Any regular Android user should by now be familiar with its conventional button layout of the power and volume keys. Of course, there are a few exceptions to this such as the Sony Xperia which has an extra Camera button, but by large most of us wish to setup custom shortcut keys on our Android device for added flexibility.
Remapping physical keys on Android earlier needed the expertise of being a rooted power-user. However, with the accessibility settings of Android Marshmallow, you can remap key without root access by using a few simple steps. Now, you can create your desired shortcut just as you want it without having to go through complicated and possibly risky (for new users) maneuvers. Here are the steps to follow for getting it done.
How to Turn Any Button into Shortcut Key on Android Phone
Step 1: Firstly, download the Button Mapper app from Play Store. It should be shown as a Beta version but ignore this and go ahead.
Step 2: After the app gets downloaded and installed properly, just launch it as usual like any other app.
Step 3: Once you open the app, it will prompt you to select the Go button, do it by pressing. Just go ahead as per the instruction.
Step 4: After the previous step, you should reach the ‘Accessibility’ page located in your phone’s Settings menu. Keep scrolling downward and locate Button Mapper in the list of apps. Now, use the Toggle switch present at the top right corner to enable it by switching on for allowing access.
Step 5: As soon as you return to the app you will view the list of all physical buttons, select the button that you wish to convert into a shortcut key.
Step 6: Next, change the switch to On present adjacent to the Customize button.
Step 7: Now, you just have to choose whether you want the Single tap or the Long press the button options.
Step 8: Using the above mentioned steps will let you provide each button with a dedicated task. You can select them to see the complete list of assigned shortcuts that you can apply.
There is an in-app purchase the Button Mapper app offers that you can avail to get the Double Tap benefit for the shortcut keys. If you prefer that you can opt for it, but until then we suggest you to use the long press options or single tap which becomes easy if you use the app frequently.
Don’t Miss: How to Add Recycle Bin on Android Phone
Just go ahead and try having a shortcut on any button of your smartphone using these instructions without having to root. Do the steps again and create as many shortcut keys as you like with other physical buttons for easy access. Share your feedback with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.