Windows Em Dash Shortcut – Insider Builds
Finally! Easier Em adn en Dashes are Coming to Windows
For writers, the em dash (-) and en dash (-) are essential tools, adding nuance and clarity to our sentences. but let’s be honest,typing them in Windows has always been a clunky workaround.No more! Microsoft is rolling out a new feature that promises to make inserting these dashes a breeze.
The Problem: Currently, adding these dashes often involves memorizing obscure ALT codes or relying on auto-correct features that aren’t always reliable.
The Solution: The latest Windows Insider builds (Dev and Beta channels) include a new, simple keyboard shortcut. Once activated, you can type:
Windows key + dash key (-) for an en dash (-)
Windows key + Shift + dash key (-) for an em dash (-)
How to Get It (If You’re Feeling Adventurous):
This feature isn’t quite ready for the general public yet.To access it now, you’ll need to be running a Windows Insider build in either the Dev channel (build 26200.5761 or higher) or the beta channel (26120.5770 or higher).
A Word of Caution: Insider builds are essentially test versions of Windows. They can contain bugs and stability issues that you wouldn’t find in the regular release. Only proceed if you’re comfortable with potential glitches.
Here’s how to get started:
- Join the Windows Insider Program: Go to Settings -> Windows Update -> Windows Insider Program, click “Get Started,” and choose either the Beta or Dev channel.
- download ViveTool: This free utility unlocks hidden Windows features. Download the latest version from https://github.com/thebookisclosed/ViVe/releases. Extract the contents to an easily accessible folder (e.g., C:vive).
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt: Type “cmd” in the Windows search bar, right-click the “Command Prompt” result, and select “Run as Administrator.”
- Navigate to the ViveTool Folder: In the command prompt, type
cd C:vive(or the path where you extracted vivetool). - Enable the Dash Shortcuts: Type the following command and press Enter:
vivetool /enable /id:58422150
- Reboot Your PC: After the command completes, restart your computer.
Credit: A big thank you to Windows Insider expert [phantomofearth](https://x.com/phantomofearth/status/19618848532315