🧿Top Questions About TailorKey
Last updated February 12, 2026

Capabilities

Glorious Engrammer difference?

TailorKey is heavily inspired by Sunaku’s Glorious Engrammer (GE)—all credit for the design goes to Sunaku!
Rather than relying on custom code, it’s recreated in the GUI to be easy to understand, adjust, and use—accessible for beginners and powerful enough for pros.

Key Differences:

• • Zero-code vs Custom Code: GE relies on Custom Defined Behaviors (code).
    TailorKey rebuilds many of its best concepts using only the GUI—easy to understand, modify, and use.

  • Ready-to-use features: Home-Row Modifiers, Autoshift, Symbol, Cursor, Mouse, and Gaming layers—all work out of the box. Default QWERTY layout, easily swapped to other layouts. Dual-OS support included for both macOS and Windows.

  • What’s not included (and not will be): World & Emoji layers (OS already provides this), Function key & Number layers (optional to add).

    • What you can add: sticky_key_modtap (oneshot shift)

    • Enhium alpha layer?  Included in the alphaswap tool on the 'Get it now' page

In short: TailorKey brings the power and ideas of Glorious Engrammer in a zero-code, beginner-friendly, and easily customizable layout. You can use it as-is or tailor every detail to your workflow.  
📌 For more details, see: What is the difference between Custom and Native Behaviors
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What is Bilateral HRM?

Home-row modifiers (Ctrl, Shift, Alt) only “work” when pressed with a key from the opposite hand. It’s like teamwork for your fingers—typing becomes smoother, more comfortable, and less mistakes!
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Why the finger layers?

This is required to support Bilateral HRM and is explained in detail on the Glove80 and Go60 pages.
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Curious about the latest updates?

Check the update history to see a full log of all changes.
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Only interested in certain parts?

A: Simply copy the layers you need. Check out this video for guidance.
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Why modifiers on the thumb?

TailorKey places modifiers on the home row for convenience. The thumb modifiers are optional—you can keep them as they are, use the default MoErgo layout, or customize them to whatever you prefer.
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Windows & MacOS—advice?

When setting up a dual-OS keyboard layout, you’ve got two solid paths to choose from:

1) Separate layers for each OS

Create dedicated layers—one for Windows, one for macOS—and flip between them as needed. This mirrors how the TailorKey Dual-OS layout works and keeps each system’s shortcuts perfectly intact. To automatically switch layer, when switching bluetooth profle, see this Discord post.
There’s no TK Bilateral version for this approach, since it would require duplicating every layer.

2) Make both OSes play nicely together

macOS lets you remap modifier keys per external keyboard, which means you can tune your modifiers to match Windows shortcuts. Once set up, your keyboard will feel almost identical across both systems without constantly switching layers.  See the Apple how-to here.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Home-Row Mods Lag / Latency

Troubleshooting HRM: Snappiness vs. Accuracy
HRM settings are based on Sunaku’s Glorious Engrammer Adanced per finger (Bilateral) HRM.
⚠️ There is no single ‘best’ setting for everyone.

Why does it feel slow?
Home-Row Mods (HRM) let each key do two jobs at once: typing a letter when tapped, or acting as a modifier when held. At first, this can feel like a slight delay—you press a key, and the letter appears a moment later. This is normal and called the Decision Window. The keyboard is just waiting a tiny fraction of a second to see if you are tapping or holding. We have collected some predefined HRM styles and values—choose the one that feels best for you.

Step1:  Rule out Hardware & Environment

Before changing your settings, ensure the delay isn't coming from outside the keyboard:

• Test Connectivity: Plug in via USB. If the lag disappears, the issue is likely Bluetooth related.

• Disable HRM Temporarily: On the TailorKey Layout, press [Magic] + [=] to enter "Typing Mode." This turns off HRM logic so you can feel the raw speed of ZMK.  

• Check the Host: Sometimes "lag" is actually the computer. Try using a USB 2.0 port instead of 3.0, or disable USB power-saving settings in your OS.

 Step2:  Personalize your HRM settings

Home-Row Mods often feel like a trade-off between “laggy” keys and “accidental” shortcuts. The secret is adjusting Hold-Tap settings.

Hold-Tap means a key does one action when tapped and another when held. How the keyboard decides is controlled by the Hold-Tap Flavor.

1. Safety Setup: Tap-Preferred
(Default for Sunaku's Glorious Engrammer and TailorKey)

• Feel: Letters appear only when you lift your finger. 

• Logic: Assumes every keypress is a letter unless you hold it. 

• Pro: Safe. You can type fast and roll your fingers across keys without triggering accidental modifiers. 

• Trap for Newbies: The small visual delay may feel slow, but your speed is not affected. You can still type 120+ WPM.

• Truth: Most professional programmers prefer this. A tiny delay is better than accidentally closing a window while typing fast.
  
  

2. Speed Setup: Balanced
(Default in TailorKey Essentials for Go60)

• Feel: Snappy and instant; letters appear immediately.

• Logic: Pressing a second key while the first is still down assumes you want a modifier.

• Pro: Very responsive; no waiting for modifiers.

• Trap for Newbies: Rolling fingers can trigger random shortcuts.

• Truth: Works best for deliberate, rhythmic typists who press and release each key clearly.
  
  
  

Step3:  Tune the Timer

If Tap-Preferred feels too slow, you don’t need to change the flavor. Adjust the Tapping Term instead. This is the Decision Window—the time the keyboard waits before deciding between tap and hold.

Sunaku defined recommended difficulty levels for safe starting values. You can find these in the ZMK HRM Best Practice values sheet and the🔥TailorKey HRM Tuning Tool.

To use the HRM Tuning Tool:

1. Create a JSON backup of your layout

2. Adjust values in the tool

3. Restore the backup

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Windows error when copy .uf2 file?

Don’t worry! This error happens because the MoErgo keyboard restarts very quickly after updating the layout.
Windows sometimes misses the completion signal and shows an error.

The layout has been copied successfully, and your keyboard will work normally.

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Can I change the Layer order?

🚩

• Not recommended: ZMK layers are like a stack of paper; higher numbers always sit on top and "cover" lower ones.

• Layer 0 is Base: Your typing layers, incl. finger layer must stay at the top function layers can "overlay" it correctly.

• The "Trap" Risk: If you move a layer to a different position, it can hide the keys needed to switch back, trapping you.

• Stay Safe: Unless you understand the ZMK stack, keep the TailorKey numbers as they are to avoid broken navigation.
  
  

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Go60: key delay after touchpad use

⚠️I have made a change on feb 14, 2026 to avoid confusion around this feature. (no bug!)
See version v4.2m5 and later.  See changelog

When you touch the touchpad, the Mouse Layer turns on automatically for X milliseconds.
While it’s on, you can change scroll speed, move the mouse, and use all Mouse Layer features without holding the thumb key.

This is a great feature, but it caused too many questions and confusion because the default timeout was 2000ms (2 seconds), which can created a short delay when returning to normal typing after using the touchpad. The default value is now set to 250ms.  💡Discord Video: How to Change It Manually

🔧 Advanced Tip

To use the advanced functionality (the way I use it), set the timeout to 10,000 ms.
This makes the Mouse Layer automatically activate for 10 seconds when you touch the trackpad, making click-and-drag actions easier and more intuitive.

To stop the Mouse Layer before the timeout ends, press the toggle key on R-T2 (&tog mouse_layer) on the Mouse Layer.  (Add if it does not exist in your layout)

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Wrong Symbols when on non-US

If you change the country/language in the Layout Editor, you may notice that your Symbol Layer no longer matches the original.

Why this happens:
TailorKey is designed for the en-US keyboard layout. Keyboards send key positions, not characters. Your operating system determines which symbols appear based on the keyboard layout.

For example, if your computer is set to a German layout, many symbols may appear in unexpected locations.

How to fix it:

1. Set both the Layout Editor and your OS keyboard layout to US

2. Manually adjust the Symbol Layer - You can search the catalog for a adjusted symbol layer and copy a layer to fix mismatched symbols.

3. Consider using an alternative OS layout such as EURkey, which may better match your locale.

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Bksp and Space key won't repeat?

The Issue: Holding Backspace doesn't delete multiple characters; holding Space doesn't make a long gap.
The Cause: This is a feature! In TailorKey, holding Space or Backspace activates a Layer (like Symbols or Cursor Layer).

How to repeat keys:

• Backspace: Tap it once quickly, release, then immediately hold it down. Alternatively, use Backspace on the Cursor layer (R).

• Space: Activate the Symbol Layer (Hold Space). The Space key on that layer (L) will repeat normally.
  
  

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Using App/Window Switcher?

Press the two left thumb keys together and use the arrow keys on the right side of the home row to navigate between open applications or windows.
How this works: Mod-Tap macro is activated from the Cursor layer / Combo.  For Glove80, see the shortcut page. This text should be improved for Go60.

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Layer Tuning (Cursor/Symbol)?

Difficulty with Cursor or Symbol layer when held?
If the thumb keys feel "sticky" or don't activate fast enough, you need to adjust the timing. You can change these hold-tap values in your Layout Editor for &space and/or &thumb.  Also see the TailorKey tuning sheet with best practise values from Sunaku's Glorious Engrammer for &thumb and &space.

Tips & Tweaks

How do I switch layers?

Short answer: You usually don't. TailorKey is designed around momentary layers—you hold a key to access the layer, and release to go back. This builds muscle memory faster and does not confuse users.

Exceptions: The Gaming, Typing, and OS layers can be toggled permanently using the Magic Layer.

Visual Aid: If you enable RGB (PR36), the keys will change color (e.g., Yellow for Autoshift) to show you which mode you are in.
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I need an AltGr key?

You have multiple options to add an AltGr key:

1. Combo Method: Create a combo (e.g., pressing W + S together) that acts as RALT.

2. The "Sticky" Method: Add &sk RALT (Sticky Right Alt) to your base layer. Tap it once, and your next keypress will have RALT applied.

3. Add a hold-tap

4. Add a normal &kp key

If you prefer a US keyboard layout —and just need quick access to European characters—EUR Key might be something for you.
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Layers switch on Bluetooth?

See this Discord post
Example Summary: You can assign macro to a key that executes &bt BT_SEL 0 followed by a &to [Layer Number] command to ensure your layout matches the connected device (e.g., switching to your macOS layer when connecting to Bluetooth Profile 1).

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Per-Key/Layer RGB Lighting

See the howto guide

Interesting thumb issue from GE user:

answer from Sunaku:
Make the LeftMiddy layer's thumb key a &mo LAYER_Cursor instead of &trans to avoid additional hold-tap timing requirements
https://discord.com/channels/877392805654306816/1438453055421939856/1460664315265945603