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sedm0784/CapsLockCtrlEscape.ahk

Last active February 2, 2026 16:07
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AutoHotkey script to map Caps Lock to Escape when it's pressed on its own and Ctrl when used in combination with another key, à la Steve Losh. Adapted from one that does something similar with the Ctrl Key on the Vim Tips Wiki (http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Map_caps_lock_to_escape_in_Windows?oldid=32281). (Plus contribs from @randy909 & @mmikeww.)
Raw
CapsLockCtrlEscape.ahk
g_LastCtrlKeyDownTime := 0
g_AbortSendEsc := false
g_ControlRepeatDetected := false
*CapsLock::
if (g_ControlRepeatDetected)
{
return
}
send,{Ctrl down}
g_LastCtrlKeyDownTime := A_TickCount
g_AbortSendEsc := false
g_ControlRepeatDetected := true
return
*CapsLock Up::
send,{Ctrl up}
g_ControlRepeatDetected := false
if (g_AbortSendEsc)
{
return
}
current_time := A_TickCount
time_elapsed := current_time - g_LastCtrlKeyDownTime
if (time_elapsed <= 250)
{
SendInput {Esc}
}
return
~*^a::
~*^b::
~*^c::
~*^d::
~*^e::
~*^f::
~*^g::
~*^h::
~*^i::
~*^j::
~*^k::
~*^l::
~*^m::
~*^n::
~*^o::
~*^p::
~*^q::
~*^r::
~*^s::
~*^t::
~*^u::
~*^v::
~*^w::
~*^x::
~*^y::
~*^z::
~*^1::
~*^2::
~*^3::
~*^4::
~*^5::
~*^6::
~*^7::
~*^8::
~*^9::
~*^0::
~*^Space::
~*^Backspace::
~*^Delete::
~*^Insert::
~*^Home::
~*^End::
~*^PgUp::
~*^PgDn::
~*^Tab::
~*^Return::
~*^,::
~*^.::
~*^/::
~*^;::
~*^'::
~*^[::
~*^]::
~*^\::
~*^-::
~*^=::
~*^`::
~*^F1::
~*^F2::
~*^F3::
~*^F4::
~*^F5::
~*^F6::
~*^F7::
~*^F8::
~*^F9::
~*^F10::
~*^F11::
~*^F12::
g_AbortSendEsc := true
return
@pseudorandomnumber
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pseudorandomnumber commented Feb 3, 2021

thank you for this!

@acccounttest
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acccounttest commented Jul 22, 2021

I did a similar approach to replace the key tab by caps lock without breaking any combination, adding double tab trigger to switch windows in metro context under Windows 8 but it's mandatory, can be commented out.
https://github.com/acccounttest/Sublime-Tab-for-SublimeText-Metro-and-Windows

@robmunger
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robmunger commented Feb 9, 2022 •
edited
Loading

Fenwar's version, posted above (May 2018) is beautiful code. I like it because it doesn't hook every key on the keyboard. Give it a look.

@Rccustevens
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Rccustevens commented Jan 29, 2023

https://gist.github.com/Rccustevens/e972cb21869b81ba0b5400991de5cd85

Differences:

  1. Add a rule that maps LCtrl to CapsLock.

@darianmorat
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darianmorat commented Jan 11, 2024

Caps to Ctrl+Esc...
If just pressed 1 time is gonna act as ESC
If used with another key is gonna act as CTRL
Allow Shift + Ctrl combinations

#IfWinNotActive,ahk_group WorkIn
*CapsLock::
    Send {Blind}{Ctrl Down}
    cDown := A_TickCount
Return

*CapsLock up::
    If ((A_TickCount-cDown) < 150){
        Send {Blind}{Ctrl Up}{Esc}
    }
    Else {
        Send {Blind}{Ctrl Up}
    }
Return
#IfWinNotActive

@ulic-youthlic
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ulic-youthlic commented Jun 14, 2024

I make a script for autohotkey v2.
https://gist.github.com/ulic-youthlic/c8efd1d8cd5c59559403ded7e5b44833

@AryanilPanja
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AryanilPanja commented Jul 7, 2024

Caps to Ctrl+Esc... If just pressed 1 time is gonna act as ESC If used with another key is gonna act as CTRL Allow Shift + Ctrl combinations

#IfWinNotActive,ahk_group WorkIn
*CapsLock::
    Send {Blind}{Ctrl Down}
    cDown := A_TickCount
Return

*CapsLock up::
    If ((A_TickCount-cDown) < 150){
        Send {Blind}{Ctrl Up}{Esc}
    }
    Else {
        Send {Blind}{Ctrl Up}
    }
Return
#IfWinNotActive

where do you paste this script?

@ulic-youthlic
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ulic-youthlic commented Jul 16, 2024

Caps to Ctrl+Esc... If just pressed 1 time is gonna act as ESC If used with another key is gonna act as CTRL Allow Shift + Ctrl combinations大写为 Ctrl+Esc... 如果只按 1 次将充当 ESC 如果与另一个键一起使用将充当 CTRL 允许 Shift + Ctrl 组合

#IfWinNotActive,ahk_group WorkIn
*CapsLock::
    Send {Blind}{Ctrl Down}
    cDown := A_TickCount
Return

*CapsLock up::
    If ((A_TickCount-cDown) < 150){
        Send {Blind}{Ctrl Up}{Esc}
    }
    Else {
        Send {Blind}{Ctrl Up}
    }
Return
#IfWinNotActive

where do you paste this script?你把这个脚本粘贴到哪里？

If you want to run this script, you should look into AutoHotKey. in this example, you need to install the correct version of the runtime, save the script as an .auk file, and run it using the runtime.

@108anup
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108anup commented Mar 14, 2025

For authohotkey v2: https://gist.github.com/108anup/ecd891f21dc88ef107ff6c8ab0969700

@clach04
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clach04 commented Oct 11, 2025

Working wiki link at head (without needing to login) https://vim.fandom.com/wiki/Map_caps_lock_to_escape_in_Windows

@TaivasJumala
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TaivasJumala commented Oct 12, 2025

Working wiki link at head (without needing to login) https://vim.fandom.com/wiki/Map_caps_lock_to_escape_in_Windows

Dual Key Remap is awesome.

@HetBuddhdev10
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HetBuddhdev10 commented Feb 2, 2026 •
edited
Loading

For authohotkey v2: https://gist.github.com/108anup/ecd891f21dc88ef107ff6c8ab0969700

Thanks for the script but I found a bug that caused my Caps lock to get stuck on "ON". I added a way to toggle Caps Lock using RAlt. Here is the updated script :

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0
#SingleInstance Force

OnExit(ExitHandler)
ExitHandler(*) {
    Send "{Ctrl up}"
}

global g_LastCtrlKeyDownTime := 0
global g_AbortSendEsc := false
global g_CtrlIsDown := false

*CapsLock:: {
    global g_LastCtrlKeyDownTime
    global g_AbortSendEsc
    global g_CtrlIsDown

    if (g_CtrlIsDown)
        return

    g_CtrlIsDown := true
    g_AbortSendEsc := false
    g_LastCtrlKeyDownTime := A_TickCount

    Send "{Ctrl down}"
}

*CapsLock Up:: {
    global g_LastCtrlKeyDownTime
    global g_AbortSendEsc
    global g_CtrlIsDown

    if (!g_CtrlIsDown)
        return

    Send "{Ctrl up}"
    g_CtrlIsDown := false

    elapsed := A_TickCount - g_LastCtrlKeyDownTime

    if (!g_AbortSendEsc && elapsed <= 500)
        Send "{Esc}"
}

AbortEsc() {
    global g_AbortSendEsc := true
}

~*^a:: AbortEsc()
~*^b:: AbortEsc()
~*^c:: AbortEsc()
~*^d:: AbortEsc()
~*^e:: AbortEsc()
~*^f:: AbortEsc()
~*^g:: AbortEsc()
~*^h:: AbortEsc()
~*^i:: AbortEsc()
~*^j:: AbortEsc()
~*^k:: AbortEsc()
~*^l:: AbortEsc()
~*^m:: AbortEsc()
~*^n:: AbortEsc()
~*^o:: AbortEsc()
~*^p:: AbortEsc()
~*^q:: AbortEsc()
~*^r:: AbortEsc()
~*^s:: AbortEsc()
~*^t:: AbortEsc()
~*^u:: AbortEsc()
~*^v:: AbortEsc()
~*^w:: AbortEsc()
~*^x:: AbortEsc()
~*^y:: AbortEsc()
~*^z:: AbortEsc()
~*^1:: AbortEsc()
~*^2:: AbortEsc()
~*^3:: AbortEsc()
~*^4:: AbortEsc()
~*^5:: AbortEsc()
~*^6:: AbortEsc()
~*^7:: AbortEsc()
~*^8:: AbortEsc()
~*^9:: AbortEsc()
~*^0:: AbortEsc()
~*^Space:: AbortEsc()
~*^Backspace:: AbortEsc()
~*^Delete:: AbortEsc()
~*^Insert:: AbortEsc()
~*^Home:: AbortEsc()
~*^End:: AbortEsc()
~*^PgUp:: AbortEsc()
~*^PgDn:: AbortEsc()
~*^Tab:: AbortEsc()
~*^Enter:: AbortEsc()
~*^,:: AbortEsc()
~*^.:: AbortEsc()
~*^/:: AbortEsc()
~*^;:: AbortEsc()
~*^':: AbortEsc()
~*^[:: AbortEsc()
~*^]:: AbortEsc()
~*^\:: AbortEsc()
~*^-:: AbortEsc()
~*^=:: AbortEsc()
~*^`:: AbortEsc()
~*^F1:: AbortEsc()
~*^F2:: AbortEsc()
~*^F3:: AbortEsc()
~*^F4:: AbortEsc()
~*^F5:: AbortEsc()
~*^F6:: AbortEsc()
~*^F7:: AbortEsc()
~*^F8:: AbortEsc()
~*^F9:: AbortEsc()
~*^F10:: AbortEsc()
~*^F11:: AbortEsc()
~*^F12:: AbortEsc()

; ===============================
; RIGHT ALT → CAPS LOCK OFF
; ===============================
*RAlt:: {
    SetCapsLockState "Off"
}

; ===============================
; MANUAL RECOVERY
; ===============================
F12:: {
    Send "{Ctrl up}"
    global g_CtrlIsDown := false
    global g_AbortSendEsc := false
}

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