How do I create a custom keyboard shortcut on a Mac?

8 min read

To create a custom keyboard shortcut on a Mac, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open the System Preferences from the Apple menu or by clicking on the System Preferences icon in the Dock.
  2. In the System Preferences window, click on the "Keyboard" icon.
  3. In the Keyboard preferences, go to the "Shortcuts" tab.
  4. From the list on the left side, select the category you want to create a shortcut for, such as "App Shortcuts" or "Services".
  5. Click on the "+" button below the list of shortcuts to add a new shortcut.
  6. A new dialog box will appear. In the "Menu Title" field, enter the exact name of the menu command for which you want to create the shortcut.
    • Note: The menu command can usually be found in the application menu bar.
  7. After entering the menu title, click on the "Keyboard Shortcut" field and press the keys you want to use for the shortcut.
    • Make sure the shortcut combination you choose does not conflict with existing shortcuts in that application.
  8. Once you've entered the desired keys, click "Add" to create the keyboard shortcut.
  9. Close the System Preferences window.

Your custom keyboard shortcut should now be active and can be used within the selected application or system-wide, depending on the category you chose to create the shortcut in.