---
title: Keyman Configuration - Options Tab
---
The Options tab of Keyman Configuration includes the Keyman application
options. You can use the Options tab to set general, startup, Keyman
Toolbox On Screen Keyboard and advanced options.
## Opening the Options Tab
To open the Options tab of Keyman Configuration:
1. Click on the Keyman icon , on the
Windows Taskbar near the clock.
2. From the Keyman menu, select Configuration....
3. Select the Options tab.
**Tip:**
Keyman Configuration opens in the same tab you last closed it in.
## Using General Options
- Keyboard hotkeys toggle keyboard activation
You can set unique hotkeys for quick access to any Keyman keyboard.
Tick this option to allow a Keyman keyboard hotkey to toggle a
keyboard on and off. Untick this option and a Keyman keyboard hotkey
will only turn the Keyman keyboard on.
**Tip:**
Set hotkeys in the Hotkeys tab of Keyman Configuration.
- Simulate AltGr with Ctrl+Alt
Some hardware keyboards do not have a designated AltGr key
(Right Alt key). Some Keyman keyboards require
AltGr. Tick this option to allow Ctrl +
Alt to be used for AltGr. Untick this option
and Ctrl + Alt will not be used for
AltGr.
- Show hint messages
You can turn on and off the beginner hint messages which appear
while using Keyman. Tick this option to show all hint messages.
Untick this option to hide all hint messages.
**Note:**
You can also hide hint messages on a case-by-case basis by ticking
at the bottom of each hint.
- Reset Hints
Click the Reset Hints button to switch all hint messages on again,
even those that you have switched off on a case-by-case basis.
- Automatically report errors to keyman.com
If Keyman crashes, then it can automatically send a report to the
development team. This report is anonymous and contains only
technical details relating to the crash. It does not include
keystroke data or personally identifying data.
- Share anonymous usage statistics with keyman.com
In order to understand how users engage with different parts of
the Keyman program, anonymous usage statistics may be periodically
sent to keyman.com. These statistics do not include keystroke data
or any personally identifying data. If you would prefer not to
share these statistics, uncheck this box.
**Note:** In Keyman 16.0, no statistics are currently sent,
although the infrastructure is in place.
## Using Startup Options
- Test for conflicting applications when Keyman starts
Some applications are not written according to the Windows software
development standards and can cause problems with Keyman keyboard
input. Tick this option to have Keyman detect problem applications
and attempt to work around them.
- Start when Windows starts
You can have Keyman start when you login to Windows. Tick this
option to have Keyman start automatically after you have logged in.
When you use this option, Keyman will not show its startup screen.
If you untick this option, you can start Keyman yourself from the
Start Menu.
- Show splash screen
You can turn on and off the Keyman startup screen that appears when
Keyman starts. Tick this option to show the startup screen when
Keyman is started. Note that the startup screen will not show when
Keyman is started automatically with Windows.
- Automatically check keyman.com weekly for updates.
Keyman can automatically check for application and keyboard updates
once a week. No personally identifiable information is sent to
Keyman in this process. Tick this option to have Keyman
automatically check weekly for updates to Keyman and the keyboards
you have installed. Untick this option to check for updates
manually.
**Note:**
Keyman can be updated manually through the Support tab in the
Configuration menu.
## Using On Screen Keyboard Options
- Release Shift/Ctrl/Alt on On Screen Keyboard after clicking a key
By default, the On Screen Keyboard of the Keyman Toolbox uses
\'sticky\' Ctrl, Shift or Alt
keys. This means Ctrl, Shift and Alt
stay down on the On Screen Keyboard until they are clicked again or
until you press the actual keys on your hardware keyboard. Tick this
option to release these keys after any key is clicked on the
On Screen Keyboard.
- Always show On Screen Keyboard Window when Keyman keyboard is
selected
You can have the On Screen Keyboard view of the Keyman Toolbox
automatically display whenever you turn on a Keyman keyboard. Tick
this option to have the On Screen Keyboard view for your keyboard
automatically display. Untick this option to prevent this behaviour.
- Switch to appropriate On Screen Keyboard/Help automatically when a
keyboard is selected
## Using Advanced Options
- Debugging
If you are having issues with Keyman, you can create a debug log for
Keyman. A debug log contains information to help Keyman Technical
Support resolve compatibility issues and improve Keyman. Tick this
option to begin a debug log. You should not need to use this option
unless you are requested to do so by Keyman Technical Support in
relation to an issue you are experiencing.
The debug log files are created in %LOCALAPPDATA%\\Keyman\\Diag, and
called system\#.etl, where \# is a number from 0 to 15. Each time
you start Keyman, a new log file will be created, up to
system15.etl, after which it will wrap around and start again at
system0.etl. Untick this option to stop collecting a debug log.
Debug log files will be sent to Keyman Technical Support when you
send a diagnostic report to us with the Keyman System Information
tool.
Debug log files are in binary format and can be imported into
Windows Performance Analyzer for viewing.
**Note:**
It is highly recommended that you switch off this option after
obtaining the debug log. The log files can grow very large very
quickly!
**Warning:**
Privacy Warning - The debug log records every keystroke you type,
even if a Keyman keyboard is not active. This includes logins and
passwords! For this reason, we recommend only switching the debug
log on for short and isolated tests as specifically requested by
Keyman Technical Support.
## Related Topics
- [Keyman Configuration](../config/)
- [Hotkeys tab](hotkeys)