Keychron Q2 Customizable Mechanical Keyboard User Manual

: June 9, 2024
: Keychron

Keychron Q2 Customizable Mechanical Keyboard User Manual

Fully Assembled Version

Keyboard

1x Fully Assembled Keyboard

Including

1x Aluminum Case
1x PCB
1x Steel Plate
1x Sound Absorbing Foam
1x Case Foam
12x Gaskets (8 Installed and 4 in the Box)
4 Sets x Stabilizers
1 Set x Keycaps (PBT Double-shot)
1 Set x Switches (Gateron G Pro)

Cable

1x Type-C to Type-C Cable
1x Type-A to Type-C Adapter

Tools

1x Switch Puller
1x Keycap Puller
1x Screwdriver
1x Hex Key

Barebone Version

Keyboard Kit

1x Keyboard Kit (Without Keycaps & Switches)

Including

1x Aluminum Case
1x PCB
1x Steel Plate
1x Sound Absorbing Foam
1x Case Foam
12x Gaskets (8 Installed and 4 in the Box)
4 Sets x Stabilizers

Cable

1x Type-C to Type-C Cable
1x Type-A to Type-C Adapter

Tools

1x Switch Puller
1x Keycap Puller
1x Screwdriver
1x Hex Key

QUICK START GUIDE

If you are a Windows user, please find the appropriate keycaps in the box, then follow the instructions below to find and replace the following keycaps.

1. Switch To The Right System

Please make sure the system toggle on the top left corner has been switched to the same system as your computer’s operating system.

2. The VIA Key Remapping Software

Please visit caniusevia.com to download the latest VIA software to remap the keys.
If the VIA software cannot recognize your keyboard, please reach out to our support to get the instruction.

3. The Layers

There are five layers of key settings on the keyboard.
The layer O is for the Mac system.
The layer 1 is for the Windows system.
The layer 2 is for the Mac Multimedia keys.
The layer 3 is for the Windows Multimedia keys.
The layer 4 is for the Function keys.

If your system toggle is switched to Mac, then the layer O will be activated.

If your system toggle is switched to Windows, then the layer 1 will be activated.

4. Multimedia Key and Function Key

5. The Backlight

6. Adjust The Backlight Brightness

7. Adjust The Backlight Speed

8. Warranty

The keyboard is highly customizable and easy to be rebuilt.
If anything goes wrong with any of the keyboard components of keyboard during the warranty period, we will only replace the defective parts of the keyboard, not the whole keyboard.
Press fn1 + G to decrease the light effect speed

9. Watch The Building Tutorial On Our Website

If you are building the keyboard for the first time, we highly recommend you watch the building tutorial video on our website first, then start building the keyboard yourself.

10. Factory Reset

Troubleshooting? Don’t know what’s going on with the keyboard?
1. Try factory reset by pressing fn1 + J +Z (for 4 seconds)
2. Download the right firmware for your keyboard from our website.
3. Remove the power cable from the keyboard.
4. Remove the space bar keycap to find the rest button on the PCB.
5. Hold the reset key while plugging in the power cable and then release the reset key. The keyboard now will enter DFU mode.
6. Flash the firmware with the QMK Toolbox.
7. Factory reset the keyboard again by pressing fn1 + J + Z (for 4 seconds)

Step by step guide can be found on our website

Q2 CUSTOMIZABLE KEYBOARD SPECIFICATIONS

Specifications

Q2 MECHANICAL KEYBOARD OVERVIEW

DEFAULT KEY LAYOUT:

LAYER 0: This layer will be activated when your keyboard’s system toggle is switched to Mac.

LAYER 1: This layer will be activated when your keyboard’s system toggle is switched to Windows.

LAlt = Left Alt LWin = Left Windows RAlt = Right Alt

LAYER 2: This layer will be activated when your keyboard’s system toggle is switched to Mac and press the fn1/M0(2) key.

LAYER 3: This layer will be activated when your keyboard’s system toggle is switched to Windows and press the fn1/M0(3) key.

LAYER 4 : This layer will be activated when you press the fn2/M0(4) key.

KEY DESCRIPTION

Key Description	Key Description
Ser-	Screen Brightness Decrease
Ser+	Screen Brightness Increase
Bright-	Backlight Decrease
Bright+	Backlight Increase
Prvs	Previous
Play	Play/Pause R
Next	Next

Third party input tools are not compatible with the keyboard.
Due to compatibility, versions, brands and drivers of Windows/macOS, functionalities of third Party input tools may be affected while using the keyboard. Please make sure your operating system and drivers are up to date.

Certain fn keys or multimedia keys does not work under Windows/ Android mode.
Functionalities of certain multimedia keys may be disabled due to compatibility, versions, brands and drivers of Windows/Android OS.

Safety Precaution:
Keep the product, accessories and packaging parts out of reach of children to prevent any accidents and choking hazards.
Always keep the product dry to avoid corrosion.
Do not expose the product to extreme temperatures below -10°C (5°F} or above 50°C (131 °F} to preserve the lifespan of the keyboard.

Keychron, Inc.
Dover, DE 19901, United States
Find us at:
https://www.keychron.com
Support@keychron.com
Designed by Keychron
Made in China

Keychron Q2 Keycap Size

Below is the hi res image of Q2 keycap size.

Q2 Keyboard Plate File

Q2 ANSI/ISO Layout Plate Download

Q2 ANSI Layout Plate dwg Format File Download

Q2 ISO Layout Plate dwg Format File Download

Q2 ANSI Layout Plate

Q2 ISO Layout Plate

How to Factory Reset or Flash Firmware for Your Keychron Q2 keyboard?

Troubleshooting? Or don’t know what’s going on with the keyboard? You may try factory reset.

Note: If everything works fine with your keyboard. Please don’t flash the firmware. There is a chance it can damage your keyboard.

1. Download the Q2 firmware (the file needs to be unzipped) and download the QMK Toolbox. (If the download link below does not work, use this link: https://github.com/qmk/qmk_toolbox/releases)

Download Q2 Non-Knob ANSI Firmware

Download Q2 Non-Knob ISO Firmware

Download Q2 Knob Version ANSI Firmware

Download Q2 Knob Version ISO Firmware

Download QMK Toolbox for Mac

Download QMK Toolbox for Windows

2. Unplug the power cable from the keyboard.

3. Open the QMK Toolbox.

4. Remove the space bar keycap to find the reset button on the left side of the space bar switch on the PCB.

5. Press down and hold the reset button.

6. Plug in the power cable. The keyboard will enter into DFU mode. Then, the QMK Toolbox will display in yellow words “***DFU device connected”.

6. Click open and choose the Keychron Q2 firmware. Click the Flash button. It will start flashing. (Note: Do NOT unplug the power cable while it’s flashing.)

7. Wait a few seconds and when you see the content below, it means the keyboard has flashed successfully factory reset.

If VIA can’t pair with your Keychron Q2 after you tried flashing, you need to follow these steps:

1. Reconnect your keyboard power cable.

2. If VIA still doesn’t pair together after you reconnect the power cable, download the Keychron Q2 keymap JSON file.

Download Q2 Knob version ANSI /US keymap JSON for VIA

Download Q2 Non-Knob version ANSI /US keymap JSON for VIA

Download Q2 Knob version ISO keymap JSON file for VIA

Download Q2 Non-Knob version ISO keymap JSON for VIA

3. Open VIA.

Step 1: Click the “DESIGN” section.
Step 2: Drag the JSON file to the tab and then click the “CONFIGURE” section to customize the keymap.

5. VIA should pair together with the Keychron Q2 now.

You may contact support@keychron.com if a defect covered by the warranty arises in your product within the warranty period. Keychron will honor the warranty of our Q and V series keyboard (e.g.: Q1, Q2, V1, V2, etc.) by one of the following methods at our discretion:

– Defects of Q and V series keyboards have been caused by manufacturing: We will only replace the defective parts of the keyboard, not the whole keyboard, as its highly customizable and easy to be rebuilt.

– Defects of Q and V series keyboards have been caused by disassembling our product, improper installation, non-factory repairs/modifications, improper adjustment of the product, or neglect, including but not limited to “burn-in”, and similar wrongful use: We will NOT offer free service. We only offer paid service to replace the defective parts at your own cost (including the cost of parts, shipping fee and tax if applicable).

The Key Combinations Table Of Keychron Q2

For Keychron Q2, we’ve included all the normal and useful functions keys that can be accessed via the default key combinations. Here is the table for all the key combinations and functions it can access.

fn1 + Keys

Keys	Function
fn1 + esc	`
fn1 + 1	Screen Brightness Down
fn1 + 2	Screen Brightness Up
fn1 + 3	Mission Control (Mac mode) / Task View (Windows mode)
fn1 + 4	Launchpad (Mac mode) / File Explorer (Windows mode)
fn1 + 5	Keyboard Backlight Down
fn1 + 6	Keyboard Backlight Up
fn1 + 7	Rewind
fn1 + 8	Play / Pause
fn1 + 9	Fast Forward
fn1 + 0	Sound: Volume Mute
fn1 + –	Sound: Volume Down
fn1 + =	Sound: Volume Up
fn1 + tab	Turn On / Off the Backlight
fn1 + Q	RGB Mode Next
fn1 + A	RGB Mode Previous
fn1 + W	Keyboard Backlight Up
fn1 + S	Keyboard Backlight Down
fn1 + E	Hue Increase
fn1 + D	Hue Decrease
fn1 + R	Saturation Increase
fn1 + F	Saturation Decrease
fn1 + T	RGB Speed Increase
fn1 + G	RGB Speed Decrease
fn1 + J + Z (long press for 3s)	Reset The Keyboard

fn2 + Keys

Keys	Function
fn2 + esc	~
fn2 + 1	F1
fn2 + 2	F2
fn2 + 3	F3
fn2 + 4	F4
fn2 + 5	F5
fn2 + 6	F6
fn2 + 7	F7
fn2 + 8	F8
fn2 + 9	F9
fn2 + 0	F10
fn2 + –	F11
fn2 + =	F12
fn2 + tab	Turn On / Off the Backlight
fn2 + Q	RGB Mode Next
fn2 + A	RGB Mode Previous
fn2 + W	Keyboard Backlight Down
fn2 + S	Keyboard Backlight Up
fn2 + E	Hue Increase
fn2 + D	Hue Decrease
fn2 + R	Saturation Increase
fn2 + F	Saturation Decrease
fn2 + T	RGB Speed Increase
fn2 + G	RGB Speed Decrease

*Above are the default key combinations of Keychron Q2. You can customise your own key combinations on each layer and access to more functions through VIA software. Please click here and read “How to Use Different Layers to Set the Combination Keys” for details.