How to use and create keyboard shortcuts in macOS Ventura
Create keyboard shortcuts to help speed up common tasks
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There are some things you do time and time again on your Mac, such as opening a new Finder window or taking a screenshot, butApplehas a system of keyboard shortcuts to let you do this without trying to find it in a menu.
These have been in macOS for years, and withVentura’snew features, you can easily use these to cut out some steps.
Many other options can be assigned a customizable keyboard shortcut, and we’ll show you how to use this to your advantage – as well as how to create text shortcuts.
Tools and Requirements
Step by step guide
1. View existing shortcuts
There are a number of pre-defined keyboard shortcuts built into macOS. To take advantage of them, however, you need to know what they are! You can see the shortcuts that already exist by clicking theApplemenu, selectingSystem Settings, moving to theKeyboardsection and then clicking theKeyboard Shortcutsbutton.
Browse through the various sections – such as Display, Spotlight and Screenshots – to see a list of the shortcuts that you can use right away.
2. Customising existing shortcuts
While Apple has taken the time to define a range of keyboard shortcuts with a view to making life easier within macOS, you might not agree with the combination of key presses that are in place by default. For example, the default shortcut for toggling hiding the Dock isOption+Command+D, but you may wish to use this for something else.
If so, you will need to change the shortcut by visiting theLaunchpad & Docksection, double-clicking the shortcut next toTurn Dock hiding on/off, and then pressing the key combination you’d like to use instead.
3. Reverting shortcuts
If you accidentally change a shortcut – perhaps by simply clicking the wrong one in the list – or if you create a shortcut that you decide you don’t like, you can easily undo the changes you have put in place.
In any section of keyboard shortcuts, simply click theRestore Defaultsbutton and things will revert back to the original shortcuts. Be aware that there is no warning or confirmation when you press this button, so be sure it’s what you want to do.
4. Disabling shortcuts
You may find that there are some shortcuts that you just do not use. You can, of course, simply ignore them, but if you are concerned about accidentally pressing a key combination and activating a shortcut inadvertently, you can disable those you are not interested in.
In the list of keyboard shortcuts, all you need to do is to uncheck the box next to an entry and that particular shortcut will no longer be active.
5. Customise the fn key
TheKeyboardsection ofSystem Settingscan be used to change how the fn (or Function) key operates. By default, the top row of your keyboard is used to access special functions such as adjusting brightness, changing volume and so on.
To use the F1, F2 and other keys, you need to press the fn key at the same time. If you head to theFunction Keyssection, you can change this by enabling the option labeledUse F1, F2, etc keys as standard function keys.
6. Text replacement shortcuts
While not keyboard shortcuts in the strictest sense, it is worth mentioning theText Replacementoption in theKeyboardsection ofSystem Settings. This helps you to save time when typing by having abbreviations automatically expanded – such as “tbh” becoming “to be honest”.
ClickText Replacements, click the+button and then type the short and full versions of text before clickingAdd.
7. Learn app shortcuts via menus
The shortcuts you see inSystem Settingsare system-wide, meaning you can use them from anywhere, no matter what you are doing. There are some shortcuts, however, that are app-specific, meaning that you can only use them to perform a particular action when that app is in use.
The next time you perform an action or select an option from a menu within an app, check to see if there is a shortcut listed next to it as you will be able to use this next time.
8. Creating shortcuts with Shortcuts
If you are a hardened macOS user, you may well be familiar with the built-in Automator app which can be used to automate workflows. Its successor is called Shortcut, and it has been around since Monterey.
You can use it to create a keyboard shortcut to, for instance, open multiple apps at once.Shortcutsis built into macOS Ventura, and you can find it by looking in yourApplicationsfolder.
9. Build a shortcut
ClickFile>New Shortcutand then double clickOpen Appin the list over to the right of the screen. In the left-hand pane, click the wordAppand select the app you would like to launch with the shortcut you are creating; if you don’t want to scroll through a lengthy list of apps, you can make use of the search option.
To add a second app to open with the shortcut, repeat the process, starting by double-clickingOpen App.
10. Adding a keyboard shortcut
The Shortcut you are creating can be accessed in many ways, but the most helpful option is to assign it a keyboard shortcut. With your Shortcut still option in theShortcutsapp, click theibutton to the upper right.
Click theAdd Keyboard Shortcutbutton in theDetailssection of the right-hand pane and then press the key combination you would like to use and then pressEnter. You can then try out your shortcut to ensure that it works
Final thoughts
Some keyboard shortcuts are common knowledge – such asCommand+Cfor copying,Command+Vfor pasting, andCommand+Tabfor window navigation – but there are plenty that are less well known.
While it may not make sense to sit down and learn every shortcut that exists, it is certainly worth taking the time to check out precisely which function can have a keyboard shortcut assigned to. You never know, there just might be a frequently accessed option, or commonly performed action that you can speed up.
macOS does a great job of helping you create and manage keyboard shortcuts, there are apps that can help further.Shortcut Keepernot only helps you to create shortcuts but also aids with learning them. Another handy app for learning, discovering, and creating keyboard shortcuts isKeyCue.
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Sofia is a tech journalist who’s been writing about software, hardware and the web for nearly 25 years – but still looks as youthful as ever! After years writing for magazines, her life moved online and remains fueled by technology, music and nature.
Having written for websites and magazines since 2000, producing a wide range of reviews, guides, tutorials, brochures, newsletters and more, she continues to write for diverse audiences, from computing newbies to advanced users and business clients. Always willing to try something new, she loves sharing new discoveries with others.
Sofia lives and breathes Windows, Android, iOS, macOS and just about anything with a power button, but her particular areas of interest include security, tweaking and privacy. Her other loves include walking, music, her two Malamutes and, of course, her wife and daughter.
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