View All Active Global Shortcuts On Mac: Finder & Apps

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How can I see ALL global shortcuts currently active across Finder + other apps?

Finding out which global shortcuts are active on your Mac, especially when you're trying to set up new ones with apps like Amethyst, can be a bit of a puzzle. You wanna use those sweet CTRL + Option + Numpad[0-9] shortcuts, but some just ain't working, right? That usually means something else is already hogging those key combos. So, how do you figure out what's using what? Let's dive into the ways you can uncover all those active global shortcuts across Finder and all your other apps.

Unveiling Active Global Shortcuts: A Deep Dive

When you're trying to figure out why a particular global shortcut isn't working on your Mac, it's like being a detective trying to solve a mystery. You've got a hunch – something else is using that shortcut – but where do you start looking? Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you uncover those hidden keyboard command conflicts and reclaim your shortcuts.

Step 1: System Preferences – The Obvious First Stop

Your first port of call should always be System Preferences. Apple provides a built-in interface for managing many system-wide shortcuts, although it doesn't catch everything. Here's how to navigate it:

  1. Open System Preferences: You can find it in your Dock or by going to the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of your screen and selecting "System Preferences."
  2. Go to Keyboard: Look for the "Keyboard" preference pane and click on it. It might be under "Hardware" or the main listing, depending on your macOS version.
  3. Shortcuts Tab: In the Keyboard preferences, click on the "Shortcuts" tab. This is where the magic happens.

Now, on the left side of the Shortcuts tab, you'll see a list of categories:

  • Accessibility: These shortcuts control various accessibility features, like VoiceOver, Zoom, and Sticky Keys. Check if any of these are using the shortcuts you want to use.
  • App Shortcuts: This is a crucial section. It allows you to define custom keyboard shortcuts for specific applications. Click on it to see if any app-specific shortcuts are conflicting with your desired global shortcuts.
  • Mission Control: Shortcuts for managing Mission Control, like showing the desktop, opening Mission Control, and managing windows. See if anything here is clashing.
  • Services: This section contains shortcuts for various services available in macOS. It's less likely to have conflicts, but it's worth a look.
  • Spotlight: The shortcuts for showing Spotlight search. Make sure these aren't interfering.
  • Screenshot: Shortcuts for taking screenshots. These are common culprits, especially if you're trying to use standard keyboard combinations.

Go through each category and carefully examine the shortcuts listed. If you find a conflict, you can either disable the existing shortcut or change it to something else. To change a shortcut, simply click on it and press the new key combination you want to use. If you want to disable it, uncheck the box next to it or delete the shortcut (if it's a custom one).

Step 2: Diving Deeper with Terminal

Sometimes, the System Preferences don't show everything. Some applications might register global shortcuts in a way that's not visible through the standard interface. That's where the Terminal comes in. Don't worry, you don't need to be a command-line wizard to use these techniques.

Using defaults read

The defaults command allows you to read and write macOS preference files. Many applications store their shortcut configurations in these files. Here's how you can use it:

  1. Open Terminal: You can find Terminal in /Applications/Utilities/.

  2. Find the Application's Bundle Identifier: You need to know the application's bundle identifier (a unique string that identifies the app). For example, the bundle identifier for Safari is com.apple.Safari. You can often find this by searching online or by examining the application's Info.plist file (right-click on the app in Finder, select "Show Package Contents," and look in the Contents folder).

  3. Read the Preferences: Use the following command, replacing com.example.YourApp with the actual bundle identifier:

    defaults read com.example.YourApp | grep -i shortcut

    This command reads the application's preferences and filters the output to show only lines containing the word "shortcut" (case-insensitive). This can help you find any custom shortcuts defined by the application.

Using kcd (Keyboard Command Detective)

kcd is a command-line tool specifically designed to detect global keyboard shortcuts. It's not built into macOS, so you'll need to install it. Here's how:

  1. Install Homebrew (if you don't have it): Homebrew is a package manager for macOS. If you don't have it, you can install it by running the following command in Terminal:

    /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

  2. Install kcd: Once Homebrew is installed, run:

    brew install kcd

  3. Run kcd: Simply type kcd in Terminal and press Enter. It will list all active global keyboard shortcuts and the applications that are using them.

kcd is a fantastic tool because it directly queries the system for active shortcuts, giving you a comprehensive view of what's in use. It's much more reliable than just looking at individual application preferences.

Step 3: Third-Party Applications – The Hidden Culprits

Many third-party applications install their own global shortcuts without properly registering them in System Preferences. These can be the trickiest to find.

Common Offenders:

  • Productivity Apps: Apps like Alfred, Keyboard Maestro, and BetterTouchTool are notorious for using global shortcuts. They're incredibly powerful, but they can easily conflict with other applications.
  • Menu Bar Apps: Many menu bar apps use global shortcuts to quickly access their features. Examples include clipboard managers, note-taking apps, and system monitoring tools.
  • Development Tools: IDEs and other development tools often have extensive keyboard shortcut configurations, some of which might be global.

How to Investigate:

  1. Check Application Preferences: Start by examining the preferences of each third-party application you have installed. Look for sections related to keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys.
  2. Disable Suspects: If you suspect a particular application is causing the conflict, try temporarily disabling its global shortcuts or even uninstalling the app to see if that resolves the issue.
  3. Read Documentation: Consult the application's documentation or online help resources. They often provide information about the default keyboard shortcuts and how to customize them.

Step 4: Using Activity Monitor to Identify Background Processes

Sometimes, the application using the shortcut isn't immediately obvious because it's running in the background. Activity Monitor can help you identify these processes.

  1. Open Activity Monitor: You can find it in /Applications/Utilities/.
  2. Monitor CPU and Memory Usage: Look for processes that are consuming a significant amount of CPU or memory, even when you're not actively using them. These could be background applications that are listening for global shortcuts.
  3. Investigate Suspects: Once you've identified a potential culprit, research it online to see if it's known to use global shortcuts. You can also try quitting the process to see if that resolves the conflict.

Step 5: The Process of Elimination

If all else fails, the process of elimination can be your best friend. Start by disabling or uninstalling applications one by one until you find the one that's causing the conflict. It's tedious, but it can be the most reliable way to track down the culprit.

Tips for Effective Elimination:

  • Keep a Log: Keep a record of the applications you've disabled or uninstalled and the results of each step. This will help you avoid repeating steps and stay organized.
  • Restart Your Mac: After disabling or uninstalling an application, restart your Mac to ensure that the changes take effect.
  • Test Thoroughly: After each change, thoroughly test the shortcuts that were not working to see if they've been resolved.

The Importance of Organized Shortcuts

Once you've identified and resolved any conflicts, it's crucial to maintain an organized approach to managing your global shortcuts. Here are some tips:

  • Document Your Shortcuts: Keep a list of all your active global shortcuts and the applications they're associated with. This will make it easier to troubleshoot conflicts in the future.
  • Use Consistent Conventions: Try to use consistent keyboard combinations across different applications. This will make it easier to remember your shortcuts and avoid conflicts.
  • Regularly Review and Update: Periodically review your global shortcuts to ensure they're still relevant and efficient. Remove any shortcuts that you no longer use.

By following these steps, you can systematically uncover and resolve conflicts with global keyboard shortcuts on your Mac, ensuring that you can use your favorite shortcuts without frustration. It might take some time and effort, but the reward is a more efficient and enjoyable computing experience.

Specific App Conflicts: Amethyst and Others

Okay, so you're wrestling with Amethyst, a tiling window manager, and its shortcuts. This is a classic scenario where global shortcuts collide. Tiling window managers love to grab those CTRL + Option + Number combos, and chances are, something else has already laid claim. Here's how to troubleshoot, focusing on Amethyst and similar apps:

  1. Amethyst Preferences: Obvious, right? But seriously, open Amethyst's preferences. Look for the shortcut settings. Make sure the shortcuts you want to use are actually assigned within Amethyst.
  2. System Preferences (Again!): Even if Amethyst says it's using a shortcut, macOS might be intercepting it. Double-check the System Preferences, especially the "Keyboard" -> "Shortcuts" section, as described above. Pay CLOSE attention to "Mission Control" and "App Shortcuts."
  3. Other Tiling Managers/Window Managers: Have you used Spectacle, Magnet, or another similar app in the past? Even if they're not currently running, they might have left residual shortcut configurations behind. Uninstall them completely (don't just drag them to the Trash) and restart your Mac.
  4. Default macOS Shortcuts: macOS itself uses some CTRL + Option + Number combos by default (or it can, depending on your settings). Check "System Preferences" -> "Accessibility" -> "Mouse & Trackpad" -> "Mouse Options..." -> "Enable Mouse Keys." If this is enabled, the number pad keys control the mouse pointer when you hold down Option. Disable it if you're not using it!
  5. Conflict Resolution Strategy:
    • Identify the Culprit: Use the methods described above (Terminal, kcd, process of elimination) to pinpoint exactly which application is using the conflicting shortcut.
    • Reassign or Disable: Once you know the culprit, either reassign its shortcut to something else (within that application's preferences) or disable the shortcut altogether if you don't need it.
    • Restart Amethyst: After making changes, restart Amethyst to make sure it picks up the new shortcut configuration.

Using Third-Party Tools

While macOS offers some built-in tools for managing shortcuts, third-party applications can provide more advanced features and insights. These tools can help you identify conflicts, customize shortcuts, and streamline your workflow.

Karabiner-Elements

Karabiner-Elements is a powerful keyboard customization tool for macOS. It allows you to remap keys, create complex modifications, and define custom keyboard shortcuts. Here's how it can help you manage global shortcuts:

  • Key Remapping: Karabiner-Elements allows you to remap any key on your keyboard to any other key or function. This can be useful for avoiding conflicts by remapping problematic shortcuts to less common combinations.
  • Complex Modifications: You can create complex modifications that trigger different actions based on the context or the application you're using. This allows you to define application-specific shortcuts that don't conflict with global shortcuts.
  • EventViewer: Karabiner-Elements includes an EventViewer that displays all keyboard events in real-time. This can help you identify which application is receiving a particular key combination and troubleshoot conflicts.

Keyboard Maestro

Keyboard Maestro is a powerful automation tool that allows you to create macros and automate tasks on your Mac. It also includes robust keyboard shortcut management features.

  • Global and Application-Specific Shortcuts: Keyboard Maestro allows you to define both global and application-specific shortcuts. This gives you fine-grained control over your keyboard shortcuts and helps you avoid conflicts.
  • Conflict Detection: Keyboard Maestro can detect conflicts between different shortcuts and alert you to potential problems. This makes it easier to manage your shortcuts and ensure that they're working as expected.
  • Macro Creation: You can create macros that combine multiple actions into a single shortcut. This allows you to automate complex tasks with a single key combination.

BetterTouchTool

BetterTouchTool is a versatile customization tool that allows you to customize various input devices, including keyboards, mice, and touchpads. It also includes powerful keyboard shortcut management features.

  • Customizable Shortcuts: BetterTouchTool allows you to define custom keyboard shortcuts for various actions and applications. This gives you a high degree of control over your keyboard shortcuts and helps you avoid conflicts.
  • Gesture Recognition: In addition to keyboard shortcuts, BetterTouchTool supports gesture recognition for mice and touchpads. This allows you to trigger actions with custom gestures, providing an alternative to keyboard shortcuts.
  • Context-Aware Shortcuts: You can define context-aware shortcuts that trigger different actions based on the application you're using. This allows you to create shortcuts that are tailored to your specific workflow.

By using these third-party tools, you can gain greater control over your keyboard shortcuts and streamline your workflow. They provide advanced features for managing shortcuts, detecting conflicts, and customizing your input devices.

Final Thoughts

Tracking down global shortcut conflicts on macOS can feel like a wild goose chase. But with a systematic approach and the right tools, you can usually find the culprit and reclaim your keyboard. Remember to check System Preferences first, then dive into the Terminal if needed. Don't forget to investigate third-party apps and background processes. And if all else fails, the process of elimination is your friend. Good luck, and may your shortcuts be ever in your favor!