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Released Oct 3, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT
Afam’s experience in tech publishing go back to 2018, when he worked for Make Tech Easier. Throughout the years, he has actually constructed a track record for releasing premium guides, evaluations, ideas, and explainer posts, covering Windows, Linux, and open source tools. His work has actually been included on the top sites, consisting of Technical Ustad, Windows Report, Guiding Tech, Alphr, and Next of Windows.
He holds a very first degree in Computer Science and is a strong supporter for information personal privacy and security, with numerous pointers, videos, and tutorials on the subject released on the Fuzo Tech YouTube channel.
When he is not working, he enjoys to hang around with his household, biking, or tending to his garden.
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The something that Caps Lock has actually effectively provided for me throughout the years is mistakenly turn my completely regular sentences into SHOUTING. I nearly never ever utilize it on function, and it’s using up area on my keyboard.
After years of pretending it served a function, I really made it worth the area. I set up AutoHotkey and utilized a couple of lines of code to produce faster ways for particular jobs that the Windows keyboard does not generally do. It made enough of my daily typing much easier that I began questioning why I ‘d left the essential unblemished for so long.
Caps Lock does something helpful now
I turned one disregarded essential into 5 faster ways I in fact utilize
With the total script, I provided Caps Lock 5 brand-new functions:
Faster way
What it does
Caps + A
Toggle Always on Top
Caps + T
Place the present timestamp
Caps + U
Uppercase chose text
Caps + L
Lowercase chose text
Caps + Q
Put quote marks around picked text
While it feels effective to have 5 brand-new keyboard faster ways, the more intriguing part is my Caps Lock has actually ended up being a modifier for actions that I personally pick. AutoHotkey lets me utilize Caps Lock as the prefix type in a customized two-key mix. Pushing Caps Lock + A can produce a result absolutely various from pushing A alone.
The most convenient to comprehend of all the faster ways that I developed was Caps Lock + A. When I bring a window into focus and press that mix, that window stays above the rest. Pushing it once again gets rid of the Always-on-Top characteristic. The WinSetAlwaysOnTop function in AutoHotkey supports this type of toggle habits.
Caps Lock + T inserts the existing date and time into whatever application has focus, anywhere my cursor is placed. The script utilizes the SendText function to send out the formatted timestamp to the active window, so I can utilize the faster way anywhere I’m typing.
The smart part wasn’t AutoHotkey
It was turning Caps Lock into a modifier Windows does not utilize in this manner
Instead of remapping Caps Lock, my script just utilizes it as a prefix. It’s possible since AutoHotkey has a custom-combination syntax that lets 2 secrets function as a single hotkey. This likewise implies Caps Lock keeps its typical function when I push it by itself, so I didn’t compromise the essential simply to turn it into a faster way secret.
Currently the Windows secret is a typical modifier: Windows+E opens File Explorer and Windows+ I opens the Settings app. I developed mixes in the area not currently taken by Windows’integrated faster ways: Caps Lock+A modifications the active window’s Always-on-Top state. Caps Lock +T develops text that wasn’t there before. Caps Lock +U and Caps Lock+ L modification chosen text, whileCaps Lock +Q puts quote marks around it.
Text faster ways need to utilize the clipboard for a quick minute due to the fact that the script copies the choice, changes the copied text, sends out the outcome back into the active application, and after that brings back the clipboard. The tail end of the procedure is essential so
the script does not hinder other things I copied.
Without changing Caps Lock or altering what it does on its own, I turned it into a little keyboard layer for actions Windows does not offer as general-purpose faster ways.
I stopped thinking of the faster ways as techniques
They ended up being beneficial when I returned to composing
It was just when I returned to typical work and wasn’t intentionally attempting each mix that the genuine test began.
I discovered Caps Lock+A to be the most useful instantly. I typically require a recommendation window while I’m composing; simply something sitting next to my draft. Pinning it is a basic service that does not need me to resize or reorganize windows. This is a little modification, however I do it sufficient everyday for it to make a genuine effect.
For my notes, Caps Lock +T seems like a natural fit. I utilize it to tape when I begin a test or procedure, and if I simply desire the present date and time in my draft, it is available in convenient.
The case-conversion faster ways might not be as fancy, however they are simply as helpful. When I paste an all-caps sentence, I now have a constant method to transform it to lowercase throughout the apps I utilize.
Caps Lock + Q is among my favorites, although I do not utilize it as typically as the others. The couple of times I need to turn an expression into a quote, picking it and utilizing a faster way feels far much easier than stopping to type quote marks at either end. I discover the benefit most when the choice is a longer expression or numerous words.
The point was to fill the spaces, not transform the keyboard
Windows currently has an excellent set of faster ways, so I left them alone– there isn’t a requirement to transform what currently exists. This was in fact what made this experiment fascinating. I was trying to find spaces that enhanced my workflow and dealt with those spaces.
None of the faster ways I developed were innovative, however that was the appeal. I developed a setup that’s basic enough to copy and adjust, specifically if you currently utilize AutoHotkey. Adjusting this, or structure on it, might include more worth to your workflow.
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