> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.minimalmacropad.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configure the MinimalPad Rotary Encoder in MinimalPad Studio

> Learn how to configure the MinimalPad rotary encoder — assign any action to the encoder press in Studio, and understand how rotation is set in firmware.

MinimalPad has a rotary encoder you can turn clockwise or counter-clockwise and press down like a button. The press action is fully configurable in MinimalPad Studio. The rotation behavior — what happens when you turn it — is defined in the firmware and shows as read-only in Studio.

## Encoder press

The encoder press is treated as a regular configurable key position. You assign actions to it exactly the same way you assign any other key on the grid.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Studio and connect your MinimalPad">
    Go to [studio.minimalmacropad.com](https://studio.minimalmacropad.com/) in Chrome or Edge, then connect via USB or Bluetooth.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click the encoder press key">
    In the Studio layout, click the encoder press position. It appears alongside the 16-key grid. The action picker opens on the right.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose an action">
    Select any action from any category — Single Key, Shortcut, Media & Apps, Layers, Device Controls, or Advanced.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Assign">
    The action is applied immediately and you can test it by pressing the encoder.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save your changes">
    Click **Save** to write the assignment to flash memory so it persists after a reboot.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  On different layers, the encoder press key can have a completely different action — just like any other key. For example, the press can be Play/Pause on the base layer and RGB Toggle on a lighting layer. Rotation behavior, however, is set per layer in the firmware and cannot be changed in Studio.
</Note>

## Encoder rotation

Turning the encoder clockwise or counter-clockwise triggers firmware-defined actions. Studio displays the rotation assignments with a **lock icon** to indicate they are read-only — you cannot change them from Studio. To see the current rotation assignments for each layer, connect your MinimalPad and inspect the encoder area in [MinimalPad Studio](https://studio.minimalmacropad.com/).

To change what the encoder rotation does, you need to edit the firmware keymap and reflash. See [Advanced Customization](/firmware/advanced-customization) for instructions.

<Tip>
  Assign the encoder press to something you reach for constantly — Play/Pause, Mute, or an RGB Toggle — since the encoder is easy to locate by feel without looking down. It is one of the most ergonomically accessible positions on the pad.
</Tip>