> ## 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.

# Inspect Your MinimalPad's Live Key Assignments in Studio

> Learn how to read your MinimalPad's current key assignments in Studio — including per-layer views, key detail panels, and the encoder area.

Before you change anything, it helps to see exactly what your MinimalPad is already configured to do. Studio reads the configuration directly from your connected device and displays it on a visual grid that mirrors the physical layout of your pad. What you see is the authoritative view of your current keymap — pulled from the device, not from a fixed default.

## How to inspect your keymap

<Steps>
  <Step title="Connect your MinimalPad to Studio">
    Open [Studio](https://studio.minimalmacropad.com/) and connect your device. See [Connect via USB](/connecting/connect-usb) if you need help with this step. Once the connection indicator turns green ("MinimalPad connected"), Studio loads your configuration from the device automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Studio loads your current configuration">
    After connecting, Studio fetches your keymap and available behaviors directly from the device. The 4×4 key grid populates with the current assignment labels for the active layer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click a layer tab to view that layer">
    The layer tabs appear at the top of the interface. Click any tab to switch to that layer and see its key assignments on the grid.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Read the label on each key">
    Each key in the grid displays a short label describing its current action — for example, `Ctrl+C`, `Mute`, `Layer 2`, or `BT Profile 1`. Labels reflect exactly what the device will do when you press that key on that layer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click a key to see full assignment detail">
    Clicking any key opens the assignment detail panel. This shows the full action, behavior type, and any configured parameters — useful for understanding complex assignments like Mod-Tap or Layer-Tap keys.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Switch between layers to see the full configuration">
    Repeat for each layer tab to build a complete picture of your keymap across all layers.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  The assignments displayed in Studio are read directly from your device. This is the authoritative view of your current configuration — not a preset or default template.
</Note>

## The encoder area

The encoder press button (key position 16) appears alongside the 4×4 grid. It shows its current assignment label and behaves like any other key — click it to view or change its assignment.

The encoder rotation labels (clockwise and counter-clockwise) are also displayed, but with a lock icon (🔒). These values are defined in the firmware and cannot be changed through Studio. To change encoder rotation behavior, you need to edit the firmware keymap file and reflash. See [Encoder Rotation](/studio/encoder) and [Advanced Firmware Customization](/firmware/advanced-customization) for details.