Keys and Key Codes for Windows Mobile

4/8/2010

Windows Mobile maintains a device–independent keyboard model that enables it to support a variety of keyboards. At the lowest level, each key on the keyboard generates a scan code when the key is pressed and released. The scan code is a hardware–dependent number that identifies the key. The keyboard driver translates or maps each scan code to a virtual key code. The virtual key code is a hardware–independent hexadecimal number that identifies the key. Because keyboard layouts vary from language to language, Windows Mobile offers only the core set of virtual key codes that are found on all keyboards. This core set includes English characters, numbers, and a few critical keys, such as the function and arrow keys. Keys that are not included in the core set also have virtual key code assignments, but their values vary from one keyboard layout to the next. You should depend only on the virtual key codes that are in the core set.

Key Codes

The following table shows the symbolic constant names, hexadecimal values, and keyboard equivalents for the virtual key codes used by the Windows Mobile operating system. The codes are listed in numeric order. You can combine any of the codes with a modifier key to create a hot key.

A VK_code is a byte, and so there are only 256 VK_codes total. The virtual key codes listed in the "Virtual key codes" section below are shared with Windows Embedded CE. More virtual keys were required for functionality, and so many hex values are shared between both a traditional Windows Embedded CE value and a Windows Mobile–specific value.

The following table provides a list of the mappings between the traditional VK constants and the additional Windows Mobile–specific value.

Hexadecimal value	Windows Embedded CE constant	Shared Windows Mobile constant	Windows Mobile purpose
0x08	VK_BACK	VK_TBACK	Back.
0x0D	VK_RETURN	VK_TACTION	Action.
0x25	VK_LEFT	VK_TLEFT	Left.
0x26	VK_UP	VK_TUP	Up.
0x27	VK_RIGHT	VK_TRIGHT	Right.
0x28	VK_DOWN	VK_TDOWN	Down.
0x5B	VK_LWIN	VK_THOME	Home screen
0x70	VK_F1	VK_TSOFT1	Softkey 1.
0x71	VK_F2	VK_TSOFT2	Softkey 2.
0x72	VK_F3	VK_TTALK	Talk
0x73	VK_F4	VK_TEND	End
0x75	VK_F6	VK_TVOLUMEUP	Volume Up.
0x76	VK_F7	VK_TVOLUMEDOWN	Volume Down.
0x77	VK_F8	VK_TSTAR	*
0x78	VK_F9	VK_TPOUND	#
0x79	VK_F10	VK_TRECORD	Record.
0x7A	VK_F11	VK_SYMBOL	Symbol (SYM) key.
0x7E	VK_F15	VK_END_ALL_DATA_CALLS	Disconnects all data calls without affecting the status of voice calls.
0x7F	VK_F16	VK_TSPEAKERPHONE_TOGGLE	Toggles speakerphone on and off.
0x80	VK_F17	VK_TFLIP	Flip.
0x81	VK_F18	VK_TPOWER	Power.
0x82	VK_F19	VK_REDKEY	Sent by a keypad that has a special red function key.
0x83	VK_F20	VK_ROCKER	Arrow keys came from a Rocker.
0x84	VK_F21	VK_DPAD	Arrow keys came from a d–pad.
0x85	VK_F22	VK_KEYLOCK	Key used to lock device.
0x86	VK_F23	VK_ACTION	Sent with VK_RETURN when doing Action on Windows Mobile Classic rockers.
0x87	VK_F24	VK_VOICEDIAL	Key used to kick off voice dial recognition.

For more information about the d-pad, see D-pad Virtual Key Code Support. For more information about soft keys, see Soft Key Virtual Key Codes.

Note

Beginning with Windows Mobile 6.5.3, soft keys are replaced by touchable tiles on Windows Mobile Professional phones.

The following keys were undefined for Windows Embedded CE, but are overridden as application keys in Windows Mobile.

Hexadecimal value	Windows Mobile constant
0xC1	VK_APP_FIRST
0xC1	VK_APP1
0xC2	VK_APP2
0xC3	VK_APP3
0xC4	VK_APP4
0xC5	VK_APP5
0xC6	VK_APP6
0xC6	VK_APP_LAST

The VK_APP keys will only be recognized by the system if they are wrapped with VK_LWIN. The following code snippet demonstrates how to do this programmatically.

keybd_event(VK_LWIN, 0, KEYEVENTF_SILENT, 0);
GenKeyEvent(VK_APP1);
keybd_event(VK_LWIN, 0, KEYEVENTF_SILENT | KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);

And finally, the following chorded keys are implemented for Windows Mobile.

Windows Mobile constant	Hexadecimal value	Purpose
VK_DONE	VK_RWIN + VK_F6	<OK/Close> hotkey code. See SmartMinimize Button.
MOD_DONE	(MOD_WIN | MOD_KEYUP)	<OK/Close> hotkey modifiers
VK_MOJI	VK_RWIN + VK_F7	Key used to switch between East Asian language layouts.
MOD_MOJI	(MOD_WIN | MOD_KEYUP)	Modifiers so MOJI goes to the shell.

VK_A to VK_Z and VK_0 to VK_9 are defined to be the same values as their ASCII counterparts. So VK_A is 0x41 and VK_0 is 0x30. Windows Mobile also defines the following numerical codes.

Hexadecimal value	Windows Embedded CE constant	Windows Mobile constant
0x30	VK_0	VK_T0
0x31	VK_1	VK_T1
0x32	VK_2	VK_T2
0x33	VK_3	VK_T3
0x34	VK_4	VK_T4
0x35	VK_5	VK_T5
0x36	VK_6	VK_T6
0x37	VK_7	VK_T7
0x38	VK_8	VK_T8
0x39	VK_9	VK_T9

VK_0 (which is the same as VK_T0) and VK_NUMPAD0 are different keys. On the desktop keyboard, VK_0 is the key just above and to the left of VK_P. VK_NUMPAD0 is the key at the bottom of the number pad on the far right of the keyboard. Windows Mobile applications will always look for VK_0, but can also look for both VK_0 and VK_NUMPAD0 in order to do the correct thing if there was a device with a numpad.

Virtual key codes in Windows Mobile

Symbolic constant	Hexadecimal value	Additional mapping defined for Windows Mobile	Mouse or keyboard equivalent
VK_LBUTTON	0x01		Left mouse button.
VK_RBUTTON	0x02		Right mouse button.
VK_CANCEL	0x03		Control–break processing.
VK_MBUTTON	0x04		Middle mouse button on a three–button mouse.
	0x05–0x07		Undefined.
VK_BACK	0x08		BACKSPACE key.
VK_TAB	0x09		TAB key.
	0x0A–0x0B		Undefined.
VK_CLEAR	0x0C		CLEAR key.
VK_RETURN	0x0D		ENTER key.
	0x0E–0x0F		Undefined.
VK_SHIFT	0x10		SHIFT key.
VK_CONTROL	0x11		CTRL key.
VK_MENU	0x12		ALT key.
VK_PAUSE	0x13		PAUSE key.
VK_CAPITAL	0x14		CAPS LOCK key.
	0x15–0x19		Reserved for Kanji systems.
	0x1A		Undefined.
VK_ESCAPE	0x1B		ESC key.
	0x1C–0x1F		Reserved for Kanji systems.
VK_SPACE	0x20		SPACEBAR.
VK_PRIOR	0x21		PAGE UP key.
VK_NEXT	0x22		PAGE DOWN key.
VK_END	0x23		END key.
VK_HOME	0x24		HOME key.
VK_LEFT	0x25		LEFT ARROW key.
VK_UP	0x26		UP ARROW key.
VK_RIGHT	0x27		RIGHT ARROW key.
VK_DOWN	0x28		DOWN ARROW key.
VK_SELECT	0x29		SELECT key.
	0x2A		Specific to OEM.
VK_EXECUTE	0x2B		EXECUTE key.
VK_SNAPSHOT	0x2C		PRINT SCREEN key.
VK_INSERT	0x2D		INS key.
VK_DELETE	0x2E		DEL key.
VK_HELP	0x2F		HELP key.
	0x3A–0x40		Undefined.
VK_LWIN	0x5B		Left Windows key on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard.
VK_RWIN	0x5C		Right Windows key on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard.
VK_APPS	0x5D		Applications key on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard.
	0x5E–0x5F		Undefined
VK_NUMPAD0	0x60		Numeric keypad 0 key.
VK_NUMPAD1	0x61		Numeric keypad 1 key.
VK_NUMPAD2	0x62		Numeric keypad 2 key.
VK_NUMPAD3	0x63		Numeric keypad 3 key.
VK_NUMPAD4	0x64		Numeric keypad 4 key.
VK_NUMPAD5	0x65		Numeric keypad 5 key.
VK_NUMPAD6	0x66		Numeric keypad 6 key.
VK_NUMPAD7	0x67		Numeric keypad 7 key.
VK_NUMPAD8	0x68		Numeric keypad 8 key.
VK_NUMPAD9	0x69		Numeric keypad 9 key.
VK_MULTIPLY	0x6A		Multiply key.
VK_ADD	0x6B		Add key.
VK_SEPARATOR	0x6C		Separator key.
VK_SUBTRACT	0x6D		Subtract key.
VK_DECIMAL	0x6E		Decimal key.
VK_DIVIDE	0x6F		Divide key.
VK_F1	0x70		F1 key.
VK_F2	0x71		F2 key.
VK_F3	0x72		F3 key.
VK_F4	0x73		F4 key.
VK_F5	0x74		F5 key.
VK_F6	0x75		F6 key.
VK_F7	0x76		F7 key.
VK_F8	0x77		F8 key.
VK_F9	0x78		F9 key.
VK_F10	0x79		F10 key.
VK_F11	0x7A		F11 key.
VK_F12	0x7B		F12 key.
VK_F13	0x7C		F13 key.
VK_F14	0x7D		F14 key.
VK_F15	0x7E		F15 key.
VK_F16	0x7F		F16 key.
VK_F17	0x80		F17 key.
VK_F18	0x81		F18 key.
VK_F19	0x82		F19 key.
VK_F20	0x83		F20 key.
VK_F21	0x84		F21 key.
VK_F22	0x85		F22 key. Key used to lock device.
VK_F23	0x86		F23 key.
VK_F24	0x87		F24 key.
	0x89–0x8F		Unassigned.
VK_NUMLOCK	0x90		NUM LOCK key.
VK_SCROLL	0x91		SCROLL LOCK key.
VK_LSHIFT	0xA0		Left SHIFT.
VK_RSHIFT	0xA1		Right SHIFT.
VK_LCONTROL	0xA2		Left CTRL.
VK_RCONTROL	0xA3		Right CTRL.
VK_LMENU	0xA4		Left ALT.
VK_RMENU	0xA5		Right ALT.
	0xBA–0xC0		Specific to OEM; reserved. See following tables.
	0xC1–0xDA	0xC1–0xC6	Unassigned.
	0xDB–0xDE		Specific to OEM; reserved. See following tables.
VK_OFF	0xDF		Used to power the device on and off. No keyboard equivalent.
	0xE1–0xE4		Specific to OEM.
	0xE5		Unassigned.
	0xE6		Specific to OEM.
VK_PACKET	0xE7		Used to pass Unicode characters as if they were keystrokes. If VK_PACKET is used with SendInput, then the Unicode character to be delivered should be placed into the lower 16 bits of the scan code. If a keyboard message is removed from the message queue and the virtual key is VK_PACKET, then the Unicode character will be the upper 16 bits of the lparam.
	0xE8		Unassigned.
	0xE9–0xF5		Specific to OEM.
VK_ATTN	0xF6		ATTN key.
VK_CRSEL	0xF7		CRSEL key.
VK_EXSEL	0xF8		EXSEL key.
VK_EREOF	0xF9		Erase EOF key.
VK_PLAY	0xFA		PLAY key.
VK_ZOOM	0xFB		ZOOM key.
VK_NONAME	0xFC		Reserved for future use.
VK_PA1	0xFD		PA1 key.
VK_OEM_CLEAR	0xFE		CLEAR key.
VK_KEYLOCK	0xF22		Key used to lock device.

OEMs should make special note of the VK key ranges reserved for specific OEM use: 2A, DB–E4, E6, and E9–F5.

In addition to the virtual key assignments in the previous table, Microsoft has assigned the following specific OEM virtual keys.

Symbolic constant	Hexadecimal value	Mouse or keyboard equivalent
VK_OEM_SCROLL	0x91	None.
VK_OEM_1	0xBA	";:" for US.
VK_OEM_PLUS	0xBB	"+" any country/region.
VK_OEM_COMMA	0xBC	"," any country/region.
VK_OEM_MINUS	0xBD	"-" any country/region.
VK_OEM_PERIOD	0xBE	"." any country/region.
VK_OEM_2	0xBF	"/?" for US.
VK_OEM_3	0xC0	"`~" for US.
VK_OEM_4	0xDB	"[{" for US.
VK_OEM_5	0xDC	"\|" for US.
VK_OEM_6	0xDD	"]}" for US
VK_OEM_7	0xDE	"'"" for US.
VK_OEM_8	0xDF	None. By default, this is equivalent to VK_OFF.
VK_OEM_AX	0xE1	AX key on Japanese AX keyboard.
VK_OEM_102	0xE2	"<>" or "\|" on RT 102-key keyboard.

For East Asian Input Method Editors (IMEs) the following additional virtual keyboard definitions must be observed.

Symbolic constant	Hexadecimal value	Description
VK_DBE_ALPHANUMERIC	0x0f0	Changes the mode to alphanumeric.
VK_DBE_KATAKANA	0x0f1	Changes the mode to Katakana.
VK_DBE_HIRAGANA	0x0f2	Changes the mode to Hiragana.
VK_DBE_SBCSCHAR	0x0f3	Changes the mode to single–byte characters.
VK_DBE_DBCSCHAR	0x0f4	Changes the mode to double–byte characters.
VK_DBE_ROMAN	0x0f5	Changes the mode to Roman characters.
VK_DBE_NOROMAN	0x0f6	Changes the mode to non–Roman characters.
VK_DBE_ENTERWORDREGISTERMODE	0x0f7	Activates the word registration dialog box.
VK_DBE_ENTERIMECONFIGMODE	0x0f8	Activates a dialog box for setting up an IME environment.
VK_DBE_FLUSHSTRING	0x0f9	Deletes the undetermined string without determining it.
VK_DBE_CODEINPUT	0x0fa	Changes the mode to code input.
VK_DBE_NOCODEINPUT	0x0fb	Changes the mode to no-code input.

OEMs should not use the unassigned portions of the virtual key (VK) mapping tables. Microsoft will assign these values in the future. If manufacturers require additional VK mappings, they should reuse some of the current manufacturer–specific and vendor–specific assignments.

See Also

Reference

WM_CHAR

Concepts

Processing Character Messages

Other Resources

Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Message Map for Navigation Controls