Screenkey
A Linux screencast tool that shows the keys you press on screen while recording.
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About Screenkey
Screenkey is a small Linux utility for screencasts and live demonstrations. It displays the keys you press on screen, so viewers can follow keyboard shortcuts and typed commands without guessing. It was inspired by Screenflick, a screencasting app for the Mac.
The project is maintained on GitLab under the GPLv3 licence. It has tagged releases up to version 1.5 and commits as recent as January 2025. A preferences dialog lets you adjust how it behaves.
Strengths
- Makes keyboard shortcuts visible in recordings and demos
- Settings available through a preferences dialog
- Long-running project with regular tagged releases
Limitations
- Linux only
- Shows keystrokes only; it does not record the screen itself
- Releases are occasional rather than frequent
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source under the GPLv3 licence.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Developer
- Yuri D'Elia and the Screenkey contributors
- Platforms
- Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Linux users recording tutorials or giving live demos where keystrokes matter
- Categories
- Screen capture
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Screenkey
Compare allSoftware that can replace Screenkey for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Show Me The Key
Shows the keys you type on screen, a screenkey alternative that works under Wayland.
Show Me The Key is a free Linux keystroke overlay that works under Wayland through libinput, though reading input needs elevated permissions.
Keyviz
Show keyboard shortcuts and mouse actions during demonstrations.
Keyviz is open source under GPL-3.0 on Windows, macOS and Linux and also shows mouse actions, but on Linux it needs X11 and a source build.
KeyCastr
An open-source macOS keystroke visualizer that shows your key presses on screen during screencasts.
KeyCastr is an open-source keystroke visualizer for macOS only, with options for command keys, modified keys or all keys and optional mouse clicks.
Carnac
Show pressed keys during Windows demonstrations and recordings.
Carnac is a free, open-source keystroke display under MS-PL for Windows only, so switching means moving off Linux.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
SimpleScreenRecorder
A Linux screen recorder for capturing programs and games, with live streaming and audio recording support.
Kooha
A simple GTK screen recorder for Linux with a minimal interface, supporting Wayland and X11.
vokoscreenNG
An open-source screencast recorder for Windows and Linux that captures the screen, an area or a window.
OBS Studio
The standard free tool for recording a screen and for live streaming, built around scenes and sources.
