Ask Different (Apple)
Q&A for power users of Apple hardware and software
Latest Questions
1
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3
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776
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Changing system shortcuts like Undo without side effects
On german keyboards the system shortcut for `Undo` is the same as on an english keyboard: command + z . The problem: On a german keyboard layout the z key is switched with the y and as such very inconvenient to reach with left hand only. (On english keyboard it would be the same as pressing command...
On german keyboards the system shortcut for
Undo is the same as on an english keyboard: command + z.
The problem: On a german keyboard layout the z key is switched with the y and as such very inconvenient to reach with left hand only. (On english keyboard it would be the same as pressing command + y - not ergonomic)
Using System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts and adding a custom App Shortcut does not seem to work as command + y collides with other application shortcuts (e.g. Redo in Sublime).
So what are my options to remap the undo shortcut system-wide so that pressing command + y triggers it, without side effects?
Preferably I would not like to use third party solutions.
fluxens
(111 rep)
Jul 20, 2021, 09:15 AM
• Last activity: Aug 2, 2025, 02:08 PM
0
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0
answers
23
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tagging an Apple Note via a shortcut
I've made my first shortcut for creating my own daily journal entry in Apple Notes. It actually works very well except, the tags that the shortcut adds to the new note are not recognized as tags. The tags render in the default black font color, and the note is not collected in a smart folder that or...
I've made my first shortcut for creating my own daily journal entry in Apple Notes. It actually works very well except, the tags that the shortcut adds to the new note are not recognized as tags. The tags render in the default black font color, and the note is not collected in a smart folder that organizes by tags. If I place the cursor at the end of the "tag" and hit enter, it turns orange, indicating it is now a tag. How do I add a tag to a note template via a shortcut?
Here is a screenshot of the relevant part of the shortcut
punkish
(131 rep)
Aug 1, 2025, 12:38 PM
6
votes
2
answers
1994
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Keyboard shortcut to select text *in a browser (Chrome)* till the end (or beginning) of a line
Looking for a keyboard shortcut to select text *in a browser (Chrome)* till the end (or beginning) of a line. According to [Apple Support][1] the keyboard shortcut SHIFT - CMD - RIGHTARROW is meant to > Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the current > line. This works well in...
Looking for a keyboard shortcut to select text *in a browser (Chrome)* till the end (or beginning) of a line.
According to Apple Support the keyboard shortcut
SHIFT-CMD-RIGHTARROW is meant to
> Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the current
> line.
This works well in MS Word and text editors, but fails in web browsers. I am aware of the Emacs shortcut
CMD-E (see this answer ) - but this behaves differently: it will select the text till the next "line break character", not till the end of a visible line. I.e., if there is an "automatic" line break in the browser which is not because of a corresponding line break in the HTML source code, the Emacs-like command will select the whole block, typically until the end of the current paragraph, not only the text till the "visible line break".
In contrast, in-text editors or MS Word, SHIFT-CMD-RIGHTARROW will select text only till the end of the "visible line". It also works in text boxes in the browser (like the one you use to create a question or answer here), but unfortunately not in "normal web pages".
alex
(223 rep)
Feb 5, 2020, 11:43 AM
• Last activity: Jul 30, 2025, 12:05 AM
0
votes
3
answers
526
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Keyboard shortcut (or automator app) to open currently open finder window?
I have a Stream Deck and I am hoping I can make a button I can press that will activate finder and move me to a currently open finder window - just as if I clicked on Finder on the Dock. (I can do this for every other app by just launching the app) I figured out how to "launch" finder by launching t...
I have a Stream Deck and I am hoping I can make a button I can press that will activate finder and move me to a currently open finder window - just as if I clicked on Finder on the Dock. (I can do this for every other app by just launching the app) I figured out how to "launch" finder by launching the Finder app tucked away in the System folder, but it doesn't quite do what I want (see below.)
I've gotten very close from these other articles:
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/114933/is-there-a-keyboard-shortcut-to-bring-up-finder
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/322902/how-to-automate-right-clicking-finders-dock-icon-and-choosing-action
But they all do the same thing as
>
open -a Finder
in terminal——they make Finder active, but *if I have a finder window open on another monitor in full screen* it does not move to it, it only shows Finder in the menu bar.
I can't seem to find a way emulate the exact action of clicking the icon in the dock, which *does indeed* jump to the correct "spaces desktop" (full screen Finder window) on another monitor, whether via keyboard shortcut, shortcuts app, stream deck's app, automator, AppleScript, or terminal command - however I am by no means an expert in automator, Shortcuts, AppleScript, or terminal.
I tried "watch me do" in automator, and it'd work if I didn't hide my dock, but I do. :/
Dusey
(21 rep)
Sep 12, 2022, 09:54 PM
• Last activity: Jul 29, 2025, 02:10 PM
0
votes
1
answers
41
views
A word by word shortcut
Since CMD-right or left arrow will move you to the end or beginning of a sentence, how do you move from word to word?
Since CMD-right or left arrow will move you to the end or beginning of a sentence, how do you move from word to word?
Doni WRIGHT
(1 rep)
Jul 27, 2025, 05:00 PM
• Last activity: Jul 27, 2025, 06:16 PM
4
votes
1
answers
96
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Macbook - Select individual files with Keyboard only
Is there a way to navigate through a list of files and select individual files (like you would normally do with command + click) but using only the keyboard ?
Is there a way to navigate through a list of files and select individual files (like you would normally do with command + click) but using only the keyboard ?
user424660
Jul 16, 2021, 09:46 PM
• Last activity: Jul 26, 2025, 10:09 AM
1
votes
1
answers
2046
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Using a Windows keyboard. How can I map the "Print Screen" button to open Flameshot and take a screenshot?
I installed https://flameshot.org/docs/guide/key-bindings/#macos and want to use that when I take screenshots. I'm using a Logitech USB wireless Windows-style keyboard, so I have a Print Screen key. When I press the Print Screen key, I want Flameshot to take a screenshot. At first, I thought I'd be...
I installed https://flameshot.org/docs/guide/key-bindings/#macos and want to use that when I take screenshots.
I'm using a Logitech USB wireless Windows-style keyboard, so I have a Print Screen key.
When I press the Print Screen key, I want Flameshot to take a screenshot.
At first, I thought I'd be able to map it within Flameshot > Configuration.
When I try, it treats Print Screen as F13.
Pressing Print Screen still doesn't seem to take a screenshot, though.
Pressing Print Screen still doesn't seem to take a screenshot, though.
Ryan
(1645 rep)
Jul 5, 2023, 04:59 PM
• Last activity: Jul 25, 2025, 08:04 PM
0
votes
0
answers
14
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If ShortcutDetective crashes what is a good way to determine why alt + arrow keys does not jump a word back?
macOS 15.5 (24F74) MacBook Air M2 I confirmed with Keykaster that the shortcut I am doing is alt + an arrow. Normally this jumps me to the next/previous word no matter what the application is. Now it does... nothing? Unfortunately when I press just alt in ShortcutDetective nothing happens. When I pr...
macOS 15.5 (24F74) MacBook Air M2
I confirmed with Keykaster that the shortcut I am doing is alt + an arrow. Normally this jumps me to the next/previous word no matter what the application is. Now it does... nothing?
Unfortunately when I press just alt in ShortcutDetective nothing happens. When I press alt + arrow key ShortcutDetective just crashes. Something in their layout code.
Strangely one of the alt shortcuts started opening type to Siri for a bit. I couldn't reproduce that frequently and in preferences my shortcut for opening that did not include alt. I also just switched it to a completely different (cmd + shift + m is something I can never imagine doing) shortcut so lets see.
What other options do I have to figure out why this shortcut is no longer usable?
CalebK
(121 rep)
Jul 24, 2025, 01:39 AM
22
votes
13
answers
38382
views
Is it possible to change display resolution with a keyboard shortcut?
I use different screen resolutions based on the activity I'm doing during the day. For example when I'm coding I prefer to have more space available. Is it possible to associate a keyboard shortcut to change the scaled display resolution ? (see the attached screenshot) [
For example when I'm coding I prefer to have more space available.
Is it possible to associate a keyboard shortcut to change the scaled display resolution ?
(see the attached screenshot)
david-e
(323 rep)
Dec 1, 2016, 08:46 AM
• Last activity: Jul 22, 2025, 12:42 AM
4
votes
2
answers
1800
views
Global shortcut to open folder
I very much like the Finder shortcut Cmd Shift G to navigate my files. However, it is a hassle having to open the Finder every time I use it. I would therefore greatly benefit from being able to use this function from any app that is currently open, launching the nice dialog in which I can enter my...
I very much like the Finder shortcut CmdShiftG to navigate my files. However, it is a hassle having to open the Finder every time I use it. I would therefore greatly benefit from being able to use this function from any app that is currently open, launching the nice dialog in which I can enter my folder path. Is there any way to accomplish this? The shortcut does not have to be CmdShiftG.
Iridium
(41 rep)
Jan 31, 2023, 11:43 AM
• Last activity: Jul 20, 2025, 09:04 PM
2
votes
1
answers
82
views
Keyboard shortcut to run Automator service not working in Emacs
I have an Automator service set up to run an application, and I've bound this to a keyboard shortcut (process described at [Create global shortcut to run command line applications](https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/40887) and [Keyboard shortcut (almost) never works for Automator service](https://app...
I have an Automator service set up to run an application, and I've bound this to a keyboard shortcut (process described at [Create global shortcut to run command line applications](https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/40887) and [Keyboard shortcut (almost) never works for Automator service](https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/360179)) .
This works in the Automator app during testing, and it works on most applications. However, in Emacs, the shortcut is being captured by the application, so the workflow is not being performed (
s-\ is undefined).
I have added accessibility to Automator/Finder, but this did not fix the issue. The keyboard shortcut I am hoping to use is Cmd+\\, however I have tried [different](https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/135616) [combinations](https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/337176) (with and without ⌘; Emacs is capturing everything).
It seems like I somehow need to set the priority of this keybinding to work regardless of the application that is currently selected. How can I do this?
![Screenshot of an Automator window to run a shell script ][1]
Jake Ireland
(218 rep)
Oct 23, 2023, 06:58 AM
• Last activity: Jul 19, 2025, 10:02 AM
34
votes
5
answers
23799
views
How to stop FN key changing my keyboard layout (macOS Big Sur)?
I've got my new MacBook Air m1 very recently. I changed default behaviour of F-keys to normal F1, F2, etc. So in order to activate 'media' keys like volume up/down I need to press Fn+F-key. Now, what I've realised is that pressing Fn with F1, F2, etc sometimes (50/50 chance) changes the keyboard lay...
I've got my new MacBook Air m1 very recently. I changed default behaviour of F-keys to normal F1, F2, etc. So in order to activate 'media' keys like volume up/down I need to press Fn+F-key. Now, what I've realised is that pressing Fn with F1, F2, etc sometimes (50/50 chance) changes the keyboard layout as well! God, it is so annoying. It shouldn't be so 100%. I think that's just a bug. So, how can I disable Fn for changing my keyboard layout?
Timur Fayzrakhmanov
(443 rep)
Mar 20, 2021, 08:23 AM
• Last activity: Jul 18, 2025, 05:01 PM
3
votes
2
answers
1163
views
Are there default shortcuts for special hyphens and minus sign?
On Mac, *en dash* and *em dash* characters can be typed with `Opt -` and `Opt Shift -`, respectively. But are there default shortcuts for other bar-like characters, especially for these ones: - U+00AD SOFT HYPHEN, - U+2011 NON-BREAKING HYPHEN, - U+2012 FIGURE DASH, - U+2212 MINUS SIGN? I did not fin...
On Mac, *en dash* and *em dash* characters can be typed with
Opt - and Opt Shift -, respectively.
But are there default shortcuts for other bar-like characters, especially for these ones:
- U+00AD SOFT HYPHEN,
- U+2011 NON-BREAKING HYPHEN,
- U+2012 FIGURE DASH,
- U+2212 MINUS SIGN?
I did not find them, but maybe I was not searching properly. If you are going to answer that there are no such shortcuts, please point me to some reliable evidence like an official article on Apple’s website, or a full list of all existing shortcuts in latest version of macOS etc.
Also, my question is about default shortcuts in a freshly-installed system, not for custom settings, tweaking DefaultKeyBinding.dict file, using third-party keyboard managers etc.
user229376
Mar 17, 2017, 03:45 PM
• Last activity: Jul 17, 2025, 02:24 AM
1
votes
2
answers
261
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How can I see ALL global shortcuts currently active across Finder + other apps?
I've just started using Amethyst and would love to be able to use the `CTRL+optn+NumPad[0-9]` shortcuts, but some of these just don't work and I'm assuming something else already has these shortcuts that are overriding Amethyst's. I've looked in SysPrefs/Keyboard Shortcuts, as well as some of the ot...
I've just started using Amethyst and would love to be able to use the
CTRL+optn+NumPad[0-9] shortcuts, but some of these just don't work and I'm assuming something else already has these shortcuts that are overriding Amethyst's. I've looked in SysPrefs/Keyboard Shortcuts, as well as some of the other apps like Alfred and Keyboard Maestro, but there's nothing with those matching key combinations.
Is there a way to globally retrieve ALL possible keyboard shortcuts that are currently active across the system?
davidt
(33 rep)
Apr 22, 2022, 04:58 PM
• Last activity: Jul 16, 2025, 02:02 PM
0
votes
1
answers
127
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macOS Music: Keyboard shortcuts: How to exit search? How to view library songs?
I'm used to viewing my library songs and hitting command-f to filter the list. Since upgrading from iTunes to Music this year, command-f triggers the bizarre new search that gives results as bubbles and grids. And I can't seem to exit it via tab or escape or command-shift-f for "filter". - What's th...
I'm used to viewing my library songs and hitting command-f to filter the list.
Since upgrading from iTunes to Music this year, command-f triggers the bizarre new search that gives results as bubbles and grids. And I can't seem to exit it via tab or escape or command-shift-f for "filter".
- What's the keyboard shortcut to exit this new search (is there one)?
- Or, what's the keyboard shortcut to return to viewing my library songs? Apart from my playlists, it's the only view I ever want to see anyway. I don't subscribe to Apple Music or use iCloud to store my songs.
- Or, what text can I enter into system prefs for these actions to create custom shortcuts for them?
5260452
(2188 rep)
Dec 28, 2019, 09:28 PM
• Last activity: Jul 14, 2025, 01:07 PM
1
votes
1
answers
159
views
How to configure shortcut too toggle keyboard light
How to configure shortcut to toggle keyboard light on and off on MacBook Air M2? Like I am have set it to 20% and when I press shortcut it sets to 0%, then if I press the shortcut again it sets to 20% again(toggling). I am tired to enter setting, or open menubar thing to add 1% of keyboard backlight...
How to configure shortcut to toggle keyboard light on and off on MacBook Air M2?
Like I am have set it to 20% and when I press shortcut it sets to 0%, then if I press the shortcut again it sets to 20% again(toggling).
I am tired to enter setting, or open menubar thing to add 1% of keyboard backlight to type 10 words and then turn it back off. Any app for this situation?
Vladyslav Rehan
(145 rep)
Feb 18, 2023, 12:16 PM
• Last activity: Jul 8, 2025, 05:05 AM
0
votes
0
answers
241
views
How can I use Shortcuts to download a YouTube video?
I tried to use Shortcuts to download a YouTube video but I couldn't find a an action for this. Is there a way to accomplish this?
I tried to use Shortcuts to download a YouTube video but I couldn't find a an action for this. Is there a way to accomplish this?
stackexchanged
(49 rep)
Jul 2, 2025, 05:45 PM
• Last activity: Jul 6, 2025, 03:59 PM
3
votes
1
answers
230
views
Spotify Mac: Is there way to "Like" currently playing song using a shortcut?
I don't want to open spotify app every time to like the song i'm listening. I'd like to just press a global shortcut button to like current song while working in another app. Is there way to do it?
I don't want to open spotify app every time to like the song i'm listening. I'd like to just press a global shortcut button to like current song while working in another app.
Is there way to do it?
user208958
(506 rep)
Jul 16, 2020, 09:02 AM
• Last activity: Jul 5, 2025, 08:10 AM
0
votes
2
answers
2073
views
Mute/Unmute Microsoft Teams Microphone Using Mouse Button when Teams is Not Focused
I would like to mute and unmute Microsoft Teams, using a spare mouse button, when the application is not focussed. I am using a Microsoft Sculpt mouse and have a couple spare buttons, particularly the navigate back button, which I would like to reassign to the mute function. The reason I want to do...
I would like to mute and unmute Microsoft Teams, using a spare mouse button, when the application is not focussed. I am using a Microsoft Sculpt mouse and have a couple spare buttons, particularly the navigate back button, which I would like to reassign to the mute function.
The reason I want to do this is because I am typically having a conversation while working in another application and I want to avoid the delay and context switching of having to focus the Teams Application before either clicking on the mute button or using the command+shift+m keyboard shortcut.
It's inconvenient enough that I have considered using something like Touch Portal on my phone to create an easy hot button but that application isn't signed.
Microsoft does not provide Mac drivers for the Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse or Sculpt Ergonomic desktop.
Richard Collette
(109 rep)
Jan 5, 2021, 02:01 PM
• Last activity: Jun 27, 2025, 12:04 PM
1
votes
1
answers
63
views
How to prevent Cmd+Space from opening emoji window in Firefox for Mac?
I managed to disable "Show Spotlight search" in keyboard options, but now it opens the "Emoji & Symbols" window in Firefox on macOS. It doesn't always occur: [perhaps a firefox bug][1]. Does anybody know a solution? [1]: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1968405
I managed to disable "Show Spotlight search" in keyboard options, but now it opens the "Emoji & Symbols" window in Firefox on macOS.
It doesn't always occur: perhaps a firefox bug .
Does anybody know a solution?
Raphael
(11 rep)
May 24, 2025, 07:33 PM
• Last activity: Jun 26, 2025, 07:01 PM
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