HHKB Professional Classic Type-S brings customisation to the Wired Experience

The new HHKB Professional Classic Type-S is a wired keyboard that blends HHKB’s signature minimalist design with a powerful new feature: keymap customisation.

For the first time in the Classic series, users can now personalise their HHKB layout using the official keymap change tool. This long-requested capability allows you to remap keys, assign macros, and tailor your keyboard to your exact workflow, whether you're coding, writing, or simply chasing the perfect setup.

Here's how it works and why it’s a game-changer for anyone who spends serious time at the keys.

What Is the HHKB Keymap Customisation Tool?

The HHKB keymap tool is a dedicated software application that allows users to remap the keys on compatible HHKB models, including HHKB Studio, Professional HYBRID, HYBRID Type-S, and now the Classic Type-S. It’s available for Windows and macOS, and once installed, it lets you redefine how each key behaves.

How It Works

Download & Install: The tool is available here. Once installed, connect your HHKB via USB.
Remap Keys: You can assign new functions to any key, whether it's swapping Caps Lock with Control, assigning macros, or creating shortcuts for your most-used commands.
Create Profiles: Save multiple layouts for different workflows (e.g., coding, writing, gaming) and switch between them as needed.
Write to Keyboard Memory: Your custom layout is saved directly to the keyboard, so it works across devices and operating systems without needing to reconfigure.

Why It Matters

1. Boost Productivity

Customising your layout means fewer keystrokes and faster access to the functions you use most. Developers can assign build/run commands to a single key. Writers can streamline navigation. Designers can map shortcuts for their creative tools. This is particularly important since HHKB are 60% keyboards, meaning you have less key in order to achieve speedy typing.

2. Cross-Platform Consistency

Because the layout is stored on the keyboard itself, your custom setup travels with you. Whether you're switching between macOS, Windows, or even mobile devices, your HHKB behaves exactly how you want it to.

3. Ergonomic Efficiency

HHKB’s layout is already designed for minimal finger movement. With keymap customisation, you can take that further, placing frequently used keys where your fingers naturally rest, reducing strain and improving comfort over long sessions.

4. Personalised Workflows

From assigning screenshot functions to rarely-used keys, to creating alternate layouts for multilingual typing, the tool adapts to your unique needs. You’re not locked into a default layout, you’re free to build your own.

In our HHKB UK blog post, multi-creator Teyui Okura shared how she uses the keymap tool of our HHKB Studio model to streamline her creative work. She replaced "Shift" with "Delete" to make typing smoother, allowing her to complete tasks with fewer steps and more comfort.

Getting Started

You can download the HHKB keymap tool for our new HHKB Professional Classic Type-S from the official HHKB support page.

Whether you're customising for speed, comfort, or creativity, the HHKB keymap tool puts you in control, without compromising the elegance and simplicity that HHKB is known for.

And the new HHKB Professional Classic Type-S model also boosts Topre silent Switches engineered for a quieter, more tactile typing experience perfect whether you are working from a shared office or on a train. It also connects via USB-C and supports macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. It’s a plug-and-play solution for users who prefer a wired setup.

This model, available in Charcoal, White, and Snow and is designed to fit seamlessly into any workspace.

And for a more personalised look, you can add coloured keycaps in Dandelion, Wasabi or our new, Wisteria colour, in blank or printed keycaps, available on pfuemea.com.