diff --git a/builtin/settingtypes.txt b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
index 5feeaab6d..c1a0dd941 100644
--- a/builtin/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
@@ -151,6 +151,15 @@ enable_hotbar_mouse_wheel (Hotbar: Enable mouse wheel for selection) bool true
 #    Requires: keyboard_mouse
 invert_hotbar_mouse_wheel (Hotbar: Invert mouse wheel direction) bool false
 
+#    Save key controls as scancodes (position on the keyboard) instead of keycodes (the
+#    symbol marked on the key). This allows using the same phsysical keys with multiple
+#    keyboard layouts, but the new scancode-based settings can not be parsed by older clients.
+#    Note that this only affects how keybindings are saved in the settings. In particular,
+#    key controls are always matched based on scancodes regardless of this setting.
+#
+#    Requires: !touch_controls
+save_keys_as_scancodes (Save keybindings as scancodes) bool false
+
 [*Touchscreen]
 
 #    Enables the touchscreen controls, allowing you to play the game with a touchscreen.
diff --git a/src/client/keycode.cpp b/src/client/keycode.cpp
index 95739a845..4d23cc2d3 100644
--- a/src/client/keycode.cpp
+++ b/src/client/keycode.cpp
@@ -291,10 +291,14 @@ KeyPress::KeyPress(const std::string_view &name)
 	scancode = RenderingEngine::get_raw_device()->getScancodeFromKey(keycode);
 }
 
-std::string KeyPress::sym() const
+std::string KeyPress::sym(const bool force_scancode) const
 {
+	if (scancode == 0)
+		return "";
+	if (force_scancode)
+		return formatScancode();
 	const auto &name = lookup_scancode(scancode).Name;
-	if (!name.empty() || scancode == 0)
+	if (!name.empty())
 		return name;
 	return formatScancode();
 }
diff --git a/src/client/keycode.h b/src/client/keycode.h
index 1e93d14ee..b2736c791 100644
--- a/src/client/keycode.h
+++ b/src/client/keycode.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ public:
 	KeyPress(const irr::SEvent::SKeyInput &in) :
 		scancode(in.SystemKeyCode) {};
 
-	std::string sym() const;
+	std::string sym(const bool force_scancode = false) const;
 	std::string name() const;
 
 	bool operator==(const KeyPress &o) const {
diff --git a/src/defaultsettings.cpp b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
index bfce22022..b36b50b05 100644
--- a/src/defaultsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
@@ -359,6 +359,7 @@ void set_default_settings()
 	settings->setDefault("repeat_dig_time", "0.0");
 	settings->setDefault("safe_dig_and_place", "false");
 	settings->setDefault("random_input", "false");
+	settings->setDefault("save_keys_as_scancodes", "false");
 	settings->setDefault("aux1_descends", "false");
 	settings->setDefault("doubletap_jump", "false");
 	settings->setDefault("always_fly_fast", "true");
diff --git a/src/gui/guiKeyChangeMenu.cpp b/src/gui/guiKeyChangeMenu.cpp
index 4cbaf29fd..576fa00d6 100644
--- a/src/gui/guiKeyChangeMenu.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/guiKeyChangeMenu.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ enum
 	GUI_ID_CB_AUX1_DESCENDS,
 	GUI_ID_CB_DOUBLETAP_JUMP,
 	GUI_ID_CB_AUTOJUMP,
+	GUI_ID_SAVE_AS_SCANCODES,
 };
 
 GUIKeyChangeMenu::GUIKeyChangeMenu(gui::IGUIEnvironment* env,
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ void GUIKeyChangeMenu::regenerateGui(v2u32 screensize)
 	removeAllChildren();
 	key_used_text = nullptr;
 
-	ScalingInfo info = getScalingInfo(screensize, v2u32(835, 430));
+	ScalingInfo info = getScalingInfo(screensize, v2u32(835, 455));
 	const float s = info.scale;
 	DesiredRect = info.rect;
 	recalculateAbsolutePosition(false);
@@ -177,6 +178,19 @@ void GUIKeyChangeMenu::regenerateGui(v2u32 screensize)
 		offset += v2s32(0, 25);
 	}
 
+	{
+		s32 option_x = offset.X;
+		s32 option_y = offset.Y + 5 * s;
+		u32 option_w = 280 * s;
+		{
+			core::rect<s32> rect(0, 0, option_w, 30 * s);
+			rect += topleft + v2s32(option_x, option_y);
+			Environment->addCheckBox(g_settings->getBool("save_keys_as_scancodes"), rect, this,
+					GUI_ID_SAVE_AS_SCANCODES, wstrgettext("Save keybindings as scancodes").c_str());
+		}
+		offset += v2s32(0, 25 * s);
+	}
+
 	{
 		core::rect<s32> rect(0, 0, 100 * s, 30 * s);
 		rect += topleft + v2s32(size.X / 2 - 105 * s, size.Y - 40 * s);
@@ -206,15 +220,7 @@ void GUIKeyChangeMenu::drawMenu()
 
 bool GUIKeyChangeMenu::acceptInput()
 {
-	for (key_setting *k : key_settings) {
-		std::string default_key;
-		Settings::getLayer(SL_DEFAULTS)->getNoEx(k->setting_name, default_key);
-
-		if (k->key.sym() != default_key)
-			g_settings->set(k->setting_name, k->key.sym());
-		else
-			g_settings->remove(k->setting_name);
-	}
+	bool save_as_scancodes = g_settings->getBool("save_keys_as_scancodes");
 
 	{
 		gui::IGUIElement *e = getElementFromId(GUI_ID_CB_AUX1_DESCENDS);
@@ -231,6 +237,25 @@ bool GUIKeyChangeMenu::acceptInput()
 		if(e && e->getType() == gui::EGUIET_CHECK_BOX)
 			g_settings->setBool("autojump", ((gui::IGUICheckBox*)e)->isChecked());
 	}
+	{
+		gui::IGUIElement *e = getElementFromId(GUI_ID_SAVE_AS_SCANCODES);
+		if(e && e->getType() == gui::EGUIET_CHECK_BOX) {
+			save_as_scancodes = ((gui::IGUICheckBox*)e)->isChecked();
+			g_settings->setBool("save_keys_as_scancodes", save_as_scancodes);
+		}
+	}
+
+	for (key_setting *k : key_settings) {
+		std::string default_key;
+		Settings::getLayer(SL_DEFAULTS)->getNoEx(k->setting_name, default_key);
+
+		auto keysym = k->key.sym(save_as_scancodes);
+
+		if (keysym != default_key)
+			g_settings->set(k->setting_name, keysym);
+		else
+			g_settings->remove(k->setting_name);
+	}
 
 	clearKeyCache();