# Grave Escape If you're using a 60% keyboard, or any other layout with no F-row, you will have noticed that there is no dedicated Escape key. Grave Escape is a feature that allows you to share the grave key (<code>`</code> and `~`) with Escape. ## Usage Replace the `KC_GRV` key in your keymap (usually to the left of the `1` key) with `QK_GESC`. Most of the time this key will output `KC_ESC` when pressed. However, when Shift or GUI are held down it will output `KC_GRV` instead. ## What Your OS Sees If Mary presses `QK_GESC` on her keyboard, the OS will see an KC_ESC character. Now if Mary holds Shift down and presses `QK_GESC` it will output `~`, or a shifted backtick. Now if she holds GUI/CMD/WIN, it will output a simple <code>`</code> character. ## Keycodes |Key |Aliases |Description | |-----------------|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------| |`QK_GRAVE_ESCAPE`|`QK_GESC`|Escape when pressed, <code>`</code> when Shift or GUI are held| ### Caveats On macOS, Command+<code>`</code> is by default mapped to "Move focus to next window" so it will not output a backtick. Additionally, Terminal always recognises this shortcut to cycle between windows, even if the shortcut is changed in the Keyboard preferences. ## Configuration There are several possible key combinations this will break, among them Control+Shift+Escape on Windows and Command+Option+Escape on macOS. To work around this, you can `#define` these options in your `config.h`: |Define |Description | |--------------------------|-----------------------------------------| |`GRAVE_ESC_ALT_OVERRIDE` |Always send Escape if Alt is pressed | |`GRAVE_ESC_CTRL_OVERRIDE` |Always send Escape if Control is pressed | |`GRAVE_ESC_GUI_OVERRIDE` |Always send Escape if GUI is pressed | |`GRAVE_ESC_SHIFT_OVERRIDE`|Always send Escape if Shift is pressed |