keyboard
Hook and simulate keyboard events on Windows and Linux
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need global keyboard control on Windows or Linux. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and low install friction. On macOS, experimental support means you should test thoroughly before relying on it. Note that Linux requires root/sudo and Windows has the most complete feature set; key suppression is Windows-only.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Linux requires root/sudo access to read raw device files.
- Windows and macOS do not require elevated privileges.
- Low friction install with a single pure-Python runtime dependency (pyobjc).
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must include the license notice in distributions.
last release 2020-03-23 (2335 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-10 · 3,961 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 947,380 downloads/mo, #4,664 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install keyboard
import keyboard
keyboard.add_hotkey('ctrl+shift+a', lambda: keyboard.write('hello'))
keyboard.wait('esc')- Whether pyobjc is automatically installed on non-macOS systems or only when needed
- Current state of experimental macOS support and any known stability issues
- Whether key suppression/blocking has been implemented on Linux since the last release
What it is and what it does
keyboard is a Python library that gives you low-level control over keyboard input and output on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It lets you hook global keyboard events (capturing key presses regardless of which window has focus), register complex hotkey combinations, simulate key presses, and record/replay keyboard sequences. The library runs event capture in a separate thread so it doesn't block your main program.
The package is pure Python with no C compilation required, making it trivial to install and deploy. It depends on pyobjc for macOS support. Known limitations include that key suppression only works on Windows, Linux requires root access to read raw device files, and some applications can swallow key events before keyboard sees them.
Use it for
- Build system-wide hotkey handlers that trigger functions regardless of active window
- Automate repetitive typing tasks by simulating key sequences and text input
- Record keyboard activity for playback at different speeds or for testing
- Create keyboard shortcuts for accessibility or custom application workflows
- Implement text abbreviation expansion (e.g., replace '@@' with an email address)
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need global keyboard control on Windows or Linux.
The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and low install friction. On macOS, experimental support means you should test thoroughly before relying on it. Note that Linux requires root/sudo and Windows has the most complete feature set; key suppression is Windows-only.
Install
keyboard on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction install with a single pure-Python runtime dependency (pyobjc). Actively maintained as of July 2026 with 3961 repository stars and steady popularity (top 5000 PyPI packages by downloads).
Linux requires root/sudo access to read raw device files. Windows and macOS do not require elevated privileges.
License in practice
MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must include the license notice in distributions.
Quickstart
pip install keyboard
import keyboard
keyboard.add_hotkey('ctrl+shift+a', lambda: keyboard.write('hello'))
keyboard.wait('esc')Verify before relying
- Whether pyobjc is automatically installed on non-macOS systems or only when needed
- Current state of experimental macOS support and any known stability issues
- Whether key suppression/blocking has been implemented on Linux since the last release
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagepyobjc |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 2,335 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 947,380 / month, #4,664 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: UnixProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 3Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: keyboard-0.13.5-py3-none-any.whl
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