The function keys on your Macâs keyboard are probably the least used of all. In fact, theyâre so underused that by default when you press a function key it doesnât act as a function key at all. Instead, it performs its other duty, whether thatâs media playback control, brightness adjustment, or invoking Launchpad or Mission Control. To use a function key as a function key, you must hold down the fn button at the bottom left of your keyboard.
Once, CheatSheet is installed, it is quite easy to use the app. Quickly View All The Keyboard Shortcuts For Any Mac App. Next, hold down the (â) Command key for 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. I updated my iPad to 14.2. I use the Apple folio keyboard with it and the keyboard shortcuts no longer work in the YT app. Just looking to see if this is isolated to me or broken in general.
Change the behavior of function keys on your Mac
Nevertheless, function keys can be very useful if you customize them to do what you want them to do. Hereâs how to create some of the best time-saving function key shortcuts for your Mac.
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Use function keys without pressing fn
First thing first, letâs make function keys functional again:
Customize function key shortcuts with preset actions
The easiest shortcut you can make is re-assigning function keys themselves to more useful actions:
If the function key youâve chosen is already assigned to something else, youâll see a yellow warning triangle appear next to it and the original shortcut. You will have to alter one of them to proceed.
Create function key shortcuts with custom actions
Now, to actually create shortcut combinations, do the following:
Now, whenever youâre in that app and tap the assigned function key, it will perform the specified command. For example, if you set up a shortcut to save a document as a template in Pages and assign it to the F1 key, then when youâre using Pages and press F1, the current document will be saved as a template.
If you want to go further than customizing function keys, there are several apps that can help you work faster and become even more productive.
Quick Tips: make your own shortcuts to work faster and more efficientlyExpand text with Rocket Typist![]()
If you find yourself typing the same phrases over and over again in email messages or documents, Rocket Typist is your holy grail. It allows you to store organized snippets of text and recall them with custom abbreviations.
For example, instead of typing âHello, my name is John Appleseed, I am a developer interested inâ¦â you could just type âhmnâ and Rocket Typist will fill out the rest. You could also find the pre-saved phrase in the app itself and paste it in that way.
Rocket Typist shows how minimal but productive a text expansion app can be.
Rocket Typist supports macros for things like time and date so you can be sure the current time and date will be placed in your document. And you can share snippets using AirDrop or Mail.
Search intelligently with Lacona
Lacona is a bit like a keyboard version of Siri for those of us who donât like talking to our Mac. Press the keyboard shortcut to invoke its text input bar and type a command, such as âsearch Amazon for bluetooth speakersâ or âschedule lunch with Carol at 1pm tomorrow,â or even âplay Born to Run.â As you type, Lacona will show a list of suggestions beneath the window, and you can use the arrow keys to navigate to and select the one you want.
Get a keyboard version of Siri
Automate your search on Mac with Lacona, an app that interprets what youâre typing and does what youâre asking for. Like Siri, only with text.
Lacona can also perform actions like copy, move, and rename on files in the Finder and activate system events like Empty Trash and Shutdown, it can create reminders and make calls, quit, activate and relaunch apps, and so much more, all by typing in its text bar. The app can even hook into third-party services, like IFTTT, so you can control those just by typing as well.
Create custom gestures with BetterTouchTool
Appleâs built-in gestures for the Trackpad and Magic Mouse are great, as far as they go. With BetterTouchTool (BTT) though you can take them much much further. The app allows you to create completely custom gestures and assign them to actions, which can be either global or application specific.
Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts On Mac Keyboard
In addition, BetterTouchTool allows you to create custom keyboard sequences to trigger actions, and has its own built-in clipboard manager and screenshot tool. So you could, for example, set up a gesture to take a screenshot and then edit it right in BetterTouchTool instead of saving it to the Desktop.
Save multiple text snippets with Paste
Paste is a clipboard manager that allows you to store multiple items for pasting later. It then categorizes each copied item and places it in its own section of the clipboard, which you can easily change. Moreover, Paste syncs your clipboard in iCloud, meaning you can access its pinboard on multiple devices.
To paste an item youâve copied into a document, just use Pasteâs keyboard shortcut to view the pinboard, find the snippet of text, image, URL, or whatever else youâve copied, copy it and then paste it into your file.
As you can see, your Macâs keyboard can be customized in different ways. By creating shortcuts for function keys as well as combinations of other keys, you can start working much more quickly and save time. And using the apps listed above, all of which are available to download for free on Setapp, you can take your productivity to another level altogether.
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Mac Keyboard Shortcuts App
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.
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 doesnât 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. Letâs get started.
Also on Guiding TechTop 7 Useful macOS Apps to Optimize Your MacRead MoreCreate Keyboard Shortcuts for Frequently Used Words and Phrases
This one is similar to iOS. You can create keyboard shortcuts forfrequently used words and phrases. I canât 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 â+â icon at the bottom leftcorner and add the shortcut for the phrase. For example, you can typeâemailâ 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 âdegreeâ and macOS will replace it with the degreesymbol. Assign Keyboard Shortcuts for macOS Menu
As mentioned earlier, macOS comes with a ton of keyboardshortcuts to improve your productivity. But it doesnât 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.
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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 ânoneâ written on the sides. That means the system hasnât 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: Donât assign a keyboardshortcut thatâs already enabled in the macOS. Try to use a uniquecombination of keys that donât interfere with other keyboard shortcutson Mac.
Also on Guiding TechTop 4 Amazing Tools to Capture Scrolling Screenshots on macOSRead MoreCreate App Keyboard Shortcuts
Most Mac apps do come with keyboard shortcuts support out of the box. But it might not be enough for you as they donât support keyboard shortcuts for every menu or function. In such cases, you can always create custom app keyboard shortcuts.
Apple Mac 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 â+â 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.
Thatâs 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.
Also on Guiding Tech#macosClick here to see our macos articles pageQuickly Move Through Menus and Options on Mac
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.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts App Windows 10
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.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read Next7 Best Mac Apps to Stay Organized Mac Keyboard Shortcuts AppleAlso See#productivity #keyboardDid You Know
Thunderbolt 3 is a data and video transfer protocol and is developed by Intel.
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