Keyboard
This page outlines keyboard behavior specific to different host operating systems, real keyboards and emulated machines.
Host systems
Windows
Multimedia keys such as Volume Up/Down cannot be passed through to the emulated machine due to a Windows limitation.
System-wide key remapping through the Scancode Map registry key (as performed by applications such as SharpKeys) is fully supported.
macOS
Apple keyboards with European or other ISO layouts may have the key below Esc and the key to the right of Left Shift switch places in the emulated machine, due to a hardware quirk in many of those keyboards (both internal and external) and a limitation in the way macOS corrects it.
The Num = key is only usable in operating systems which recognize that key on Microsoft PS/2 multimedia keyboards.
Mac special keys are mapped to their PC equivalents where possible:
Emulated key |
Host key |
|---|---|
Windows |
Command |
Alt |
Option |
Print Screen |
F13 |
Scroll Lock |
F14 |
Pause |
F15 |
Insert |
Command + Fn + Delete (MacBook and tenkeyless keyboards) Command + Forward Delete (full size keyboards) |
Num Lock |
Clear |
Linux
The xkbcommon library is used to accurately map physical keys to the emulated keyboard on both X11 and Wayland. When compiling 86Box from source, make sure the development files for
libxkbcommonandlibxkbcommon-x11are installed, as this is an optional build component.
Special keys
Some machines provide additional function or otherwise special keys on top of the standard PC layout. Those keys are mapped to ones present on modern keyboards within reason.
Olivetti
The Olivetti M series special keys are mapped as such:
Emulated key |
Host key |
|---|---|
CLEAR |
Page Up |
BREAK |
Page Down |
SCR PRT |
Print Screen |
HELP |
Menu |
00 |
Left Windows |
F13 |
Insert |
F14 |
Home |
F15 |
Del |
F16 |
End |
F17 |
Right Alt |
F18 |
Right Win |
Toshiba
The Toshiba T1000 series function keys can be accessed by holding Right Alt or Right Ctrl:
Function |
Right Alt/Ctrl + |
|---|---|
Show/hide numeric keypad overlay |
Num Lock |
Change internal display font |
Right |
Use internal display |
Home |
Use external display |
End |
Turbo mode on (T1200) |
Page Up |
Turbo mode off (T1200) |
Page Down |
Show/hide pop-up window (T1200) |
Print Screen |