Zwift racers have a bit of a love-hate relationship with powerups. Some wish powerups would go away entirely, while others think they add a fun bit of strategy and randomness to racing.
I fall squarely into the second camp. I think if powerups are set up properly by organizers they help animate the race, add a layer of strategy, and reward riders who have a bit of course knowledge over those who don’t.
Triggering powerups can be a bit of a pain, though. While Zwift provides a variety of methods to activate a powerup, none of those is convenient when you’re sprinting for your life. Who wants to reach for a keyboard, try to tap their phone screen, or (worst of all) click their AppleTV remote when they’re on the rivet?
I’ve messed with Bluetooth controllers as powerup triggers in the past, but found them unreliable. (My theory is they go to sleep after X minutes of no use, then it takes multiple clicks to wake them up.) I’m not interested in faffing about with multiple clicks, or having to re-pair the controller via Windows’ wonky Bluetooth support, or worrying if the controller’s battery will die right when I need it most.
So I devised a hardwired, reliable, single-button powerup trigger for my Windows PC setup. It’s easy to set up and works consistently and instantly while staying perfectly within reach as I hammer out the watts in a sprint or hard climb. Here’s how it works…
Hardware Required
You’ll need a one-button programmable keyboard. I bought this one on Amazon for $17.99. There are lots of options for these types of keyboards, including a more stylish black one or the big red button. (Zwift themselves use a big silver button version for their roadshow bike setups.)
You’ll probably need a USB extension cable as well since the cord on the keyboard isn’t very long. Amazon Basics to the rescue!


Setting It Up
The configuration software for the particular keyboard I purchased is pretty basic – it looks like a programming project from a freshman Computer Science major. That said, it’s a standalone program that runs quickly (no installation needed), and it worked just fine!
Important note for Mac users: the configuration software for this particular keyboard only runs on Windows, so if you want your keyboard to work on your Mac, you’ll need access to a Windows PC to do the configuring first.
Step 1: Plug your new 1-key keyboard into your PC.
Step 2: Download the configuration software at https://key.itytsoft.com/, extract the files to your PC, then run “run-me.exe”.
Step 3: Click “SearchDevice” and the keypad should pop up. Then click “Configure”:

Step 4: Click the image of your keyboard on the left (above the “Save to keyboard” button)
Step 5: Click the button next to “Keys” to bring up a keyboard, then click on the spacebar of the keyboard to set that as the button for your 1-key keyboard. Click “OK”, then “OK” again.

Step 6: Click “Save to keyboard”. You’re all done!

Step 7 (optional): change the LED Mode to whatever you’d like. I like “Colorful gradient”, which slowly cycles between various colors.
Now whenever your 1-key keyboard is plugged into your computer, hitting the key will be just like hitting the spacebar on your main keyboard. You can even test it out yourself – open up a document and start typing. Click your keyboard and see a space typed!
The keyboard also has a really solid click action, which is quite satisfying. So satisfying, in fact, that I made an Instagram reel the day it arrived:
Mounting to Your Bike
Now we have to install the keyboard on your bike. A few things to consider:
- You want it within easy reach when you’re sprinting or climbing hard
- You don’t want it to obstruct your typical hand positions
- If you drip sweat onto your bars or stem, you may want to take that into consideration when selecting a location
- You may want it to be easily removed if your Zwift bike doubles as your outdoor bike
- You may want it to be easily moveable until you settle on the best location
It could easily be mounted on your stem with a rubberband or bit of double-sided tape. But I decided to place mine within closer reach, right where a sprint shifter would be located, under my right thumb:



For now it’s attached via a heavy-duty rubberband, which seems to do the trick quite nicely while leaving me with a flexible setup.
Wrapping It Up
I’m really enjoying my new powerup trigger. No more releasing the handlebars to reach for the spacebar on the keyboard sitting on the desk in front of me, or trying to tap the powerup button in the Companion app.
Just a quick, mechanical click using my right thumb. It’s worked instantaneously and flawlessly every time!
Questions or Comments?
Post below!
I’d love it if this would work for returning. RideOns.
Yessss!
With an AutohotKey script this is easy to set up. Look at https://zwifthacks.com/zwift-hotkeys/
How would you set up AHK to return a Ride On? Never knew that was possible…
zwift-hotkeys creates an R keyboard shortcut for clicking the orange thumb next to rider list. It’s a quick way to return ride ons from people nearby.
Really, Jesper? Brilliant. I’ll have to check that out.
Yeah.
I’m using a 8keys keyboard with autohotkey. Big advantage that the Zwift window don’t have to be active when using autohotkey. Pretty easy to set up.
Wonder if that would work on an android laptop, if you set it up on a pc first
I bet so.
https://titanlab.co/715-2/
This has worked quite well for me.
Personally part of the no power-up parade. I’d see this being super useful as a Discord PTT button myself.
Certainly could be used for that!
We need a way to trigger the mass Ride Ons without having to hit the little, moving arrow on the Companion app.
Eric, thought id comment on the most recent post, are you going to make a post recapping the rapha rising and gc competition winners, as well as your own experience or perhaps someone else’s who writes on Zwift insider
AliExpress cost less. I recommand 2 buttons versus one to better acces from upper AND sprint position. Use it for 2 years now. Can’t race without it. But don’t do it. I will lose my edge 😈
I’ve gone nerdier than this…
Flic button
Web hooks into home assistant
Mqtt server
Home assistant to PC via hass agent
And I still forget about it and press the space bar on my keyboard most of the time.
So many things in racing would be solved with voice commands. Is there no software out there yet that would allow you to perform a few simple functions just by yelling?? We have AI now that argues with its creator on social media!
https://forums.zwift.com/t/power-up-button/602696/3?u=ian_attoe
Just set up on laptop this morning, works beautifully and I have added Left, Right and U Turn so much less need to reach for keyboard.
Interesting! I just discovered that Microsoft allows you to use voice to perform keyboard functions! Going to give that a whirl.
OK, I just used the built-in Microsoft software to teach my laptop to hit the space bar when I yell “space”. Tested it, and it works! Going to try it in a race tomorrow.
You need Voice Attack.
https://youtu.be/4r6QXvcLjFA
Having said that it failed me once, so I’m getting the button too!
Thanks. Just need one that works with Apple TV now
Elgato Stream Deck with garmin mount stuck on the bottom works a treat on the handlebar (replace headunit as not needed inside) if you want a few extra buttons/options. On top of powerup you can control Spotify, send messages, control screens etc.
That does look great, whenever I look at my power profile in a longer sprint you can always see a drop in power as I reach for the spacebar.
I just use a Satechi Media Button an remap the media keys using PowerToys for Windows. AutoHotKey would also be a perfect match if more advanced control is a desire
https://satechi.net/products/satechi-bluetooth-button-series?variant=34058399049
Interesting, any ideas on how to make this wireless? On a trainner the USB cable is not a big deal, but on rollers the loose cable might be a problem.
Hi,
I created my own by programming..
Well, its a prototype but it has some extra features (Bike switch, wheel switch and TTT-mode) and its not completely done yet. I have some other ideas too.
Unfortunatly the preview is in Swedish 🙂
It was created for personal use but it works great..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STxDCJYL0rY&t=2s
Ohh, yes of course it emulates a USB-keyboard. So when plugging it in to the computer it will say “Zwift Keyboard” , so no magic..
By programming I mean I created it from scratch….But the programming is the biggest part.
@eric I was wanting a physical button as well for certain actions in Zwift. I don’t use the companion when riding and prefer actual triggers. When the Elgato Streamdeck came out I ended up creating an entire profile to control Zwift from the hardware. I also showed how to mount it to your bars using a Garmin mount. It’s not cheap but it is easy to setup, with little to no maintenance. It’s good looking too. Best part, powerup button gets top billing on the interface! Back in January I put out a profile for the Streamdeck + and Streamdeck… Read more »
if only this could be configured to change bikes mid race….
I have been using a 3-button version of this (configured to 1, 6, space), agree that it is much more reliable than bluetooth media buttons or whatever. A thick rubber band has worked well enough for mounting here as well.
Great article Eric, this is something I really looked into prior to recent ZRL season and I totally agree that wired is best. I went for the Ultimarc USB programmable button simply because I think it’s really cool with the programmable colours. I feel like I’m launching a Nuke every time I press it. Have mounted it via a Wahoo out front mount with a MagCad 3d printed Wahoo mount and some superglue . Yours is probably easier to access but mine is possibly slightly better secured and no chance of missing it. A great upgrade for racing or trying… Read more »
Thanks!! I love my button!
it’s like being in the future!
Why not just use the button on the companion app. Always works for me, phones on the handle bars in a stand. Doesn’t get much easier than that.