Pause/Break key on modern keyboards

Is there still a use for this key in modern operating systems? I know back in the days of the rapid fire dir /s on ten thousand files in DOS 5.5 this key was indispensable, but is it needed anymore? If not, can I remap it to do something else? If so, what?

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8 Answers

In Windows, Windows + Pause/Break opens up the System Properties window. Not exactly relevant to what the key was originally designed for, but still quite useful!

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The Pause/Break key can also be used during boot to pause a POST screen so you can read it before continuing. I find it useful when I'm trying to double check that something is detected properly by the BIOS.

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Here are a couple common keyboard alternatives (please feel free to contribute to this list)

• General -Pause
• General -Shift + Pause
• Lenovo - Ctrl + Fn + F11
• Lenovo - Ctrl + Fn + B
• Lenovo - Fn + B
• Logitech - Fn + B
• Samsung - Fn + B
• HewlettPackard - Ctrl + Fn + Pause
• HewlettPackard - Ctrl + Fn + Right-Shift
• Dell - Fn + B

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Windows supports remapping keys itself: howtoogeek article

Ctrl + Break is still useful on the command prompt to send a break character; but Ctrl + C is a little easier.

If you ever have to configure equipment using a terminal emulator, you might wish you had kept the key. You need that key to halt the cisco boot process to recover the IOS or the configuration. I have had to do this to get into cisco devices people have forgotten the password on quite a few times.

Now if you never ever do this sort of thing then you have no disincentive to remap the key. I find it more practical to map key combinations that you never ever use. This is particularly the case in multi-clipboard apps I have used doing repetitive tasks.

The command prompt still accepts this key in XP, as other OSes.

You can remap any key to do just about anything if you install AutoHotkey.

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ctrl+alt+break is a useful shortcut to toggle between full-screen and windowed remote desktop sessions.

ctrl+break is a useful shortcut for stopping a build in Visual Studio.

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