Welcome to ZeroKeyUSB
This section walks you through the device screen by screen, with illustrations and the buttons you need to press at each step. No prior technical knowledge required — just the device and a USB-C cable.
The five buttons
Everything is controlled with five golden touch pads arranged in a cross on the right of the screen:| Pad | Symbol | Short tap | Long press (~800 ms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up | ⬆ | Move/scroll up, increment digit | — |
| Down | ⬇ | Move/scroll down, decrement digit | — |
| Left | ⬅ | Go back, previous digit | Jump 10 credentials back |
| Right | ➡ | Go forward, add digit | Jump 10 credentials forward |
| Center | ● | Confirm, select, type to host | Edit the current field |
Scenario index
Initial tutorial
Full walkthrough of the wizard that appears the first time you plug the device in: orientation, keyboard layout and master PIN creation.
Create your first credential
From unlocking with the PIN to saving your first password using the “Add New” screen and the on-device editor.
Edit a credential
How to open the editor, move the cursor, use the three keyboard pages, generate random passwords and save.
2FA codes (TOTP)
How to set the date and time the first time, view the 6-digit code with countdown and type it to the host computer.
Navigate the menu
How to access the main menu from the credential list and move through Backup, Settings, Danger and Info.
Create a backup
Export all your credentials as a hardware-encrypted CSV. When to do it and how to store it safely.
Import credentials
Restore credentials from an earlier backup or migrate from another password manager.
Before you start
Plug in the USB-C cable
Plug ZeroKeyUSB into any USB-C port on your computer, tablet, or phone. The device draws about 20 mA — less than a wireless mouse — and needs no battery.
Check the orientation
If the golden dots end up on your left instead of on the right, simply flip the device. During the initial tutorial you can also rotate the screen in software.
Conventions used in these guides
| Notation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Press X | Short tap on button X (less than 800 ms) |
| Hold X | Long press on button X (more than 800 ms — you will see the cyan ring appear) |
| Cyan button in the illustration | The button to press to advance to the next step |
| Cyan button with large halo | Long press |
monospaced text | Text that appears literally on the OLED screen |
Want to try before you have the device in hand? Open
Animaciones/simulador.html in any modern browser: it emulates the screen and buttons with the keyboard (W/A/S/D/arrows/Space).