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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchHold M1 or M2, then press Up on the D-pad. That is ASUS’s default shortcut for opening the Windows on-screen keyboard on the ROG Ally. You can also open it from Command Center, the Windows taskbar, or by tapping a text field.
The ROG Ally has no built-in physical keyboard. In this guide, “keyboard” means Windows’ on-screen keyboard, including the controller-friendly Gamepad Layout Keyboard available on supported Windows 11 configurations.
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Ways to open the ROG Ally’s on-screen keyboard
Fastest method: M1 or M2 plus D-pad Up
- Press and hold either rear macro button, M1 or M2.
- While holding it, press Up on the D-pad once.
In other words: hold M1/M2 + press D-pad Up. Hold the rear button first; pressing Up before M1 or M2 may not trigger the shortcut. This is ASUS’s default mapping, so it may not work if the button or its secondary function has been remapped. ASUS documents the shortcut here.
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Use Command Center
- Press the Command Center button.
- Select Keyboard.
Command Center tiles can be rearranged or customized. If Keyboard is not visible, edit the Command Center layout and add or move the control. The exact layout can vary between Armoury Crate SE versions.
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Use the Windows taskbar
Tap the keyboard icon near the lower-right corner of the Windows taskbar. If it is hidden, open the taskbar’s additional icons or enable the touch-keyboard icon in Windows taskbar settings. Labels and placement can differ slightly after Windows updates.
Tap a text field
Windows may open the keyboard automatically when you tap a search box, browser address bar, login field, or another text-entry box. If it does not appear, use the M1/M2 shortcut or Command Center.
How to type with the ROG Ally controller
On supported Windows 11 builds, Windows can display a Gamepad Layout Keyboard. It is designed for controller navigation:
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- D-pad: Move between keys.
- A: Select or press the highlighted key.
- B, X, and Y: Perform the functions shown by the current keyboard interface.
- Touchscreen: Tap keys directly.
When this layout is active in the foreground, ASUS says normal cursor input can be temporarily disabled. The right stick may therefore stop moving the mouse. That is expected keyboard behavior rather than automatically indicating a faulty stick or controller. Use the D-pad and face buttons, or close the keyboard to return to normal cursor navigation.
ASUS identifies this Gamepad Layout Keyboard behavior for Windows 11 version 24H2, build 26100.3624 or later, with update KB5053656 and Armoury Crate SE v2.1.10.0 or later. ASUS lists KB5053656 as released on March 27, 2025. These requirements apply to that controller-oriented keyboard behavior—not necessarily to opening the traditional Windows on-screen keyboard. See ASUS’s current compatibility details.
Default ROG Ally M1/M2 shortcuts
The following combinations are the default mappings documented in the original ROG Ally (RC71) manual. They are not guaranteed permanent mappings: Armoury Crate SE profiles, control modes, firmware, and software updates can change them.
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| Combination | Default action |
|---|---|
| Hold M1 or M2 + D-pad Up | Show the keyboard |
| Hold M1 or M2 + D-pad Down | Open Task Manager |
| Hold M1 or M2 + D-pad Left | Show the desktop |
| Hold M1 or M2 + D-pad Right | Open Task View |
| Hold M1 or M2 + A | Take a screenshot |
| Hold M1 or M2 + B | Open Windows Notification Center |
| Hold M1 or M2 + X | Open projection settings |
| Hold M1 or M2 + Y | Start or stop screen recording |
Read the RC71 user manual for the documented default combination set.
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Desktop Mode controls are different
Opening the Windows keyboard is separate from the Ally’s control mode. In the default Desktop Mode configuration:
- Right stick: Move the mouse cursor.
- RB: Left-click.
- RT: Right-click.
- A: Commonly acts as Enter.
- B: Commonly acts as Escape.
Gamepad Mode passes controller input to games, while Desktop Mode makes the controls behave more like a mouse and keyboard in Windows. A game-specific profile can override either behavior. A controller shortcut that works on the desktop may therefore behave differently inside a game, and opening the Windows keyboard does not guarantee that a game will accept keyboard input in its chat or text-entry interface.
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Remap or disable the keyboard shortcut
Remap controls in Armoury Crate SE
- Open Armoury Crate SE.
- Open the relevant Game Profile or its control-mode configuration.
- Choose Gamepad Mode or Desktop Mode, depending on where you want the mapping.
- Select M1, M2, or the button combination you want to change.
- Assign the desired action, keyboard key, mouse function, or combination.
- Save or apply the profile.
ASUS’s mapping categories include gamepad functions, actions, keyboard keys, numpad keys, mouse functions, and combination keys. Menu names and placement may change between Armoury Crate SE releases. ASUS’s mapping FAQ explains the available controls.
Stop accidental M1/M2 shortcuts
- Open Armoury Crate SE and choose the relevant Game Profile.
- Select M1 or M2.
- Deselect Set as Secondary Function.
This stops the rear button from acting as a modifier for combinations such as M1/M2 + D-pad Up. It also disables other secondary-button shortcuts for that profile.
When M1 + Up does not open the keyboard
- Repeat the sequence: Hold M1 or M2 first, then press D-pad Up. Try both rear buttons.
- Test Command Center: Open Command Center and choose Keyboard. If this works, the issue is likely the M1/M2 mapping or active profile.
- Test the taskbar icon: This checks the Windows keyboard independently of the rear-button shortcut.
- Focus a text field: Try Windows Search, File Explorer’s address bar, or a browser address bar.
- Check the active Game Profile and control mode: A game-specific profile may have changed M1, M2, or D-pad secondary functions.
- Update Armoury Crate SE and Windows: ASUS lists Armoury Crate SE v2.1.10.0 or later for the supported Gamepad Layout Keyboard configuration.
- Reinstall Armoury Crate SE if Desktop Mode controls disappeared: ASUS says Armoury Crate enables the Ally’s controller-as-mouse behavior in Desktop Mode. If it was uninstalled, use the touchscreen to download and reinstall it from ASUS support.
If the keyboard opens but the cursor stops moving, first check whether the Gamepad Layout Keyboard is active. On supported configurations, that temporary cursor limitation is expected; close the keyboard when you need right-stick mouse control.
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ROG Ally, Ally X, and ROG Xbox Ally differences
The original ROG Ally (2023) is the RC71 series. The ROG Ally X (2024) is the RC72 series, and the newer ROG Xbox Ally models are in the RC73 series. ASUS groups RC71, RC72, and RC73 devices in its current information about the Gamepad Layout Keyboard, but shortcut mappings and Armoury Crate SE menus can vary by model, firmware, Windows build, and profile.
The eight-shortcut table above is specifically verified against the original RC71 manual. Do not assume every combination is identical on an Ally X or ROG Xbox Ally without checking the manual for that model. ASUS provides a separate ROG Ally X support and manual page.
Physical keyboard alternative
A USB, Bluetooth, or dock-connected keyboard can be more convenient for long passwords, file names, chat, productivity work, BIOS access, or recovery tasks. It is optional, however: the M1/M2 shortcut and Windows alternatives are sufficient for ordinary text entry and Windows navigation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the cursor stop moving after I open the keyboard?
On supported Windows 11 configurations, the Gamepad Layout Keyboard takes control of navigation while it is in the foreground. Use the D-pad and face buttons to type, then close the keyboard to restore normal mouse-style cursor control.
Does the keyboard shortcut work on the ROG Ally X?
ASUS includes the RC72 Ally X among the devices supported for its current Gamepad Layout Keyboard behavior, but profiles, firmware, and Armoury Crate SE versions can differ. The full eight-combination table is specifically verified for the original RC71 manual, so check the RC72 manual for model-specific mappings.
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