Files
PowerToys/doc/dsc/Settings.md
Miranda Zheng 459dd2fa37 KeystrokeOverlay: New PowerToys module for on screen key strokes (#44250)
<!-- Enter a brief description/summary of your PR here. What does it
fix/what does it change/how was it tested (even manually, if necessary)?
-->
## Summary of the Pull Request
This pull request introduces the new KeystrokeOverlay module to
PowerToys, including its documentation, build configuration, installer
setup, and spell-check dictionary updates. KeystrokeOverlay can be used
to show keys pressed on the screen like Visual Studio Code's Screencast
Mode.

It provides customization options for text size and background, offers
four types of display modes, and three shortcuts for toggling on/off the
display, cycling through monitors, and through different display modes
(see below for more details).

<!-- Please review the items on the PR checklist before submitting-->
## PR Checklist

- [x] Closes: #981 
<!-- - [ ] Closes: #yyy (add separate lines for additional resolved
issues) -->
- [x] **Communication:** I've discussed this with core contributors
already. If the work hasn't been agreed, this work might be rejected
- [ ] **Tests:** Added/updated and all pass
- [ ] **Localization:** All end-user-facing strings can be localized
- [x] **Dev docs:** Added/updated
- [ ] **New binaries:** Added on the required places
- [ ] [JSON for
signing](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/ESRPSigning_core.json)
for new binaries
- [ ] [WXS for
installer](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/installer/PowerToysSetup/Product.wxs)
for new binaries and localization folder
- [ ] [YML for CI
pipeline](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/ci/templates/build-powertoys-steps.yml)
for new test projects
- [ ] [YML for signed
pipeline](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/release.yml)
- [ ] **Documentation updated:** If checked, please file a pull request
on [our docs
repo](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-uwp/tree/docs/hub/powertoys)
and link it here: #xxx

<!-- Provide a more detailed description of the PR, other things fixed,
or any additional comments/features here -->
## Detailed Description of the Pull Request / Additional comments
**KeystrokeOverlay Module Integration:**

* Added KeystrokeOverlay as a new module in the solution, with
corresponding projects for the keyboard service, UI, and module
interface (`PowerToys.slnx`).
* Added documentation for the Keystroke Overlay module, including
architecture, usage, and debugging instructions
(`doc/devdocs/modules/keystrokeoverlay.md`).
* Updated installer configuration to include Keystroke Overlay, adding
new WiX include and setup files (`installer/PowerToysSetup/Common.wxi`,
`installer/PowerToysSetup/KeystrokeOverlay.wxs`).
[[1]](diffhunk://#diff-ecd2ee19d18433ed47b8f13b44cfff7b00c8009c17bc71139cec0d8571f8f607R1-R59)
[[2]](diffhunk://#diff-af48b984b168acbe5aeb021e97a9e826ab9b52c20c08b36f40dd3e5ad00342b1R1-R9)
* Registered Keystroke Overlay in the settings documentation and issue
templates (`doc/dsc/Settings.md`,
`.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml`,
`.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/translation_issue.yml`).
[[1]](diffhunk://#diff-bde46f469b76ba994ea938853f169553846221b329a21e9b59d37c5a0b7d63aeR35)
[[2]](diffhunk://#diff-637f7b97bba458badb691a1557c3d4648686292e948dbe3e8360564378b653efR85)
[[3]](diffhunk://#diff-135b470e9875068a1085599402d6f89bea163068568c426b22f493f35fbfbea6R58)
* Added KeystrokeOverlay binaries to the signing pipeline
(`.pipelines/ESRPSigning_core.json`).

**Customization options**
| Category | Setting | Description | Default / Example |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **General** | **Enable Keystroke Overlay** | Master toggle to turn the
module on or off. | `On` |
| **Shortcuts** | **Activation Shortcut** | Hotkey to toggle the overlay
visibility. | `Win` + `Shift` + `K` |
| | **Switch Monitor Shortcut** | Hotkey to move the overlay to another
display. | `Win` + `Shift` + `/` |
| | **Switch Display Mode** | Hotkey to cycle through different
visualization modes. | `Win` + `Shift` + `D` |
| **Behavior** | **Draggable Overlay** | Allows you to manually move the
overlay position with your mouse. | `On` |
| | **Display Mode** | Controls what history of keys is shown (e.g.,
history vs. single). | `Last Five Keystrokes` |
| | **Overlay Timeout** | How long (in ms) the keys stay visible before
fading. | `2000` ms |
| **Appearance** | **Text Size** | Adjusts the font size of the keys
inside the overlay. | `37` |
| | **Text Color** | Sets the font color and transparency level. |
`White` (Example) |
| | **Background Color** | Sets the background box color and
transparency level. | `Purple` (Example) |

<!-- Describe how you validated the behavior. Add automated tests
wherever possible, but list manual validation steps taken as well -->
## Validation Steps Performed
The new module was tested on multiple different Windows Devices and all
configurations work as expected.

---------

Signed-off-by: Shawn Yuan (from Dev Box) <shuaiyuan@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: Sátvik Karanam <89281036+skara9@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Jiří Polášek <me@jiripolasek.com>
Co-authored-by: Software2 <software-2@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Niels Laute <niels.laute@live.nl>
Co-authored-by: Mike Griese <migrie@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: Jaylyn Barbee <51131738+Jaylyn-Barbee@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Gordon Lam (SH) <yeelam@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: Kai Tao <69313318+vanzue@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Mark Russinovich <markruss@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: Mark Russinovich <markruss@ntdev.microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: Clint Rutkas <clint@rutkas.com>
Co-authored-by: Alex Mihaiuc <69110671+foxmsft@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Michael Jolley <mike@baldbeardedbuilder.com>
Co-authored-by: Gordon Lam <73506701+yeelam-gordon@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: leileizhang <leilzh@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: Dave Rayment <dave.rayment@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Shawn Yuan <128874481+shuaiyuanxx@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Kai Tao <kaitao@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: Copilot <198982749+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: jiripolasek <4773077+jiripolasek@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Dustin L. Howett <duhowett@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: Sam Rueby <samrueby@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Lee Won Jun <dldnjs1013@nate.com>
Co-authored-by: Mason Bergstrom <13530957+MasonBergstrom@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Mike Hall <mikehall@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: moooyo <42196638+moooyo@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Yu Leng <yuleng@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: dsm20 <74568547+dsm20@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: zackpaton <91792781+zackpaton@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Gleb Khmyznikov <gleb.khmyznikov@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Guilherme <57814418+DevLGuilherme@users.noreply.github.com>
2025-12-13 08:25:20 +01:00

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Settings resource

Manage the settings for PowerToys modules

Commands

Modules

List all the modules supported by the settings resource.

PS C:\> PowerToys.DSC.exe modules --resource 'settings'
AdvancedPaste
AlwaysOnTop
App
Awake
ColorPicker
CropAndLock
EnvironmentVariables
FancyZones
FileLocksmith
FindMyMouse
Hosts
ImageResizer
KeyboardManager
MeasureTool
MouseHighlighter
MouseJump
MousePointerCrosshairs
Peek
PowerAccent
PowerOCR
PowerRename
RegistryPreview
ShortcutGuide
Workspaces
ZoomIt
KeystrokeOverlay

📄 Get

Get the settings for a specific module.

PS C:\> PowerToys.DSC.exe get --resource 'settings' --module EnvironmentVariables
{"settings":{"properties":{"LaunchAdministrator":{"value":true}},"name":"EnvironmentVariables","version":"1.0"}}

🖨️ Export

Export the settings for a specific module.

Settings resource Get and Export operation output states are identical.

PS C:\> PowerToys.DSC.exe get --resource 'settings' --module EnvironmentVariables
{"settings":{"properties":{"LaunchAdministrator":{"value":true}},"name":"EnvironmentVariables","version":"1.0"}}

📝 Set

Set the settings for a specific module. This command will update the settings to the specified values.

PS C:\> PowerToys.DSC.exe set --resource 'settings' --module Awake --input '{"settings":{"properties":{"keepDisplayOn":false,"mode":0,"intervalHours":0,"intervalMinutes":1,"expirationDateTime":"2025-08-13T10:10:00.000001-07:00","customTrayTimes":{}},"name":"Awake","version":"0.0.1"}}'
{"settings":{"properties":{"keepDisplayOn":false,"mode":0,"intervalHours":0,"intervalMinutes":1,"expirationDateTime":"2025-08-13T10:10:00.000001-07:00","customTrayTimes":{}},"name":"Awake","version":"0.0.1"}}
["settings"]

🧪 Test

Test the settings for a specific module. This command will check if the current settings match the desired state.

PS C:\> PowerToys.DSC.exe test --resource 'settings' --module Awake --input '{"settings":{"properties":{"keepDisplayOn":false,"mode":0,"intervalHours":0,"intervalMinutes":1,"expirationDateTime":"2025-08-13T10:10:00.000002-07:00","customTrayTimes":{}},"name":"Awake","version":"0.0.1"}}'
{"settings":{"properties":{"keepDisplayOn":false,"mode":0,"intervalHours":0,"intervalMinutes":1,"expirationDateTime":"2025-08-13T10:10:00.000001-07:00","customTrayTimes":{}},"name":"Awake","version":"0.0.1"},"_inDesiredState":false}
["settings"]

🛠️ Schema

Generates the JSON schema for the settings resource of a specific module.

PS C:\> PowerToys.DSC.exe schema --resource 'settings' --module Awake
{"$schema":"http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#","title":"SettingsResourceObjectOfAwakeSettings","type":"object","additionalProperties":false,"required":["settings"],"properties":{"_inDesiredState":{"type":["boolean","null"],"description":"Indicates whether an instance is in the desired state"},"settings":{"description":"The settings content for the module."}}}
PS E:\src\powertoys> PowerToys.DSC.exe schema --resource 'settings' --module Awake | Format-Json

📦 Manifest

Generates a manifest dsc resource JSON file for the specified module.

  • If the module is not specified, it will generate a manifest for all modules.
  • If the output directory is not specified, it will print the manifest to the console.
PS C:\> PowerToys.DSC.exe manifest --resource settings --module 'Awake' --outputDir "C:\manifests"