Keyboard Manager shortcut remapping is unstable and randomly invalid

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.98.1

Installation method

GitHub

Area(s) with issue?

Keyboard Manager

Steps to reproduce

1. Open PowerToys as administrator Settings and enable Keyboard Manager.
2. Add custom shortcut remappings in Keyboard Manager (as shown in the screenshot):
   • Map Win + F1 to Ctrl + Alt + W (applied to all applications)
   • Map Win + F2 to Ctrl + Alt + 1 (applied to all applications)
3. Save the remapping settings and confirm they take effect initially.
4. Use the computer normally for a period of time (usually several hours to 1 day).
5. The custom shortcut remappings randomly become invalid without any operation:
   • Pressing Win + F1 / Win + F2 no longer triggers the mapped functions
   • The Caps Lock to Enter remapping also fails randomly
6. The issue can be fixed by restarting the target application;

✔️ Expected Behavior

1. The custom key and shortcut remappings set in Keyboard Manager should remain stable and effective permanently after saving, without random invalidation.
2. The remappings should work consistently across all applications without requiring frequent restarts of PowerToys.

❌ Actual Behavior

After setting up the key/shortcut remappings in Keyboard Manager (with PowerToys running as administrator), the remappings work correctly at first.
However, after a period of normal computer use (usually several hours to 1 day), the remappings randomly and unexpectedly become invalid without any manual operation:

• Pressing the mapped shortcuts (Win+F1, Win+F2) no longer triggers the target functions
• Restarting the target application can resolve the issue

Upload Bug Report ZIP-file

PowerToysReport_2026-04-16-09-18-36.zip

Additional Information

OS version: Windows 10 21H1
.NET version: 8.0.21
System Language: Chinese (Simplified)
User or System Installation: User Installation
Running as admin: Yes

Other Software

No other keyboard remapping software, macro tools, or system utility software that may conflict with PowerToys Keyboard Manager is installed.

Start by following the listed Keyboard Manager reproduction steps with the Win+F1, Win+F2, and Caps Lock remappings, then inspect the attached PowerToysReport_2026-04-16-09-18-36.zip after the mappings fail. Compare behavior before and after restarting the target application; done means the remappings remain effective during extended normal use without requiring an application restart.