Desktop overlay
Keep a global, always-on-top keyboard view beside any app. Highlight keys, follow compatible BLE layers, manage layouts, run guided self-test, and use desktop-only tools.
See what your keyboard is doing, wherever you are working.
Keyboard Helper pairs a mature desktop overlay with a foreground Android companion. Visualize layouts, inspect connection evidence, and follow compatible ZMK activity without pretending every platform has the same powers.
Android Companion
Browse keyboard layouts, inspect connection evidence, and follow compatible read-only Live telemetry from a phone. The companion never switches the keyboard's remote layer.
Signed v0.6.4 preview for API 31+ arm64 devices.
Platform status
Desktop
Available for macOS, Windows, and Linux with the global overlay, diagnostics, and platform-scoped synchronization tools.
Android preview
Signed v0.6.4 preview for API 31+ arm64 devices. Public physical BLE acceptance remains API 31+ and arm64.
iOS
Unavailable. There is no iOS build, signing channel, or promised availability date.
Desktop outcomes
The desktop app remains the full overlay experience and owns global input, local configuration, and desktop-specific integrations.
Live global overlay
Pressed keys highlight while the transparent window shows the selected layout and compatible firmware layer.
Desktop appSetup and diagnostics
Configure built-in or JSON layouts, recover permissions, reconnect BLE, and run guided HID-output self-test.
Desktop appFocused tools
Use Mini Mode, macOS input-source sync where supported, and Shift-Space Invaders without changing the Android companion contract.
Platform-scopedAndroid outcomes
The signed preview is a foreground companion: Browse works with stock firmware, while Live needs the compatible enhanced read-only telemetry extension.
Browse layouts
View bundled and validated custom layouts on a phone without requiring enhanced firmware.
Stock or enhanced ZMKConnection evidence
See honest permission, pairing, connection, battery, and device-information evidence when the keyboard exposes it.
API 31+ physical baselineCompatible Live
Follow read-only layer, key, combo, and diagnostic telemetry. The phone does not write remote layer changes.
Enhanced firmwareDesktop product tour
Clean captures from the current desktop experience replace mock imagery and retain an accessible fallback if an asset is removed.
Main overlay
Full desktop overlay with an active layout and live pressed-key highlighting.
Application menu
Keyboard, Language, and Connection flyouts keep daily controls and recovery actions close.
Desktop settings
Settings for enabled layouts, startup layout, external files, and the global show/hide shortcut.
Mini Mode
Compact desktop overlay for passive visualization with a direct restore control.
Keyboard Self-test
Guided HID-output verification using outlines on the existing desktop overlay.
macOS language sync
Language flyout showing input-source synchronization status for compatible ZMK keyboards.
Shift-Space Invaders
A separate desktop typing-practice window with focused input ownership.
Android workspace tour
Later release preview — not in v0.6.4
The repository contains a newer viewport-first Browse/Live workspace and adaptive Settings design. Its navigation and screenshots will appear here only after a signed release containing that workspace is published and accepted.
Choose your path
Start with the guide for the product you are using; both guides keep platform-specific permissions and support boundaries explicit.