All web browsers have default hotkeys with which you can activate options and features. Some browsers even include settings for creating custom hotkeys, but others don’t.
Even if your browser doesn’t have built-in options for customizing hotkeys, you can probably add an extension to it that enables you to do so. This is how you can customize keyboard shortcuts in Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Brave, and Vivaldi.
How to Customize Keyboard Shortcuts in Chrome and Edge
Neither Google Chrome nor Edge have hotkey customization settings beyondcreating keyboard shortcuts for activating extensions. So, you’ll need to add extensions for customizing hotkeys to those browsers. AutoControl is a comprehensive Chrome and Edge add-on with which you can set up custom hotkeys for many browser actions.
Click theGetorAdd to Chromebuttons on the AutoControl pages linked below to install that add-on. Note that this extension also has a Native Component you’ll need to install when prompted. Press theInstall Native Componentbutton to complete the extension installation. Another thing to note is that this extension has Windows platform system requirements.
To create a custom hotkey, click theExtensionsmenu button and theAutoControladd-on. That will bring up anAutoControltab from which you’re able to set up custom hotkeys. Click in the leftTriggerbox and press a hotkey for an action, such asCtrl+Xfor example. Then click theChoose an actionbox to select an action for the hotkey to trigger.
Now go ahead and try out your new custom keyboard shortcut. Pressing the keyboard shortcut you’ve just created will activate whatever action you selected to assign to it.
AutoControl includesBasic ActionsandAdvanced Actionstabs. TheBasic Actionstab includes many browsing and tab options, for which Chrome and Edge already have default hotkeys. On theAdvanced Tab, you can select window, tab, bookmark, menu, and even system actions for hotkeys. Click the question marks beside the actions for explanations about what they do.
For example, you cancreate keyboard shortcuts for opening websitesin your bookmarks. To do so, press the Choose an action button to selectAdvanced Actions>Bookmark Actions.
Then clickOpen bookmarksto bring up a box from which you can select a webpage. Click inside theChoose a bookmark boxand an arrow beside your bookmarked folder to select a website for the hotkey to open.
You can easily modify the hotkey by clicking theActionmenu and selecting a different option. Press the trigger buttons and double-clickDelete Elementto change the hotkey. Click the top of the hotkey’s box to assign a name.
Download:AutoControl forGoogle Chrome|Edge(Free)
How to Customize Keyboard Shortcuts in Firefox
Firefox is another popular web browser that doesn’t have any built-in settings for customizing hotkeys. Nor is AutoControl available for that browser, but you may still customize Firefox’s hotkeys with the Shortkeys add-on (also available for Chrome, Opera, and Edge). To install this extension, clickAdd to Firefoxon the Shortkeys download page linked below.
To view the ShortkeysOptionstab in Firefox, press theExtensionsbutton. Click theCogicon beside the Shortkeys add-on and selectManage Extension; then click the three-dot ellipses button and selectOptions.
To create a new hotkey, press theAdd shortcutbutton; click inside theShortcutbox and press a hotkey. Select an action option for the hotkey on theBehaviordrop-down menu and clickSave Shortcuts.
Alternatively, you may set new hotkeys with this extension by pressing theToolsfor add-ons button on Firefox’sAdd-ons Managertab and selectingManage Extension Shortcuts. Click theShow 51 morebutton for the Shorkeys add-on listed.
Then you’re able to click in theType a shortcutboxes there to set custom hotkeys for all actions available on the extension’sBehaviordrop-down menu.
Download:Shortkeys forFirefox|Chrome|Edge|Opera(Free)
How to Customize Opera’s Keyboard Shortcuts
Opera is a browser that has built-in settings for customizing its hotkeys. you may change the existing keyboard shortcuts with those options. This is how you can customize Opera’s hotkeys:
That will set a second hotkey for the action you added it to. The original default hotkey will also still work. However, you can delete the default hotkey by hovering the cursor over it and clickingX.
There are also browser actions listed there, for which no Opera hotkeys currently exist. For example, the toggle mute action doesn’t have a hotkey. So, you can also create new keyboard shortcuts for some Opera actions that don’t have default hotkeys.
How to Customize Vivaldi’s Keyboard Shortcuts
Vivaldi is one of the most customizable web browsers. So, it’s no surprise that you can customize Vivaldi’s hotkeys without any extension. You can customize Vivaldi’s keyboard shortcuts with that browser’s settings as follows:
Vivaldi’sKeyboardtab includes many empty boxes for browser actions that don’t have default hotkeys. It looks like there are more empty boxes for new action keyboard shortcuts than ones that include default keys. So, you can set up a lot of new action hotkeys for Vivaldi.
If you want to delete a hotkey in Vivaldi, click inside its box and press theBackspacekeyboard key to remove it. Or click the XClearshortcutsbutton beside its box to erase all hotkeys for an action. You can also restore all Vivaldi’s default keyboard shortcuts by pressing theRestore Default Keysbutton.
How to Customize Brave’s Keyboard Shortcuts
Brave is the latest web browser with built-in options for customizing its hotkeys. A 2023 summer update added keyboard settings to Brave. This is how you can customize Brave’s hotkeys:
There isn’t any way you can modify an existing hotkey in Brave. So, you’ll need to delete any hotkey you want to change and recreate it. To erase a keyboard shortcut, move your cursor over it and click the–button.
Configure Browser Hotkeys to Suit Your Preferences
Customizing keyboard shortcuts in Chrome, Opera, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, or Firefox with extensions or built-in settings will enable you to reconfigure those browsers’ hotkeys to suit your preferences.
Strangely, the three biggest Windows browsers don’t include default hotkey customization settings. Some Chrome, Edge, and Firefox users may be tempted to switch to Opera, Brave, or Vivaldi for the hotkey customization settings those browsers provide.
