Urn usb keyboard into macro keyboard install#
Urn usb keyboard into macro keyboard download#

Depending on what you want to program, you may want the displayio, adafruit_hid or adafruit_displaytext libraries, among others.

Urn usb keyboard into macro keyboard install#

You’ll also want to install some CircuitPython libraries.

Urn usb keyboard into macro keyboard download#

Just download the appropriate UF2 file from MacroPad’s page on, launch the device into boot select mode (by holding down the rotary encoder button while powering on / connecting to your PC) and drag the UF2 file over to the board, which appears as a storage drive with the label RPI-RP2 (as on every other RP2040 board). As with any other RP2040 board, it’s easy enough to do that.

To do anything with the MacroPad RP2040, you’ll need to install CircuitPython firmware, in particular right now version 7. And, whether or not you get the enclosure kit, you should definitely attach some kind of cover knob to the rotary encoder dial, a process that takes a few seconds. Screwing on the bottom plate takes just a moment and you may want to do it before you pop in the switches, just so you don’t accidentally dislodge them during the process. However, after I had all the switches on board, they were sturdy and didn’t pop out from regular use. I found that putting all the switches into the plate and then pushing down might be easier. Setting up the Adafruit MacroPad RP2040 was a fairly quick process, though getting all 12 switches to stick in the hot-swappable sockets on the board took a couple of tries as a couple of times switches popped out when I tried to push the plate from the enclosure kit down on them. The $5 enclosure kit is a must-buy if you get the bare board, because it includes a bottom plate and feet to go below the board, a top plate that holds the key switches in place, a rubber knob that sits on top of the rotary encoder and the screws you need to attach the bottom plate. The $49 kit comes with the board, 12 Kailh linear red key switches, 12 clear keycaps and the MacroPad enclosure kit, all of which are also sold separately at. You can buy the Adafruit MacroPad either as a complete Starter Kit for $49 or just the board for $34, after which you will need some other components. Raspberry Pi RP2040 (130 Hz, 264K of RAM)Ĥ.1 x 2.3 x 1.1 inches (104 x 59.5 x 29mm)Ĭonfiguration Choices for Adafruit MacroPad RP2040