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Layers
rootiest edited this page 2026-04-13 14:54:43 -04:00
Table of Contents

Layers

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The firmware has 6 layers. Lower-numbered layers are always active as the base; higher-numbered layers take priority over them when activated. A key shown as --- (transparent) falls through to the next active layer below.

Physical Layout Reference

The Q5 Max is a full-size 100% keyboard with an integrated side numpad and a rotary encoder in the top-right corner.

 +-------+  +----+----+----+----+  +----+----+----+----+  +----+----+----+----+  +------+-------+-------+  +=====+
 |  ESC  |  | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 |  | F5 | F6 | F7 | F8 |  | F9 |F10 |F11 |F12 |  | Del  | PrtSc |  Calc |  | Enc |
 +-------+  +----+----+----+----+  +----+----+----+----+  +----+----+----+----+  +------+-------+-------+  +=====+
 +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+-------+  +-----+  +-----+-----+-----+-----+
 | ` | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | - | = | Bspc  |  |PgUp |  | Num |  /  |  *  |  -  |
 +---+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+---+  +-----+  +-----+-----+-----+-----+
 | Tab | Q | W | E | R | T | Y | U | I | O | P | [ | ] | \ |  |PgDn |  |  7  |  8  |  9  |     |
 +-----++--++--++--++--++--++--++--++--++--++--++--++--+----+  +-----+  +-----+-----+-----+  +  |
 | CAPS | A | S | D | F | G | H | J | K | L | ; | ' | Enter  |  | H/E |  |  4  |  5  |  6  |     |
 +------+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+---+--+---+  +-----+  +-----+-----+-----+-----+
 | Shift  | Z | X | C | V | B | N | M | , | . | /  Shift| ^ |  |     |  |  1  |  2  |  3  |     |
 +----+---++--+--+-+---+---+---+---+---+--++--++--+----++--++--+  +-----+  +-----+-----+-----+Ent |
 |Ctrl|GUI | Alt |          Space          |FN2|FN1|Ctrl| < | v | > |  |  0        |  .  |     |
 +----+----+-----+-------------------------+---+---+----+---+---+---+  +-----------+-----+-----+

Note: CAPS = CAPS_MOD -- a multi-function key, not a plain CapsLock. H/E = Home/End tap-dance. FN1 / FN2 are tap-toggle keys -- see Layer Navigation below.

Layer Navigation

Momentary vs Locked

Action Result
Hold FN1 FN1 active while held; returns to BASE on release
Double-tap FN1 FN1 locked on (toggle)
Hold FN2 FN2 active while held; returns to BASE on release
Double-tap FN2 FN2 locked on (toggle)
LCK_FN1-LCK_CTL keys Hard-lock a specific layer; press again to unlock
LCK_BASE Clear all locks and return to BASE
Combo , + . + / Emergency return to BASE from any state

FN1 and FN2 use QMK's TT() (tap-toggle) behaviour with the default tapping term. See Custom Keys -- Layer Locks for the LCK_* keys.

BASE Layer (0)

Normal typing layer. Nothing unusual except:

  • CAPS key > CAPS_MOD (multi-function)
  • Right-side numpad Home/End key > Tap-Dance Home/End
  • FN2/FN1 bottom-right > tap-toggle layer access
 ESC   F1   F2   F3   F4   F5   F6   F7   F8   F9  F10  F11  F12    Del  PrtSc  Calc  Find  [Vol]

  `    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    0    -    =   Bspc   PgUp   Num   /    *    -
 Tab   Q    W    E    R    T    Y    U    I    O    P    [    ]    \    PgDn   7    8    9
CAPS*  A    S    D    F    G    H    J    K    L    ;    '   Ent         H/E*  4    5    6    +
Shift  Z    X    C    V    B    N    M    ,    .    /  Shift  ^           1    2    3
Ctrl  GUI  Alt            Space           FN2  FN1  Ctrl  <  v  >         0    .   Ent

FN1 Layer (1)

Activated by holding or double-tapping FN1.

Key changes from BASE:

Key position BASE value FN1 value Notes
ESC Esc Sleep Put computer to sleep
F1-F12 F1-F12 Brid/Briu/MCtrl/LnPad/RGB+/-/Media macOS media & brightness
1 1 LCK_FN1 Lock/unlock FN1
2 2 LCK_FN2 Lock/unlock FN2
3 3 LCK_FN3 Lock/unlock FN3
4 4 LCK_FN4 Lock/unlock FN4
5 5 LCK_CTL Lock/unlock KEEB_CTL
0 0 LCK_BASE Return to BASE, clear locks
Left Alt Alt CHORD_KEY Enter Chord Unicode mode
Right Ctrl Ctrl OSL(KEEB_CTL) One-shot: next key from KEEB_CTL
Right FN1 TT(FN1) TG(FN1) Toggle FN1 on/off
Right FN2 TT(FN2) TT(FN3) Tap-toggle FN3
< Left Home
> Right End
Numpad H/E Home/End End Plain End key
Encoder Vol +/- Rewind / Fast-forward 
Sleep  Brid Briu MCtr LnPd VAD  VAI  Prv  Ply  Nxt  Mute Vold Volu   Del  PrtSc  Calc  Find  [FF]

  `   L1   L2   L3   L4   L5   6    7    8    9   L0   -    =   Bspc   PgUp   Num   /    *    -
 Tab   Q    W    E    R    T    Y    U    I    O    P    [    ]    \    PgDn   7    8    9
CAPS*  A    S    D    F    G    H    J    K    L    ;    '   Ent         End   4    5    6    +
Shift  Z    X    C    V    B    N    M    ,    .    /  Shift  ^           1    2    3
Ctrl  GUI CHORD          Space          TT3  TG1  CTL* Home  v  End        0    .   Ent

L1-L5 = layer lock keys. L0 = LCK_BASE. CHORD = Chord Unicode key. CTL* = one-shot KEEB_CTL.

FN2 Layer (2)

Activated by holding or double-tapping FN2. Turns the keyboard into a mouse and extended-function layer.

Key changes from BASE:

Key position FN2 value Notes
F1-F12 Power / F13-F24 ESC = Power off; F-row = F13-F24
1-5, 0 Layer locks Same as FN1
PgUp Mouse Wheel Up
PgDn Mouse Wheel Down
Numpad H/E Mouse Button 3 (middle click)
Arrow keys Mouse movement (^v<>)
Right FN2 TG(FN2) Toggle FN2
Right FN1 TT(FN4) Tap-toggle FN4
Numpad 0 Mouse Button 1 (left click)
Numpad . Mouse Button 2 (right click)
Encoder Alt+Shift+Tab / Alt+Tab Window switcher (Alt held 750 ms) 
 PWR   F13  F14  F15  F16  F17  F18  F19  F20  F21  F22  F23  F24   Del  PrtSc  Calc  Find [ATab]

  `   L1   L2   L3   L4   L5   6    7    8    9   L0   -    =   Bspc  WhlUp  Num   /    *    -
 Tab   Q    W    E    R    T    Y    U    I    O    P    [    ]    \   WhlDn  7    8    9
CAPS*  A    S    D    F    G    H    J    K    L    ;    '   Ent       MBtn3  4    5    6    +
Shift  Z    X    C    V    B    N    M    ,    .    /  Shift MsUp        1    2    3
Ctrl  GUI  Alt            Space          TG2  TT4  Ctrl MsLft MsDn MsRgt  MBtn1  MBtn2  Ent

The Alt+Tab encoder in FN2 keeps Alt held for 750 ms after the last turn, then releases it automatically. You can keep cycling without lifting a finger.

FN3 Layer (3)

Accessed from FN1 via TT(FN3) (right FN2 key while FN1 is active). Media row and navigation, same lock keys, standard arrow/numpad behaviour.

Identical to BASE except:

  • F-row > brightness, media controls (same mapping as FN1 F-row)
  • Number row > layer locks (same as FN1/FN2)
  • Right FN2 > TG(FN3) (toggle FN3)
  • Right FN1 > TT(FN4) (tap-toggle FN4)
  • Encoder > Rewind / Fast-forward

FN4 Layer (4)

Accessed from FN3 or FN2 via TT(FN4). Identical to FN3 except:

  • Right FN2 > TO(BASE) -- go directly back to BASE (clears all layers)
  • Right FN1 > TG(FN4) (toggle FN4)

Use FN4 as a "reset to base" escape hatch when you've navigated deep into layers.

KEEB_CTL Layer (5)

The keyboard control layer. Reached via:

  • OSL(KEEB_CTL) on Right Ctrl while FN1 is held -- one-shot (affects next key only)
  • LCK_CTL (FN1 + 5) -- locks KEEB_CTL on

See Wireless & Control for full details.

 ---   Brid Briu Task File VAD  VAI  Prv  Ply  Nxt  Mute Vold Volu   ---   ---    ---    ---  [RGB+/-]

 ---  BT1  BT2  BT3  2.4G  ---  ---  ---  ---  ---  L0   ---   ---   ---   ---    ---    ---    ---
RGBt RGBm VAI+ HUI+ SAI+ SPI+  ---  ---  ---  ---  ---   ---   ---   ---   ---    ---    ---    ---
 ---  RGBr VAD- HUD- SAD- SPD-  ---  ---  ---  ---  ---   ---         ---   End    ---    ---    ---
 ---   ---  ---  ---  ---  BAT  NKro  ---  ---  ---  ---         ---   ---          ---    ---
 ---   ---  ---              ---             ---   ---   ---   ---  v   ---   EECLR   ---   ---

BT1-BT3 = Bluetooth host 1-3. 2.4G = 2.4 GHz wireless dongle. BAT = show battery level. NKro = toggle N-key rollover. EECLR = clear EEPROM. RGBt = RGB toggle. See Wireless & Control and RGB Controls.