July 19, 2026

VIAL on Keychron v6 Max (ANSI)

Google, Reddit, etc. say VIAL on the Keychron v6 isn’t possible (LLM reinforced falsities). This was frustrating, as I’d done it previously based on results from a simple Google search. Much head bashing later, it’s working on the v6 Max (Max is “tri-mode” wireless, non-max is USB only). So, here it is for future archaeologists.

This is for Keychron V6 MAX Ansi Layout with Rotary Encoder (Volume knob) - other models will need a different vial.json

This is performed in MacOS and requires brew

Build

QMK Environment

Following https://docs.qmk.fm/newbs_getting_started#setting-up-your-qmk-environment

Install QMK CLI

curl -fsSL https://install.qmk.fm | sh

VIAL Environment

Get source, following https://get.vial.today/docs/porting-to-vial.html#1-prepare-your-build-environment, but using the source at https://github.com/Tymon3310/vial-qmk
```
cd ~
git clone https://github.com/Tymon3310/vial-qmk
cd vial-qmk
```
Clone submodules
```
make git-submodule
```
Check everything is ok
```
qmk doctor
```

qmk doctor will say it’s fine, but make below will get errors about arm-none-eabi-gcc and dfu-suffix not being found, so reinstall them properly with brew:

brew install --cask gcc-arm-embedded
brew install dfu-util

check:

which arm-none-eabi-gcc
> /usr/local/bin/arm-none-eabi-gcc
	
which dfu-suffix
> /usr/local/bin/dfu-suffix

Test against default

paths are relative to ~/vial-qmk/keyboards

make keychron/v6_max/ansi_encoder:default

Making keychron/v6 _max/ansi _encoder with keymap default
arm-none-eabi-gcc (Arm GNU Toolchain 14.2.Rell (Build arm-14.52)) 14.2.1 20241119
Copyright (C) 2024 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
		
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO source for There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
	
Compiling:./keyboards/keychron/common/keychron_common.c					[OK]
Compiling: ./keyboards/keychron/common/factory_test.c					[OK]
Linking: .build/keychron_v6_max_ansi_encoder_default.elf				[OK]
Creating binary load file for flashing: build/keychron_v6 max_ansi encoder default.bin 	[OK]
Creating load file for flashing: . build/keychron_v6_max_ansi_encoder_default.hex	[OK]
	
Size after:
text    data    bss	dec    hex filename
   0   63124	  0   63124   f694 keychron_v6_max_ansi_encoder_default.bin
	
Copying keychron v6 max ansi encoder default.bin to qmk firmware folder			[OK]

Vial Configuration

vial.json

NOTE: The Enter and R Shift keys are left blank somehow, but the remainder of the layout is correct. The keys appear to work regardless, and can be populated in Vial gui

{
  "name": "Keychron V6 MAX Ansi Encoder",
  "vendorId": "0x3434",
  "productId": "0x0960",
  "lighting": "vialrgb",
  "matrix": {
    "rows": 6,
    "cols": 21
  },
  "customKeycodes": [
    {
      "name": "Left Option",
      "title": "Left Option",
      "shortName": "LOpt"
    },
    {
      "name": "Right Option",
      "title": "Right Option",
      "shortName": "ROpt"
    },
    {
      "name": "Left Cmd",
      "title": "Left Command",
      "shortName": "LCmd"
    },
    {
      "name": "Right Cmd",
      "title": "Right Command",
      "shortName": "RCmd"
    },
    {
      "name": "Misson Control",
      "title": "Misson Control in Mac",
      "shortName": "MCtl"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lanuch Pad",
      "title": "Lanuch Pad in Windows",
      "shortName": "LPad"
    },
    {
      "name": "Task View",
      "title": "Task View in Windows",
      "shortName": "Task"
    },
    {
      "name": "File Explorer",
      "title": "File Explorer in Windows",
      "shortName": "File"
    },
    {
      "name": "Screen shot",
      "title": "Screenshot in macOS",
      "shortName": "SShot"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cortana",
      "title": "Cortana in Windows",
      "shortName": "Cortana"
    },
    {
      "name": "Siri",
      "title": "Siri in macOS",
      "shortName": "Siri"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bluetooth Host 1",
      "title": "Bluetooth Host 1",
      "shortName": "BTH1"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bluetooth Host 2",
      "title": "Bluetooth Host 2",
      "shortName": "BTH2"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bluetooth Host 3",
      "title": "Bluetooth Host 3",
      "shortName": "BTH3"
    },
    {
      "name": "2.4G",
      "title": "2.4G",
      "shortName": "2.4G"
    },
    {
      "name": "Battery Level",
      "title": "Show battery level",
      "shortName": "Batt"
    }
  ],
  "layouts": {
    "keymap": [
      [
        {
          "x": 13.5
        },
        "0,0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ne",
        "0,1\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ne"
      ],
      [
        {
          "c": "#777777"
        },
        "0,0\nESC",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "0,1",
        "0,2",
        "0,3",
        "0,4",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#aaaaaa"
        },
        "0,5",
        "0,6",
        "0,7",
        "0,8",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "0,9",
        "0,10",
        "0,11",
        "0,12",
        {
          "x": 0.25
        },
        "0,13",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#aaaaaa"
        },
        "0,14",
        "0,15",
        "0,16",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "0,17",
        "0,18",
        "0,19",
        "0,20"
      ],
      [
        {
          "y": 0.25
        },
        "1,0",
        "1,1",
        "1,2",
        "1,3",
        "1,4",
        "1,5",
        "1,6",
        "1,7",
        "1,8",
        "1,9",
        "1,10",
        "1,11",
        "1,12",
        {
          "c": "#aaaaaa",
          "w": 2
        },
        "1,13",
        {
          "x": 0.25
        },
        "1,14",
        "1,15",
        "1,16",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "1,17",
        "1,18",
        "1,19",
        "1,20"
      ],
      [
        {
          "c": "#aaaaaa",
          "w": 1.5
        },
        "2,0",
        {
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "2,1",
        "2,2",
        "2,3",
        "2,4",
        "2,5",
        "2,6",
        "2,7",
        "2,8",
        "2,9",
        "2,10",
        "2,11",
        "2,12",
        {
          "w": 1.5
        },
        "2,13",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#aaaaaa"
        },
        "2,14",
        "2,15",
        "2,16",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "2,17",
        "2,18",
        "2,19",
        {
          "h": 2
        },
        "3,20"
      ],
      [
        {
          "c": "#aaaaaa",
          "w": 1.75
        },
        "3,0",
        {
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "3,1",
        "3,2",
        "3,3",
        "3,4",
        "3,5",
        "3,6",
        "3,7",
        "3,8",
        "3,9",
        "3,10",
        "3,11",
        {
          "c": "#777777",
          "w": 2.25
        },
        "3,12",
        {
          "x": 3.5,
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "3,17",
        "3,18",
        "3,19"
      ],
      [
        {
          "c": "#aaaaaa",
          "w": 2.25
        },
        "4,0",
        {
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "4,2",
        "4,3",
        "4,4",
        "4,5",
        "4,6",
        "4,7",
        "4,8",
        "4,9",
        "4,10",
        "4,11",
        {
          "c": "#aaaaaa",
          "w": 2.75
        },
        "4,12",
        {
          "x": 1.25,
          "c": "#777777"
        },
        "4,15",
        {
          "x": 1.25,
          "c": "#cccccc"
        },
        "4,17",
        "4,18",
        "4,19",
        {
          "h": 2
        },
        "5,20"
      ],
      [
        {
          "c": "#aaaaaa",
          "w": 1.25
        },
        "5,0",
        {
          "w": 1.25
        },
        "5,1",
        {
          "w": 1.25
        },
        "5,2",
        {
          "c": "#cccccc",
          "w": 6.25
        },
        "5,6",
        {
          "c": "#aaaaaa",
          "w": 1.25
        },
        "5,10",
        {
          "w": 1.25
        },
        "5,11",
        {
          "w": 1.25
        },
        "5,12",
        {
          "w": 1.25
        },
        "5,13",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#777777"
        },
        "5,14",
        "5,15",
        "5,16",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "c": "#cccccc",
          "w": 2
        },
        "5,17",
        "5,19"
      ]
    ]
  }
}

keymap.c

Vial states that the layers should be referenced by index (0,1,2…) rather than name (mac_base etc)

nano ~/vial-qmk/keyboards/keychron/v6_max/ansi_encoder/keymaps/vial/keymap.c

Change:

const uint16_t PROGMEM encoder_map[][NUM_ENCODERS][2] = {
    [MAC_BASE] = {ENCODER_CCW_CW(KC_VOLD, KC_VOLU)},
    [MAC_FN]   = {ENCODER_CCW_CW(RGB_VAD, RGB_VAI)},
    [WIN_BASE] = {ENCODER_CCW_CW(KC_VOLD, KC_VOLU)},
    [WIN_FN]   = {ENCODER_CCW_CW(RGB_VAD, RGB_VAI)},
};

const uint16_t PROGMEM encoder_map[][NUM_ENCODERS][2] = {
    [0] = {ENCODER_CCW_CW(KC_VOLD, KC_VOLU)},
    [1] = {ENCODER_CCW_CW(RGB_VAD, RGB_VAI)},
    [2] = {ENCODER_CCW_CW(KC_VOLD, KC_VOLU)},
    [3] = {ENCODER_CCW_CW(RGB_VAD, RGB_VAI)},
};

Vial Build

make keychron/v6_max/ansi_encoder:vial

Flash

Open QMK console
```
qmk console
```
Unplug Keyboard

Hold Escape and plug in keyboard - should see Bootloader Connected

Looking or devices...
Ψ Bootloader Connected: stm32-dfu: STM32 BOOTLOADER

Press Control-C to exit qmk console

flash (from the ~/vial-qmk/ folder)

dfu-util -a 0 --dfuse-address 0x08000000:leave -D keychron_v6_max_ansi_encoder_vial.bin