How to Use VIA: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
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Table of contents
How to Remap The Keys on VIA?
- If your keyboard supports VIA, please download the corressponding JSON file on our website.
- Connect your keyboard (the keyboard should be in wired mode) and click here to open the VIA.
- Go to the SETTINGS page and enable Show Design Tab. After that, switch to the DESIGN page and load your keyboard’s JSON file
- Switch to the CONFIGURE page and click Authorize Device. In the pop-up window, select your keyboard model and click Connect. Your keyboard will then be successfully connected to VIA.
How to Create A Macro on VIA?
What is a Macro?
A macro is a sequence of keystrokes recorded into a single key. Once assigned, pressing one key can automatically perform multiple key actions.
For example: You can create a macro that automatically types 1234, or performs a shortcut combination with a single press.
How to set up a macro in VIA
1. After connecting your keyboard to VIA, go to the CONFIGURE page. In the function panel on the left side, find MACROS. You will see M0–M15, which means VIA supports up to 16 macros.
2. Take setting up M0 as an example. After clicking M0, you need to enter fullscreen mode before you can start recording the macro. Then press the keys you want to record in sequence.
For example, if you want a single key press to automatically input 1234, click Record Keystrokes, then press 1,2,3,and 4 in order. After that, stop the recording and save the macro.
3. After setting up macro M0, return to the KEYMAP page and find MACRO. Click the key you want to assign the macro to on the keyboard layout above. For example, click the Z key, then click M0 below. Once assigned successfully, the Z key will display as M0 on the keyboard layout.
If you do not want the macro to execute all keystrokes instantly and continuously, but instead follow the timing intervals used during recording, you can enable Record Delay before recording.When enabled, VIA will record the time interval between each keystroke, allowing the macro to play back with the same rhythm as originally recorded.
Understanding Each Layer
Layer 0 & Layer 1
VIA keyboards usually have four layers: Layer 0, Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 3.
Layer 0 and Layer 1 are used in Windows mode.
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Layer 0 is the default typing layer used for everyday keyboard input. Standard keys such as letters, numbers, and modifier keys are all located on this layer by default.The characters and functions shown in Layer 0 are what the keyboard outputs when the key is pressed normally.
- Layer 1 is the function layer activated by holding the FN key in Windows mode. When the FN key is held, the keyboard temporarily switches from Layer 0 to Layer 1. This means that functions assigned in Layer 1 can only be triggered by pressing FN + the assigned key.
For example:
In Layer 1, the \| key is assigned as RGB Mode+. So during actual use, pressing FN + | will switch the keyboard lighting mode.
Layer 2 & Layer 3
Layer 2 and Layer 3 are used in Mac mode.
- Layer 2 is the default layer in Mac mode. The characters and functions displayed in Layer 2 are what the keyboard outputs when the key is pressed normally in Mac mode.
- Layer 3 is the FN layer for Mac mode. It works similarly to Layer 1 in Windows mode, meaning functions assigned in Layer 3 can only be triggered by pressing FN + the assigned key.
For example:
In Layer 3, the ]} key is assigned as Pause. This means pressing FN + ]} in Mac mode will trigger the Pause function.
How Layer Switching Works
In the KEYMAP interface, you will see a Layers section in the sidebar. This section controls how the keyboard switches between layers.
| Function | Descrioption |
| MO(1) | Momentarily activate Layer 1 while holding the key |
| TG(2) | Toggle to Layer 2 |
| TO(0) | Switch directly back to Layer 0 |
| DF(0) | Set Layer 0 as the default layer |
If you are using Windows mode, the keyboard normally operates on Layer 0. You will notice that the FN key is assigned as MO(1), which means holding the FN key will temporarily switch the keyboard to Layer 1. Pressing a key with a function assigned in Layer 1 will then trigger that function.
Similarly, if you are using Mac mode, the keyboard normally operates on Layer 2. In this case, the FN key is assigned as MO(3), meaning holding the FN key will temporarily switch the keyboard to Layer 3, allowing the corresponding functions to be activated.
