A Guide to the Full ZH100 Keyboard

Table of Contents

Quick Start Guide

What's in the Box

  • ZH100 Mechanical Keyboard
  • Type-C Wired Cable
  • 2.4G Wireless Receiver
  • Keycap Puller Tool

First-Time Setup

Ready to Use: Connect via USB-C and type. No drivers required for basic wired use. The keyboard auto-detects Windows or macOS on connection.
  1. Connect via Type-C cable, or pair wirelessly via Bluetooth or 2.4G (see Connection Modes below)
  2. The keyboard will auto-detect your OS — press FN + A to manually set Windows mode, or FN + S to set macOS mode
  3. Backlighting activates on connection

OS Mode Switching

Press FN + A to switch to Windows/Android mode — the white light on the A key flashes three times to confirm. Press FN + S to switch to macOS/iOS mode — the white light on the S key flashes three times to confirm. Both default to automatic system recognition.

Win Key Lock

Press FN + Left WIN key to lock the left WIN and APP keys simultaneously. This is useful during gaming to prevent accidental activation. The keys automatically unlock under iOS/macOS.

Connection Modes

This keyboard has a physical back toggle switch to set the connection mode: Wired, 2.4G, or Bluetooth. Set the toggle to your preferred mode, then use the FN combinations below to pair or switch devices.

Type-C Wired

  1. Set the back toggle switch to the wired position
  2. Connect the included Type-C cable to the keyboard and your computer
  3. The T key light flashes white three times to confirm wired mode is active
  4. No drivers needed for standard use

2.4G Wireless

  1. Set the back toggle switch to the 2.4G position
  2. Insert the 2.4G wireless receiver into your computer
  3. Press and hold FN + R for 3 seconds to enter 2.4G receiver pairing mode
  4. The indicator flashes green slowly, then rapidly once connected

Bluetooth (up to 3 devices)

  1. Set the back toggle switch to the Bluetooth position
  2. Press and hold FN + Q, FN + W, or FN + E for 3 seconds to enter pairing mode for Device 1, 2, or 3 respectively — the corresponding indicator (Q, W, or E key) flashes blue rapidly (3 times/second)
  3. On your device, open Bluetooth settings and select the keyboard
  4. Once paired, short press FN + Q / W / E to switch between paired devices
Bluetooth Pairing Notes: If no device is found within 60 seconds, pairing exits automatically. Reconnection time is 10 seconds — if reconnection fails, the indicator turns off and the keyboard enters sleep mode. After successful reconnection, the backlight turns off after 180 seconds of inactivity and the keyboard enters sleep mode after 10 minutes. Charging is possible via USB cable regardless of the back toggle switch position.

Indicator Lights

Lock Key Indicators

WIN LOCK, NUM LOCK, and CAPS LOCK each use the white light at the bottom of their respective keys. The key light turns white when enabled and reverts to the current lighting effect when disabled.

Charging Indicator

The FN key has a red charging mode light at its base. Behavior:

  • Solid red — charging in progress
  • Red flashing rapidly — low battery (20% or below); charge soon
  • Red turns off — fully charged (battery reached 4.2V)

Connection Mode Indicators

Mode Key Indicator
2.4G R key Green light at bottom of R key
Bluetooth 1 Q key Blue light at bottom of Q key (B:255, G:0)
Bluetooth 2 W key Blue light at bottom of W key (B:255, G:125)
Bluetooth 3 E key Blue light at bottom of E key (B:255, G:255)
Wired T key White light flashes 3 times on activation
Low Voltage Warning: When battery voltage drops below 3.1V, the keyboard stops working and cannot be woken. Pressing keys only causes the charging indicator to flash with no other response. Connect the USB cable and charge to at least 3.4V to restore normal function.

Color & Backlighting

Backlight Controls

Function Keys
Cycle lighting modes FN + TAB
Toggle lights on/off FN + PRTSC
Record / save lighting mode FN + HOME
Brightness increase FN + F6
Brightness decrease FN + F5
Animation speed up FN + Up Arrow
Animation speed down FN + Down Arrow
Cycle backlight color FN + Right Arrow
Brightness Limits: When brightness reaches maximum or minimum, the WIN key flashes white three times as a prompt. Available colors via FN + Right Arrow: red, green, blue, orange, pink, cyan, white.

Keyboard Layout & Function Keys

F-Row Functions

Key Mac / iOS Function
F1 Brightness Decrease
F2 Brightness Increase
F3 Mission Control
F4 Launchpad
F5 Main key area backlight brightness decrease
F6 Main key area backlight brightness increase
F7 Previous Track
F8 Play/Pause
F9 Next Track
F10 Mute
F11 Volume Decrease
F12 Volume Increase
Left CTRL Control
Left WIN Option
Left ALT Command
Right CTRL Control
Right ALT Command
Key Windows / Android Function (FN + key)
FN + F1 Brightness -
FN + F2 Brightness +
FN + F3 WIN + TAB (Task View)
FN + F4 WIN + E (File Explorer)
FN + F5 Keyboard brightness decrease
FN + F6 Keyboard brightness increase
FN + F7 Previous Track
FN + F8 Play/Pause
FN + F9 Next Track
FN + F10 Mute
FN + F11 Volume -
FN + F12 Volume +
FN + INS SCROLL LOCK (same function on macOS; INS key lights up when active)

All FN Key Combinations

Key Combination Function
FN + DEL (hold 3s) Restore factory settings — all keys flash red, green, blue three times, then revert to flowing light effect
FN + A Switch to Windows/Android mode (A key flashes white 3x to confirm)
FN + S Switch to macOS/iOS mode (S key flashes white 3x to confirm)
FN + Left WIN Lock/unlock left WIN and APP keys simultaneously (auto-unlocks on iOS/macOS)
FN + TAB Cycle lighting modes
FN + PRTSC Toggle lights off; press again to restore previous lighting effect
FN + HOME Record lighting mode
FN + Right Arrow Cycle backlight color: red, green, blue, orange, pink, cyan, white
FN + Up Arrow Backlight animation speed up
FN + Down Arrow Backlight animation speed down
FN + F5 Keyboard brightness decrease (WIN flashes white 3x at minimum)
FN + F6 Keyboard brightness increase (WIN flashes white 3x at maximum)
FN + Q (short press) Switch to Bluetooth Device 1
FN + Q (hold 3s) Enter Bluetooth Device 1 pairing mode
FN + W (short press) Switch to Bluetooth Device 2
FN + W (hold 3s) Enter Bluetooth Device 2 pairing mode
FN + E (short press) Switch to Bluetooth Device 3
FN + E (hold 3s) Enter Bluetooth Device 3 pairing mode
FN + R (hold 3s) Enter 2.4G receiver pairing mode
FN + SPACE / BACKSPACE Check current battery level (see Battery section)

Battery & Charging

This keyboard uses a 4000mAh lithium battery with charging and boost circuits. The data cable interface is Type-C.

Checking Battery Level

Press FN + SPACE (or BACKSPACE) to check the current battery level. The top row of number keys (1 through 0) lights up as a 10-LED indicator — only the lit keys are on, the rest stay off. Hold the combination to display; the level reverts to the current lighting effect when released. Note: battery level can only be queried when running on battery power alone (not while charging via USB).

Voltage Battery Level Keys Lit
4.0–4.2V 100% Keys 1 through 0 (all 10)
3.9V 90–100% Keys 1 through 9
3.8V 80–90% Keys 1 through 8
3.7V 70–80% Keys 1 through 7
3.6V 60–70% Keys 1 through 6
3.5V 50–60% Keys 1 through 5
3.45V 40–50% Keys 1 through 4
3.4V 30–40% Keys 1 through 3
3.3V 20–30% Keys 1 through 2
3.1V 10–20% Key 1 only (battery protection — keyboard stops working)

Charging

  • Connect via Type-C cable to charge — the red FN light stays on during charging and turns off at full charge (4.2V)
  • The keyboard can be charged regardless of the back toggle switch position
  • Standard USB input voltage: 5V ± 0.25V
  • Lithium battery charging current: 500mA
Low Voltage: When the battery drops below 3.1V, the keyboard stops working completely. Connect USB and charge before attempting to use it — pressing keys will only cause the charging indicator to flash with no other response.

Driver & Software

The ZH100 supports driver-based customization with the following capabilities:

  • Wireless code transmission — settings configured in the driver via wired mode carry over to 2.4G and Bluetooth modes
  • Music rhythm lighting function
  • Custom lighting configuration
  • FN layer key remapping
  • Driver is compatible with 2.4G and wired modes
Note: After connecting in Bluetooth mode, the keyboard battery level can be displayed in your computer's system settings.

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frequently asked questions

How do I switch between RGB color modes?

Use FN + ENTER to cycle through backlight effects, FN + T to toggle lights on or off, FN + ↑ / ↓ to adjust brightness, and FN + ← / → to control animation speed. On supported effects, use FN + \ to change colors.

How do I switch between Bluetooth devices?

Quick press FN + Q/W/E to switch between three paired Bluetooth devices. Channel indicator: Q = Blue, W = Green, E = Red.

How do I switch between Mac and Windows?

Yes. Press FN + S for Mac mode or FN + A for Windows mode. In Mac mode, the F-row defaults to system controls (brightness, media, Launchpad, etc.). In Windows mode, F-keys work as standard function keys and FN + F-row activates app shortcuts.

How many devices can I pair?

Short press FN + Q, FN + W, or FN + E to switch between your three paired Bluetooth devices instantly. To pair a new device on any of those slots, long press the corresponding combination until the keyboard enters pairing mode.

Does it have a numpad?

Yes. A full numpad is included. The layout keeps the bottom row aligned while compacting the direction keys flush against the right shift — no dropped arrow cluster. Del, Home, End, Print Screen, Insert, Page Up, and Page Down are all present.

How do I know when the battery is low?

Red light shows when battery level drops below 20%. Connect USB cable to charge. Red light remains on while charging.

How do I check the battery level?

Press FN + SPACEBAR. The battery indicator will display on the keyboard.

What about arrow keys for coding?

65% keyboards include dedicated arrow keys - no function layer required. Perfect for navigating code, selecting text, and moving through terminal commands. Unlike 60% boards, you get immediate arrow access without memorizing key combinations.

Why did my Bluetooth connection drop?

After 30 minutes without activity, keyboard enters sleep mode and Bluetooth disconnects. Press any key to wake and reconnect.

Will this work with Figma/Adobe/Sketch shortcuts?

Yes. All modifier keys present. Custom shortcuts work identically to full-size boards. Function layer provides access to F-keys for application-specific commands.

What does the volume knob control?

Volume only. Turn to adjust, press to mute. RGB controls are FN + arrow combinations. Simple, immediate, tactile.

Can I use this while charging?

Yes, connect USB-C cable and continue typing. Charging takes approximately 3 hours to full capacity.

How do I check if my keyboard needs charging?

Press ENTER key. If backlight doesn't activate, battery is depleted and needs charging.

Does this work with iPad/Android tablets?

Yes, connects via Bluetooth or USB-C (with compatible adapter) to any device supporting external keyboards.

What's the difference between wired and 2.4GHz modes?

Wired provides unlimited power and zero battery concerns. 2.4GHz offers wireless freedom with gaming-grade latency (typically 1-3ms). Bluetooth adds multi-device switching but slightly higher latency (8-15ms).

What's the difference between Bluetooth and 2.4G mode?

Both are wireless, but 2.4G runs at 1000hz polling rate (same as wired) — better for low-latency workflows. Bluetooth runs at 125hz and connects without a receiver, which is more convenient for switching between devices like a tablet or phone.

Is this good for long nails?

Excellent. It's what we do. The 100-key layout keeps standard key spacing and full-size key access without the compromises of compact layouts. No function-layer remapping on the core keys means no surprises mid-workflow.

Is this good for travel or on-the-go use?

It's wireless and built from aluminum, so it's sturdy and cord-free — but the full layout and solid chassis are designed for stability and staying put on a desk. If portability is the priority, our compact 65% boards are the move. The Ultra Violet and The Retro Finder are built for exactly that: lighter, smaller, and just as satisfying to type on — available in Studio Silent for a noise-free setup or Studio Thock for that deep, resonant sound.

Can I use VIA to remap keys?

Yes. Download the keyboard JSON file and load it into VIA to configure custom layouts and key assignments.

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