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Beginner guide: your first ten minutes ​

By the end of this page your phone will be connected to your computer, and one key on it will open a new browser tab when you tap it.

What you need ​

  • The KeyDeck desktop app and phone app installed. See Install.
  • On Linux, xdotool or ydotool installed.
  • The phone and the computer on the same Wi-Fi network.

How KeyDeck works ​

The desktop app holds everything: your layouts, your keys and what each key does. The phone is a remote screen of big buttons. When you tap a key, the phone tells the desktop which key it was, and the desktop carries out the action in the window that is in front.

To connect, the phone scans a QR code shown by the desktop app. The code holds the computer's network addresses and a secret token that changes each time the desktop app starts.

Find your way around the desktop app ​

The desktop window has two halves.

  • On the left, the connection panel: Scan with the KeyDeck app above a QR code, the computer's addresses under it, a card with the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth status, the keystroke tool in use, and an Activity list of the keys you tap.
  • On the right, the editor: a row of layouts, a Phone orientation: switch, and the grid of keys of the selected layout. The text Click a key to program it sits above the grid.

A new installation has four layouts: 4 keys, 6 keys, 8 keys and 10 keys. 6 keys is selected.

Connect your phone ​

  1. Start the desktop app. The QR code appears on the left.

    Under the code you see one or more network addresses of the computer, each ending in the port, usually :8737. If it says No network — connect to WiFi, connect the computer to your network first.

  2. Open KeyDeck on your phone.

    The camera opens with the text Open the KeyDeck desktop app and scan the QR code it shows.

  3. Point the camera at the QR code on your screen.

    The phone shows Found "KeyDeck host".

  4. Tap Connect over WiFi.

    After a moment the phone shows the keys of the selected layout. On the desktop, the Wi-Fi line changes from WiFi / USB: waiting for phone to Connected: Android phone.

Program your first key ​

  1. On the desktop, click Key 1 in the grid.

    The Key 1 editor opens.

  2. In Label (shown on the phone), type New tab.

  3. Pick a colour from the row of circles.

  4. Select Hotkey.

  5. Select the Ctrl chip. In the Key box, type t.

  6. Select Save.

    The key on your phone changes to New tab in its new colour straight away.

Try it ​

  1. On the computer, click in a web browser window so that it is in front.

  2. Tap New tab on your phone.

    The browser opens a new tab. On the desktop, the Activity list adds a line with the time, the key label and the action, such as New tab → Ctrl+T.

To disconnect, tap the cross at the top right of the pad. The phone returns to the scanner.

What you learned ​

  • The desktop app shows a QR code; the phone scans it to connect.
  • You program keys on the desktop, and the phone updates at once.
  • Actions happen in the window that is in front on the computer.

Next steps ​