Mac Open App Keyboard Shortcut

Mac Open App Keyboard Shortcut Shortcuts
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
Cached
Mac Open App Keyboard Shortcuts
Launch Mac App Preferences & Settings With An (Almost ...
5 Ways To Launch Mac Apps From The Keyboard | Macworld

Apps that are set to open automatically will have a check mark next to Open at Login. Tap that option to uncheck it and disable it from opening. Disable Login Items on Startup. Sep 28, 2020 Command-Tab: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps. Shift-Command-5: In macOS Mojave or later, take a screenshot or make a screen recording. Or use Shift-Command-3 or Shift-Command-4 for screenshots. Learn more about screenshots. Shift-Command-N: Create a new folder in the Finder. For related (but subtly different) advice, read How to view all open apps on a Mac as well as our tutorial on using Full Screen mode. A keyboard shortcut, mouse button in the Trackpad. Open the Shortcuts tab. Make sure App Shortcuts is selected on the left. Click + under the list of current application keyboard shortcuts. Choose the program for which you are creating the custom Mac keyboard shortcut under Application. Note: Do select All Applications if you want the shortcut to work across all programs. Remember, though.

Mac Open App Keyboard Shortcut Shortcuts

When you download an app on Android or Windows, you get an option, or it automatically creates a shortcut on the home screen or the desktop. On Mac too creating a folder or app shortcut is extremely easy. It hardly requires four clicks. We first make an alias and then move it to the desired location.

You can add shortcuts for folders and apps to the desktop or Dock of your Mac. The first method below is the one I prefer. The second method is also quick, but it at times copies the folder instead of making the shortcut. Anyways, here are two easy ways to create desktop shortcuts on Mac running macOS Catalina.

How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac

Step #1. Decide which folder’s or app’s desktop shortcut you want to create. Find where the folder is located. If you cannot find it, see the end for instructions.

Step #2.Right-click on the folder or app name and click on Make Alias.

Step #3. You will see that a shortcut is immediately created for that folder or app. Press enter key. It has the word alias at the end of the name.

Step #4. Drag this shortcut to your desktop or Dock. You may also copy the shortcut and paste it on the desktop.

This is it!

You have successfully created the desktop shortcut for a folder or app. Now you may quickly use this to open that folder, or launch the app. You may repeat this with as many folders and apps you like.

If you wish, you may select the shortcut, press the enter key, and rename it to remove the word ‘alias.’

Finally, if you wish to see the original folder, right-click on the shortcut icon and click on Show Original.

Note 1: Even if you move the original folder to some other location, the shortcut you created still works. Beautiful! Isn’t it.

Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Note 2: You may use this method to create shortcuts even for files like image, document, zip, music, movie, etc.

Not able to Find the Folder Location?

Finding applications is clear. You click on Finder → Applications, and there you have all your applications. Knowing the location of the Folders you create is also straightforward.

But for some folders, especially system folders like Downloads, Documents, etc. it may be a bit tough to know the path. Here are some ways to know it.

#1. From Sidebar: Launch Finder, place your pointer on the folder name in left Sidebar, and then right-click. Finally, click Show in Enclosing Folder. Now follow the above steps.

#2. Using Path Bar: Be inside Finder and click on View from the menu bar. Now click Show Path Bar. A tab will be added to the bottom of the Finder. It has the location/path for the folder you click or select.

#3. Use Spotlight Search: Launch Spotlight Search by clicking the search icon in menu bar or press Command (⌘) + Space Bar. Now type the folder name and then scroll to the bottom of the search result and click on Show all in Finder… Click on the folder and follow the above steps to make its shortcut.

#4. Use Siri: I do not like Siri on Mac, notably older Macs. Anyways, you may ask Siri on Mac to ‘Show Download Folder’ (or any folder) and then go to the bottom of the result and click on Show all results in Finder… Now you may follow the above steps. Please note that this does not always work.

Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac Using Drag and Drop

The above method is swift and simple. It is the one I prefer. However, there is an additional way to create folder and app shortcuts on Mac.

Step #1. Be at the location of the folder or app you want to create the shortcut of.

Step #2. Press and hold Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) key together. Do not leave the hold. Now click on the folder or app and drag it to the desktop.

Note: When you use this method, there are chances that you may unwillingly and unknowingly copy or move the folder instead of making its shortcut. Don’t worry. Press Command (⌘) + Z to undo and try again, or use the first method.

Add Folder Shortcuts to Dock on Mac

I recently wrote a post where I explained how to add website shortcuts to Dock on Mac. It is an interesting article. Similarly, you may add shortcuts to your Dock too.

Follow any of the above methods and make the shortcut of the folder or app (you may directly add an app to Dock, but anyway). Now drag that shortcut from Desktop to the rightmost part of Dock (Second left to the Trash icon).

Wrapping up…

These were two easy ways to create shortcut icons on Mac. There is a third method that I know of, which requires Terminal and some command lines. However, it is tricky and beyond the simplicity of the average user. Also, if you change the folder location, the shortcut stops working. So I did not mention this method.

Secondly, on Macs running OS versions before Catalina, you may also click on a Folder or App and then press together Command (⌘) + L. It will instantly make the alias. It works on my old MacBook Pro running macOS Sierra, but on a different MacBook Pro running the latest version of macOS Catalina, this quick method does not seem to work.

You may also like:

What are your thoughts regarding shortcuts on Mac? Have you used it on Windows? How was the experience there? Share your opinion in the comment section below.

Suraj is a digital marketing expert on the iGB's team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.

https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/padmasuraj/
How to Save Your Kids from their Digital Exposure ?
https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/padmasuraj/
How to Add Filter to Video on iPhone and iPad in iOS 13
https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/padmasuraj/
How to Manage Downloads in Safari on iPhone and iPad in iOS 13
https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/padmasuraj/
How to Use External Hard Drives with iPad and iPhone in iOS 13

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 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.

Also on Guiding Tech

Top 7 Useful macOS Apps to Optimize Your Mac

Create 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 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.

Note: You can create a customkeyboard shortcut for email but don’t try to do the same for thepassword. Anyone using your Mac can access the Keyboard menu without anyauthentication. So, it’s not wise to create custom keyboard shortcutsfor passwords.

Assign Keyboard Shortcuts for macOS Menu

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.

Also on Guiding Tech

Top 4 Amazing Tools to Capture Scrolling Screenshots on macOS

Create 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 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.

Cached

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.

Also on Guiding Tech

#macos

Click here to see our macos articles page

Quickly 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.

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 Next