macOS is a wonderful operation system. Unlike iOS, Apple allows all the customization options on the macOS. You can change the default browser and Mail app and make other changes to your preference. Among them, the ability to create custom keyboard shortcuts for macOS's most-used actions is my favorite addition.
Quickly View All The Keyboard Shortcuts For Any Mac App Next, hold down the (⌘) Command keyfor a few seconds and a sheet of shortcuts will appear on your Mac screen. This sheet has all the shortcuts for the app you have opened. You need to hold down the (⌘) Command keyas long as you want to see shortcuts. Bizarre but Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac 14. Need to compose an e-mail real quick? There is a Mac Keyboard shortcut that opens up the Mail app and starts composing a new mail. Linux portable tar users: No install required, simply extract the archive and run it.You can drag the Shotcut folder to copy and move it wherever you want. If double-clicking the icon in your file manager does not launch Shotcut, open Shotcut.app, and try double-clicking the shotcut shell script. Control the window for the Photos app with these keyboard shortcuts. Minimize the window: Command + M; Enter or exit full-screen mode: Control + Command + F; Open the Preferences: Command +, (comma) Hide the window: Command + H; Close and quit Photos: Command + W; Quit Photos: Command + Q; Viewing keyboard shortcuts. Switch Open Apps and Windows Using Keyboard Shortcuts. Just like Windows, Mac has a fast and robust app switcher built-in. It will be instantly familiar once you start using it. Press the Command+Tab keys and then hold the Command key to bring up the floating app switcher.
By default, macOS comes with most-essential keyboard shortcuts to improve your productivity. But there can be times when you want to access certain menus or functions such as Notification Centre or Do Not Disturb mode repeatedly and miss the absence of those swift keyboard shortcuts. Thankfully, you can always assign custom keyboard shortcuts for them.
The functionality doesn’t end here. You can also create keyboard shortcuts for third-party apps like Firefox, Pixelmator, and more.
In this post, we are going to talk about how to create custom keyboard shortcuts on Mac. I will explain how you can simplify your workflow by setting up custom keyboard shortcuts for macOS menu, functions, and third-party apps. Let’s get started.
This one is similar to iOS. You can create keyboard shortcuts forfrequently used words and phrases. I can’t emphasize enough how muchtime it has saved me over the years.
You can set keyboard shortcuts for email ID, home address, and otherphrases that you use frequently. Follow the steps below to set them up.
Step 1: Tap on the Apple logo at the upper left corner and open System Preferences.
Step 2: Navigate to Keyboard > Text.
Step 3: Tap on the ‘+’ icon at the bottom leftcorner and add the shortcut for the phrase. For example, you can type‘email’ in it and replace the phrase with your actual email ID.
You can create as many keyboard shortcuts that you like in the macOS. I have created keyboard shortcuts for special charactersincluding degree, rupee, and added a couple of my email addresses. Ican simply type ‘degree’ and macOS will replace it with the degreesymbol.
As mentioned earlier, macOS comes with a ton of keyboardshortcuts to improve your productivity. But it doesn’t support all themenus and functions on the Mac. That's where Mac keyboardcustomization options come in. You can look at default keyboardshortcuts in Mac, remove them, and even assign new keyboard shortcutsfor other macOS menus.
Go through the steps below to set them up.
Step 1: Open Spotlight Search (use Command + Space keyboard shortcut) and type System Preferences in it.
Step 2: Go to Keyboard > Shortcuts.
Step 3: You will see a bunch of options on theleft side. You can take a look at assigned keyboard shortcuts. You candisable the keyboard shortcut for it and even double tap on it andassign a new keyboard shortcut.
In some options, you will see ‘none’ written on the sides. That means the system hasn’t assigned any keyboard shortcut to it, but you can add one based on your preference.
For example, you can go to Mission Control and assign keyboardshortcuts for Show/Hide Notification Center and Turn on/off Do NotDisturb mode.
macOS also allows you to add keyboard shortcuts for otherservices such as Pictures, Messaging, Files and Folder, Searching, Text,and Internet. For instance, I use Pixelmator to edit images. Instead ofselecting images and then opening them from the context menu, I can assign a keyboard shortcut for it.
Go to Services > Pictures > Open with Pixelmator Pro andassign a keyboard shortcut for it. Next time, just select the picturesthat you want to edit in the app and use the keyboard shortcut to openthem in the app and start editing.
Note: Don’t assign a keyboardshortcut that’s already enabled in the macOS. Try to use a uniquecombination of keys that don’t interfere with other keyboard shortcutson Mac.Most Mac apps do come with keyboard shortcuts support out of the box. But it might not be enough for you as they don’t support keyboard shortcuts for every menu or function. In such cases, you can always create custom app keyboard shortcuts.
Step 1: Tap on the Apple logo at the upper left corner and open System Preferences.
Step 2: Navigate to Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts and tap on the ‘+’ icon at the bottom left corner.
Step 3: You can either create a universal keyboard shortcut for all applications or go to a specific app.
Step 4: Now, you need to enter the exact name of the menu command you want to add. Add menu title and keyboard shortcut for it.
That’s it. You can now use the assigned keyboard shortcut in the appto access the relevant menu. Let me remind you again, be aware ofsetting a keyboard shortcut that may duplicate one that is already inuse by another system function or app if they conflict with eachother or fail to perform an action at all.
The last thing you want is to go to the trouble of setting up a key combination that ultimately fails to perform the action.
macOS offers the flexibility to customize and assign a keyboardshortcut to every menu and option on the OS. Go through the tricks aboveand customize the keyboard shortcuts you like and experience yourproductivity going through the roof. Are there any specific custom shortcuts you've created and would like to share them others? Mention them in the comments below.
Next up:Are you looking to improve your productivity on Mac? Read the post below to find the seven best Mac apps to stay organized.
You can make GIFs on Gboard.
To see a list of shortcuts that you can use with an app, press and hold the Command ⌘ key when you use the app or on the Home screen.
Most iPad keyboard shortcuts use the Command ⌘ key, like on a Mac. If you're more familiar with a PC keyboard, the Command ⌘ key does the same thing as the Control key on a PC.
Here are some common keyboard shortcuts:
Want to add an emoji? To quickly find the emoji keyboard, press the globe key when you're in a text field. Don't see the emoji keyboard? Make sure that it's turned on.