Karabiner-Elements
Keyboard refirmware
open sourceUtilities
Karabiner-Elements is a low-level key remapper: Caps Lock to Esc/Ctrl, per-device layouts for external keyboards, layers, and community-made "complex modifications". Essential for ergonomic and custom keyboards, and for anyone migrating from Windows.
// Install
Your MacHomebrew in /opt/homebrew
brew install --cask karabiner-elements// What it is for
- Remaps any key at system level — including Caps Lock, which finally becomes useful
- Different layouts for the built-in and external keyboards: a PC keyboard gets sane ⌘ and ⌥
- Complex rules: a key can behave differently on tap and on hold
- Free, open source, and the long-standing standard for keyboard remapping on the Mac
// Common questions
Why does it need driver-level permissions?
Karabiner intercepts keyboard events before the system does, so it installs an extension and asks for approval in Security settings. Remapping at this level is impossible otherwise — and permissions like these deserve a conscious decision.
Can I make Caps Lock a second Escape?
Yes — it is the most popular rule and takes a couple of clicks: tap for Escape, hold for a modifier. Vim users usually start exactly here.
