How To Use VIA To Program Your Keyboard
Last updated
Last updated
Please follow the instructions below to program a keyboard that supports VIA.
1. Download and install the VIA for your operating system (click here to download).
2. Connect your keyboard with our cable and open the VIA.
3. Please download the correct keymap JSON file when you see “Searching for devices…” on the VIA’s Configure tab. Since it takes time for Github to approve our VIA code submission, some keymap JSON files may not be automatically recognized at the moment.
4. Once you downloaded the keymap JSON file, please go to the VIA, and turn on “Show Design tab” in the “Settings” tab.
5. Drag the JSON file into the “Design” tab on the VIA.
6. On the Configure tab, select the KEYMAP section, and click on the key that you want to program, and the key will then flash slowly. Click on a key you want to remap in the BASIC/MEDIA/MACRO/LAYERS/SPECIAL/QMK LIGHTING/CUSTOM section. And it’s done.
A macro is a series of keys pressed together to perform an action, now, you can program to just use one key to perform the same action, for example, holding Shift+Command+4 (screenshot on macOS) can be done with just one key. Here is how:
1. Go to MACROS on the top left corner of the Configure tab.
2. Search the keycodes that represent the key you want at https://docs.qmk.fm/#/keycodes_basic, then, copy and paste the Aliases on the page onto the VIA.
3. For example, enter {KC_LSFT,KC_LGUI,KC_4} in the Macro 0 box area, and press Save. The M0 key will become Shift+Command+4 (screenshot on macOS).
4. Select the KEYMAP section, click on the key that you want to replace, and the key will then flash slowly on VIA. Go to the MACRO section on the lower-left corner, click the M0 key, and it’s done.
Here is a video tutorial:
