diff --git a/event.go b/event.go
index 435b39e30f..6646e653ec 100644
--- a/event.go
+++ b/event.go
@@ -1,8 +1,18 @@
 package fyne
 
+// HardwareKey contains information associated with physical key events
+// Most applications should use KeyName for cross-platform compatibility.
+type HardwareKey struct {
+	// ScanCode represents a hardware ID for (normally desktop) keyboard events.
+	ScanCode int
+}
+
 // KeyEvent describes a keyboard input event.
 type KeyEvent struct {
+	// Name describes the keyboard event that is consistent across platforms.
 	Name KeyName
+	// Physical is a platform specific field that reports the hardware information of physical keyboard events.
+	Physical HardwareKey
 }
 
 // PointEvent describes a pointer input event. The position is relative to the
diff --git a/internal/driver/glfw/window.go b/internal/driver/glfw/window.go
index df61da8b5b..20af3098de 100644
--- a/internal/driver/glfw/window.go
+++ b/internal/driver/glfw/window.go
@@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ func keyToName(code glfw.Key, scancode int) fyne.KeyName {
 	keyName := glfw.GetKeyName(code, scancode)
 	ret, ok = keyNameMap[keyName]
 	if !ok {
-		return ""
+		return fyne.KeyUnknown
 	}
 
 	return ret
@@ -1120,8 +1120,8 @@ func (w *window) capturesTab(modifier desktop.Modifier) bool {
 
 func (w *window) keyPressed(_ *glfw.Window, key glfw.Key, scancode int, action glfw.Action, mods glfw.ModifierKey) {
 	keyName := keyToName(key, scancode)
+	keyEvent := &fyne.KeyEvent{Name: keyName, Physical: fyne.HardwareKey{ScanCode: scancode}}
 
-	keyEvent := &fyne.KeyEvent{Name: keyName}
 	keyDesktopModifier := desktopModifier(mods)
 	pendingMenuToggle := w.menuTogglePending
 	pendingMenuDeactivation := w.menuDeactivationPending
@@ -1168,9 +1168,6 @@ func (w *window) keyPressed(_ *glfw.Window, key glfw.Key, scancode int, action g
 		// key repeat will fall through to TypedKey and TypedShortcut
 	}
 
-	if keyName == "" { // don't emit unknown
-		return
-	}
 	if (keyName == fyne.KeyTab && !w.capturesTab(keyDesktopModifier)) || w.triggersShortcut(keyName, keyDesktopModifier) {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/key.go b/key.go
index 4d3c4b3d6b..dd9bd53595 100644
--- a/key.go
+++ b/key.go
@@ -167,4 +167,10 @@ const (
 	KeyPlus KeyName = "+"
 	// KeyBackTick is the key "`" on a US keyboard
 	KeyBackTick KeyName = "`"
+
+	// KeyUnknown is used for key events where the underlying hardware generated an
+	// event that Fyne could not decode.
+	//
+	// Since: 2.1
+	KeyUnknown KeyName = ""
 )