues:

• Keyboard manager shortcuts stop working #17150 , similarity score: 84%
• Shortcut rebinding stops working  #26017 , similarity score: 84%
• Keyboard Manager remapped shortcuts randomly stop working #20543 , similarity score: 83%
• Keyboard management tool shortcut mapping fails after being used for a period of time #27461 , similarity score: 83%
• keyboard manager stops working after ??? #32791 , similarity score: 83%
• Keyboard Manager disables my Control Key #35404 , similarity score: 82%
• Remapping shortcuts to include a remapped key works inconsistently #23231 , similarity score: 81%
• Shortcut not always working #17596 , similarity score: 81%

If any of the above are duplicates, please consider closing this issue out and adding additional context in the original issue.

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[borsodigerii]

Still a problem, mine stops working as well after a while, not sure what is causing it..

[creative-resort]

Affirmative,
same problem. Keyboard Manager has become dysfunctional with this.

It takes entering just one combination of keystrokes for me
– in any app, be it notepad or a browser –
and all of them stop working.

[iHeadway]

Same, but it's not only KbM, FancyZones also affected, that means that any "toy" can be.

[borsodigerii]

I might have a lead on this: for me, this particularly occurs, when I use a modifier key on a shortcut, but not "unpress" the modifier, and execute another shortcut.

Example:

I have the following shortcuts:

• alt + right => ctrl + right
• alt + A => ctrl + A
  When I press alt + right, then unpress right, but then press A (so that Alt stays pressed), the Shortcuts stop working. It does occur randomly on other situations, but the main scenario for me was like this
  (Please note, that alt can be alt (Left), or any variation, the issue still persists)

EDIT

I see, that a tracker is on the issue: #17344

[ethanfangg]

/dup #23231

[microsoft-github-policy-service]

Hi! We've identified this issue as a duplicate of another one that already exists on this Issue Tracker. This specific instance is being closed in favor of tracking the concern over on the referenced thread. Thanks for your report!