WASD keys have long held a special place as gamers’ favorite directional controls. Their convenient placement on the QWERTY keyboard makes them convenient for one hand while controlling the mouse with the other.
However, sometimes the WASD and arrow keys can be accidentally switched or permanently replaced on the keyboard. That’s not ideal, especially when it comes to normal typing projects, and it can be frustrating for gamers if they can’t switch back to the directional option, or if the keys suddenly change in-game and have to switch back. Let’s see how to fix WASD keys that have suddenly turned into arrow keys and why this replacement happens.
How to restore WASD and arrow keys
Step 1 – If you can, unplug the keyboard and plug it back in, preferably in a different port. This is a quick fix that usually resets all arrow key alt modes and allows the WASD keys to work as usual.
Step 2 – Find the Fn key on your keyboard. Not all keyboards have it, but most do, and it’s usually in the lower left corner of the keyboard. It usually has a small indicator that shows if the key has been activated. The Fn key enables various keyboard functions, and in this case it may be in charge of switching WASD.
To cancel WASD press Fn+W keys once.
Step 3: If the Fn + W trick didn’t work, your keyboard might have a different setup and you’ll need to experiment a bit. Different combinations of Fn can work. Try this and see if any of them replace the keys:
Step 4: Manually re-assign your keys. If none of the keyboard shortcuts seem to work, you may want to manually remap the keys. Many gaming keyboards include software that allows you to remap any key, not just special-purpose shortcuts. But if you don’t have this kind of keyboard software, you can still download third-party apps that do the same thing. The Sharpkeys app is a good option to customize the keys.
Step 5: Also, if you have gaming keyboard profiles set up, you may have accidentally switched to a profile with WASD as the directional keys. If you know your keyboard has gaming profiles configured, you may want to review how to switch between profiles and make sure you haven’t accidentally switched to a profile that involves key swapping.
Step 6: Check the game and app settings. Some programs can automatically replace keys when you start using them. Your menu settings may have options to switch to a traditional keyboard layout if that is the case. If you’re playing in a web browser, make sure you have enabled extensions that change keys when you don’t want them to.
How do the arrow keys change?
Many times, people accidentally start Alternate Mode with replaced keys. You may have inadvertently pressed the Fn shortcuts mentioned above, especially if you recently moved or moved your keyboard (or if you have a cat).
Swapping can also occur when the keyboard is connected to a USB port that you are not used to, such as when changing from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0. As we mentioned earlier, some profiles and programs can enable alternative keyboard layouts, so switching to them can cause problems.
Why is this an option?
Gamers often prefer to use WASD as directional keys because it is more comfortable than using the arrow keys while using the mouse and it keeps your fingers close to other important keys that you may need for different options. Keyboards, especially gaming keyboards, are designed with the expectation that WASD keys can be used in this way.
How to prevent this from happening again?
Keep an eye out for the shortcuts we mentioned, and be aware if the Fn key is accidentally used. Make sure your keyboard has switched to a different profile (often indicated by indicator lights), and if necessary, disable that profile or know how to quickly switch back. Also disable any software settings that automatically change WASD keys.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn