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Keychron keyboard discussion

I received my Keychron C2 Pro Wired and within about 4 minutes of powering it up...I unplugged and boxed up to return. Within an hour, I had the RMA from Amazon, the label printed, and the package delivered to my local UPS store. Amazon has already refunded the money to my Amazon account.

It seems that Keychron makes a Mac keyboard, but their Keychron Launcher won't work with Safari or Firefox. Keychron states the Launcher only works with Chrome, Edge, and Opera; none of which I use, or will install simply to use a product.

It just boggles my mind that these clowns would make a keyboard for a Mac, but then not make the proprietary software work with Safari. Not to mention Firefox.
 
FatLouie said:
I received my Keychron C2 Pro Wired and within about 4 minutes of powering it up...I unplugged and boxed up to return. Within an hour, I had the RMA from Amazon, the label printed, and the package delivered to my local UPS store. Amazon has already refunded the money to my Amazon account.

It seems that Keychron makes a Mac keyboard, but their Keychron Launcher won't work with Safari or Firefox. Keychron states the Launcher only works with Chrome, Edge, and Opera; none of which I use, or will install simply to use a product.

It just boggles my mind that these clowns would make a keyboard for a Mac, but then not make the proprietary software work with Safari. Not to mention Firefox.
Click to expand...
This specific situation has a few reasons that led to it, and I believe this is to the benefit of users overall instead:

- A "web driver" (the Keychron Launcher is one) means no (proprietary) software is needed to be installed to config the keyboard, which is a major selling point for some users who do not have the authority to do so on their work computers, or they just don't want to risk installing.

- for a web driver to work, it needs the USB-HID protocol to communicate from the computer to the device, where on your user end, the browser needs to enable WebUSB API

- not all browsers support this, as you have tested, both Safari and Firefox do not work, that's because Apple and Mozilla's stance on WebUSB is it exposes security risks that they deem too much to deal with so they just don't support. On Chromium and other browsers this stance is loose.

So, what I see is a middle ground compromise. No one needs to install a proprietary Keychron driver app, Keychron does not need to write one specifically for macOS which probably won't survive a few macOS updates at which point you won't be able to config the KB in newer macOS a few years later. Then the web driver exists and is "open". The Keychron Launcher is not proprietary in nature, it just relies on standards that Apple does not support. You will find a very similar setup across many other keyboard and mouse that are released in the past 2 or 3 years, especially for keyboard supporting VIA.
 
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Thank you, Chancha...that is good information, which I did not know.

I have reached the point in life where I no longer do workarounds to make a vendor's product work. If I were trying to make the Keychron work on my Debian box, I would be more lax about the matter, as is the case with Linux. On a Mac, well, I expect vendors to make the product work on my Studio if they advertise it for Macs.

A bit bull-headed of me, I know. But I have reached my limit. 🙂 I do appreciate the information you have posted; it is helpful and has given me the chance to understand the situation.
 
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I am being reacquainted with the reason why I retired this Q1 Keychron. It has a strange bug I have never figured out how to fix. This is an artifact from the widget stack. It floats in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

Screenshot 2026-04-04 at 14.28.26.png
 
FatLouie said:
Thank you, Chancha...that is good information, which I did not know.

I have reached the point in life where I no longer do workarounds to make a vendor's product work. If I were trying to make the Keychron work on my Debian box, I would be more lax about the matter, as is the case with Linux. On a Mac, well, I expect vendors to make the product work on my Studio if they advertise it for Macs.

A bit bull-headed of me, I know. But I have reached my limit. 🙂 I do appreciate the information you have posted; it is helpful and has given me the chance to understand the situation.
Click to expand...
For many of the Keychron keyboards, as long as they're QMK-based (not newer ZMK-based models), you can use them with VIA if you have the proper .json file side-loaded. While the web-based VIA client also requires a WebHID-enabled browser like Chrome or Edge, there is a Mac client for VIA (basically a macOS Electron app with a tiny chromium client inside) that will allow you to program the keyboard without having to install Chrome or Edge.
 
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Just purchased a Keychron Q5 HE 8K Magnetic Switch Keyboard. I have the left-handed non-HE switched version of this keyboard. I never could get used to the number pad being on the left side. Sadly, Keychron is sold out of the acrylic cover for this keyboard. Any suggestions on where I might find one?

Screenshot 2026-04-21 at 11.33.24.png
 
Found a cover for the Q5 HE. Thank you, Rufus chatbot on Amazon. It is the

Geekria Keyboard Dust Cover, Clear Acrylic Keypads Cover for 100 Keys Computer Mechanical Keyboard, for the Q5.​


Screenshot 2026-04-22 at 11.13.15.png
 
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I am typing on the Q5 HE 8K QMK. Wonderful keyboard. This keyboard has a bunch of adjustment options that the other HE keyboard did not have. It is going to take a while to understand what they all do. The Keyboard cover I ordered is too small. I am keeping it because it will fit on a couple of the other Keychrons I have. I found and ordered another cover that is actually what I wanted in the beginning. (Beego) It covers the entire keyboard resting on the desktop it has cutouts for the cables. It is demonstrated to be snoozing cat-proof.

Screenshot 2026-04-26 at 20.54.58.png
 
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FatLouie said:
I received my Keychron C2 Pro Wired and within about 4 minutes of powering it up...I unplugged and boxed up to return. Within an hour, I had the RMA from Amazon, the label printed, and the package delivered to my local UPS store. Amazon has already refunded the money to my Amazon account.

It seems that Keychron makes a Mac keyboard, but their Keychron Launcher won't work with Safari or Firefox. Keychron states the Launcher only works with Chrome, Edge, and Opera; none of which I use, or will install simply to use a product.

It just boggles my mind that these clowns would make a keyboard for a Mac, but then not make the proprietary software work with Safari. Not to mention Firefox.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately you're going to have the same problem with any keyboard based on QMK/VIA, ZMK or Nuphy's NuphyIO. Safari (or Firefox) simply does not have the WebHID hooks enabled to allow a website to configure a keyboard. A chromium-based browser is required — like Chrome, Edge, Opera and some others. But, like I said, there are stand-alone Mac versions of VIA and Vial (if you have a keyboard that is supported by Vial), so you don't necessarily have to install Chrome or Edge, though as to the current state of support & upkeep for the stand-alone version, I cannot say. And this illustrates the problem with proprietary drivers.

You're otherwise going to be stuck installing bloated software from Logitech or, potentially even worse, some generic Chinese-written driver to make nearly any other keyboard work (other than Apple's own) if you want to be able to program your smart mechanical keyboard.

Personally, I'd rather install Opera or Edge over a persistently-running third-party driver that phones home to lord-knows-where, uses up system RAM and resources, and potentially has access to other apps and system files.

However, if you don't want to program your keyboard at all, then I suppose no web browser at all is necessary.
 
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xraydoc said:
Unfortunately you're going to have the same problem with any keyboard based on QMK/VIA, ZMK or Nuphy's NuphyIO. Safari (or Firefox) simply does not have the WebHID hooks enabled to allow a website to configure a keyboard. A chromium-based browser is required — like Chrome, Edge, Opera and some others. But, like I said, there are stand-alone Mac versions of VIA and Vial (if you have a keyboard that is supported by Vial), so you don't necessarily have to install Chrome or Edge, though as to the current state of support & upkeep for the stand-alone version, I cannot say. And this illustrates the problem with proprietary drivers.

You're otherwise going to be stuck installing bloated software from Logitech or, potentially even worse, some generic Chinese-written driver to make nearly any other keyboard work (other than Apple's own) if you want to be able to program your smart mechanical keyboard.

Personally, I'd rather install Opera or Edge over a persistently-running third-party driver that phones home to lord-knows-where, uses up system RAM and resources, and potentially has access to other apps and system files.

However, if you don't want to program your keyboard at all, then I suppose no web browser at all is necessary.
Click to expand...

Logitech is always my last choice. 🙂 I used Opera years ago for a number of years, until they sort of lost their minds. They had one of the best email interfaces available at the time. I like Vivaldi, and I think Vivaldi is Chrome-based. I will need to look into that; if not, then I suppose I may have to bend the knee to Opera or Edge. I have used the Edge browser on someone else's PC, and I liked it. I just dislike using anything that is Microsoft. 🙂
 
Found an interesting detail with my new Keychron Q5 HE QMK. This version does not have Bluetooth. I found this out when I loaded the setup software. I don't use Bluetooth on these Keychrons. They are so heavy that being wireless is not handy. It plugs into the Mac less than a foot away. This also makes the RGB more usable.
 
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Now I understand. It is rather confusing. My keyboard is the Q5 HE 8K. It does not have Bluetooth; the QMK does. As I said, that is OK the RGB on the other Keychrons ate the battery alive, and I just turned it off. The Setup has complete control of the RGB, so I have the backlight a nice fixed lavender color. Green is actually the best color for preventing eye strain. Our primate eyeballs evolved in green forests. I have learned that if you are working on electronics, using green light makes it much easier to see things.
 
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FatLouie said:
Logitech is always my last choice. 🙂 I used Opera years ago for a number of years, until they sort of lost their minds. They had one of the best email interfaces available at the time. I like Vivaldi, and I think Vivaldi is Chrome-based. I will need to look into that; if not, then I suppose I may have to bend the knee to Opera or Edge. I have used the Edge browser on someone else's PC, and I liked it. I just dislike using anything that is Microsoft. 🙂
Click to expand...

Technically, Vivaldi is based on Chromium, not Chrome, but it probably won't be a problem.

Did you know that Vivaldi is developed by many of the same minds originally responsible for Opera? The Vivaldi browser was the result of Opera ultimately being sold to a Chinese consortium.
 
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My daughter says she just got a Keychron at work - she likes the feel and audible feedback from the switches. Her work computer is a Windows box and she decided she needed to swap out the Mac keys for the ones intended for a windows machine.
 
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She got the Keychron from her new employer - she does financial analysis, so she got the full sized version with the numeric keypad. Hers is almost identical with mine, but doesn't have the volume control knob next to the F12 key. She's got big hands, so doesn't have any trouble reaching the keys.

IMO, even the full sized Keychrons are a bit small for my taste, having been accustomed to desktop keyboards where the base extends more than an inch from the keys. A Mac equivalent of the Northgate keyboards or a Sun Type 5 keyboard would be close to ideal.
 
Wheel_D said:
Technically, Vivaldi is based on Chromium, not Chrome, but it probably won't be a problem.

Did you know that Vivaldi is developed by many of the same minds originally responsible for Opera? The Vivaldi browser was the result of Opera ultimately being sold to a Chinese consortium.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I somehow missed your post. Yes, I knew that Tetzchner and a few others left Opera to start Vivaldi. The browser took 3 or so years to become usable for me, so from time to time I would install and use it to see what improvements had been made.

One of the bigger issues was getting add-ons for the browser. I never did like their method for changing themes and colors; to me, it was very clumsy. But a user has a ton of features to set, and today the browser is much better than many offerings on the market.
 
transmaster said:
Keychron now has a Stateside store with free shipping and no tariffs
Click to expand...

I appreciate the link. After what you and a few others have written, I am going back to revisit the Keychron. I always prefer a full-size keyboard, a num pad to the right, and is corded. 18 inches between my keyboard and Studio, and the keyboard is never off the desk, so BT (a battery killer) is not needed.
 
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The Q5 HE 8K is a 96% keyboard, in my opinion, is the ideal size for a keyboard. It has all of the advantages of a 100% full-sized keyboard, but does not take up as much space on the desktop. This is really handy if you are a trackball user.

Keychron Q6 HE QMK 100%

Screenshot 2026-05-09 at 11.59.44.png



Size
  • 137 x 446mm (5.39" x 17.56")
Front Height
  • 20.6 mm (without keycaps) (.81")
Back Height
  • 31.37 mm (without keycaps) (1.24")
Feet Height
1.24 mm (.049)

Keychron Q5 HE 8K 96%

Screenshot 2026-05-09 at 11.56.15.png


Size
  • 144.8 x 408mm (5.7" x 16.06")
Front Height
  • 20.7 mm (without keycaps) (.83")
Back Height
  • 32.5 mm (without keycaps) (1.28")
Feet Height
1.24 mm (.049")

​

 
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