How to Add Right Shift to Elytra Without Losing the Up Arrow

Elytra’s compact layout does not include a dedicated Right Shift key. If you use Right Shift regularly, Vial can give the Up Arrow a second function without removing its normal arrow action.

Tap for ↑. Hold for Right Shift.

Open Vial: https://vial.rocks/

Quick Setup

1. Open Elytra in Vial.
2. Select the Up Arrow key.
3. Go to Quantum → Mod-Tap.
4. Select RSft_T(kc).

Result: Tap the key to send ↑. Hold it while pressing another key to use Right Shift.

Before You Begin

Open https://vial.rocks/ in Chrome or Edge. Click Start Vial, select Elytra, and wait for the keymap to appear.

Connection tip: If Vial does not detect Elytra, refresh the page and reconnect. For a wired connection, use the USB-C data port on the left-hand (Central) half.

Step 1: Assign Right Shift to the Up Arrow

Path: Up Arrow → Quantum → Mod-Tap → RSft_T(kc)

1. Select the Up Arrow. In the keymap, click the Up Arrow on Elytra’s right half.
2. Open Quantum. Under Mod-Tap, select RSft_T(kc).
3. Check the key label. The key should show RSft_T above Up, as shown below.

Assign RSft_T(kc) to the Up Arrow in Vial.

Step 2: Test the New Behavior

Test the Up Arrow: Tap the Up Arrow once. The cursor should move up as usual.

Test Right Shift: Hold the Up Arrow, press a letter such as A, and then release both keys. You should get an uppercase A.

Setup complete: If both tests work, you are done. Continue only if the tap-and-hold timing does not feel right.

Step 3: Fine-Tune Tap-and-Hold Timing (Optional)

If the default behavior already feels right, you can stop here. If Shift sometimes fails to activate, open the QMK Settings tab in Vial and go to Tap-Hold Keys. “QMK Settings” is the name of the tab shown in Vial.

Recommended starting point: Enable Permissive Hold first. If Shift still does not trigger reliably, disable it and try Hold On Other Key Press instead.

Optional Tap-Hold settings in Vial.

Permissive Hold

Start with this option if Right Shift does not activate consistently during normal typing. After enabling it, test the Up Arrow and a few Shift combinations to see how the key feels.

Hold On Other Key Press

If Permissive Hold still does not feel reliable, turn it off and try this option instead. It may make the hold action easier to trigger, so check that quick Up Arrow taps still work as expected.

Test one option at a time: Start with Permissive Hold. Switch to Hold On Other Key Press only if the first option does not give you the response you want.

Adjust the Tapping Term

Start at 250 ms, and then adjust the value in small increments:

• Getting Shift by accident? Increase the Tapping Term slightly.
• Getting ↑ when you wanted Shift? Decrease the Tapping Term slightly.

Restore the Original Up Arrow

Select the configured key in Vial, open the Basic tab, and assign Up again. The key will return to a standard Up Arrow with no hold action.

Need More Help?

For connection instructions, firmware updates, and more key-remapping guidance, see the Elytra User Manual.

Vial reference: Vial Mod-Tap documentation