Keystroke Display

How to show your keystrokes on screen in real time using Presentation Assistant.

Presentation Assistant can display your keystrokes on screen in real time. This is especially useful for tutorials and screencasts where viewers need to know which keys you are pressing.

Enabling Keystroke Display

You can enable the keystroke display from the settings panel. Once active, every keypress appears as an overlay on your screen, visible to your audience during presentations, screen recordings, and live demonstrations.

Configuration Options

Screen Position

Choose where the keystroke overlay appears on screen. Six positions are available:

  • Top left
  • Top centre
  • Top right
  • Bottom left
  • Bottom centre
  • Bottom right

Select a position that does not interfere with the content you are demonstrating. Bottom right or bottom left are common choices as they stay out of the way of most application interfaces.

Font Size

Adjust the text size of the displayed keystrokes. Use a larger font size when presenting on a projector or during a screen share where viewers may be watching on smaller screens. Use a smaller font size for personal screen recordings where the viewer can watch at full resolution.

Theme

Switch between a light or dark appearance for the keystroke overlay. Choose the theme that provides the best contrast against the content you are working with. A dark theme works well against light application backgrounds, while a light theme stands out against dark interfaces.

Filter Mode

Control which keystrokes are shown on screen:

  • All keystrokes -- Every key you press is displayed, including individual letters and numbers.
  • Modifier key combinations only -- Only keystrokes that include a modifier key (such as Cmd, Ctrl, Option, or Shift) are shown. This displays shortcuts like Cmd+S or Ctrl+C without cluttering the screen with every character you type.

Modifier-only filtering is recommended for most presentations and tutorials, as it highlights the keyboard shortcuts your audience needs to learn while keeping the display clean.

Recommendations

  • Use modifier-only filtering for most use cases to show important keyboard shortcuts without visual clutter.
  • Position the keystroke overlay in a corner that does not overlap with the application you are demonstrating.
  • Choose a theme that contrasts well with your application backgrounds for maximum readability.