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Needs ability to hold a key or series of keys down (I.e. Option/Alt at computer power-on) #230

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opened 2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00 by deekerman · 7 comments

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00

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Originally created by @SemoTech on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025).

In order to allow the selection of a bootable device on a Mac one needs the ability to press and hold the Option/Alt key as well as other key combinations such as Command-R or Option-Command-R, etc... there should be a way to add these into a macro and be able to enable it before the computer powers on so it receives the correct power-on key combination.

Does anyone know how this can be achieved?

Originally created by @SemoTech on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025). In order to allow the selection of a bootable device on a Mac one needs the ability to press and hold the Option/Alt key as well as other key combinations such as Command-R or Option-Command-R, etc... there should be a way to add these into a macro and be able to enable it before the computer powers on so it receives the correct power-on key combination. Does anyone know how this can be achieved?

deekerman added the

component: hid/keyboard

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2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00

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@Nevexo commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025):

Keyboard Macros will be available in the next release. Holding modifiers down on the virtual keyboard is something to work on, but you can hold those keys yourself with the normal keyboard input at the moment.

@Nevexo commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025): Keyboard Macros will be available in the next release. Holding modifiers down on the virtual keyboard is something to work on, but you can hold those keys yourself with the normal keyboard input at the moment.

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00

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@SemoTech commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025):

Keyboard Macros will be available in the next release. Holding modifiers down on the virtual keyboard is something to work on, but you can hold those keys yourself with the normal keyboard input at the moment.

That's great to hear as otherwise it defeats the purpose of a remote KVM if one has to use a local keyboard!

@SemoTech commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025): > Keyboard Macros will be available in the next release. Holding modifiers down on the virtual keyboard is something to work on, but you can hold those keys yourself with the normal keyboard input at the moment. That's great to hear as otherwise it defeats the purpose of a remote KVM if one has to use a local keyboard!

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00

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@Nevexo commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025):

use a local keyboard!

I mean, for the avoidance of any doubt, I did mean the keyboard plugged into the computer you're using to access the KVM. Held-down modifiers on the actual keyboard are forwarded to the remote side.

@Nevexo commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025): > use a local keyboard! I mean, for the avoidance of any doubt, I did mean the keyboard plugged into the computer you're using to access the KVM. Held-down modifiers on the actual keyboard are forwarded to the remote side.

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00

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@SemoTech commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025):

use a local keyboard!

I mean, for the avoidance of any doubt, I did mean the keyboard plugged into the computer you're using to access the KVM. Held-down modifiers on the actual keyboard are forwarded to the remote side.

I was shocked that I did not think of that, and so I JUST tried it by holding down [Option] key from my client computer while the JetKVM powered by a PoE injector and always ON was connected to a Mac mini 2018.

Sadly it did NOT work and the Mac mini never showed the Boot Selection screen, just proceed to boot from the internal SSD. While I held [Option] down, the virtual keyboard of the JetKVM listed "Keys: AltLeft, AltLeft" solid, but somehow the Mac mini did not receive the solid keypress properly...

Unfortunately holding the keys down from the control computer does not work!

Also other key combinations like [Command-R] do not work as the browser interprets them and refreshes the webpage of the JetKVM. So we really need programmable macros!

@SemoTech commented on GitHub (Apr 30, 2025): > > use a local keyboard! > > I mean, for the avoidance of any doubt, I did mean the keyboard plugged into the computer you're using to access the KVM. Held-down modifiers on the actual keyboard are forwarded to the remote side. I was shocked that I did not think of that, and so I JUST tried it by holding down [Option] key from my client computer while the JetKVM powered by a PoE injector and always ON was connected to a Mac mini 2018. Sadly it did NOT work and the Mac mini never showed the Boot Selection screen, just proceed to boot from the internal SSD. While I held [Option] down, the virtual keyboard of the JetKVM listed "Keys: AltLeft, AltLeft" solid, but somehow the Mac mini did not receive the solid keypress properly... Unfortunately holding the keys down from the control computer does not work! Also other key combinations like [Command-R] do not work as the browser interprets them and refreshes the webpage of the JetKVM. So we really need programmable macros!

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00

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@IDisposable commented on GitHub (May 26, 2025):

Once they merge #500, this will be possible.

@IDisposable commented on GitHub (May 26, 2025): Once they merge #500, this will be possible.

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00

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@SemoTech commented on GitHub (May 26, 2025):

Once they merge #500, this will be possible.

This is great and most welcome. What build/version will this be integrated in?

@SemoTech commented on GitHub (May 26, 2025): > Once they merge [#500](https://github.com/jetkvm/kvm/pull/500), this will be possible. This is great and most welcome. What build/version will this be integrated in?

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 08:21:23 -05:00

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@IDisposable commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2025):

Once they merge #500, this will be possible.

This is great and most welcome. What build/version will this be integrated in?

@ym?

@IDisposable commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2025): > > Once they merge [#500](https://github.com/jetkvm/kvm/pull/500), this will be possible. > > This is great and most welcome. What build/version will this be integrated in? @ym?