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How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps

This wikiHow teaches you how to set a keyboard shortcut to open apps on your Mac. To do this, you'll need to use the Automator app, which is already on your Mac. Press and hold . In order to set a keyboard shortcut to open an app, you'll...
Part 1 of 3:

Setting up an Automator Service

  1. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 1How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 1
    Press and hold ⌘ Command. In order to set a keyboard shortcut to open an app, you'll need to create a new Service in Automator.
  2. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 2How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 2
    Press Space once. Doing so will bring up Spotlight search.
  3. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 3How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 3
    Type in "Automator."
  4. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 4How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 4
    Press ↵ Enter.
  5. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 5How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 5
    With the Automator app selected, click File. It's at the top left corner of the menu bar.
  6. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 6How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 6
    Click New.
  7. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 7How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 7
    Click the "Service" icon. It looks like a cog.
  8. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 8How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 8
    Click Choose.
Part 2 of 3:

Adding the Launch Application Action to an App

  1. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 9How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 9
    Navigate to the service input settings. They're the drop-down menus at the top of the window.
  2. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 10How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 10
    Click the "Service receives selected" drop-down menu.
  3. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 11How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 11
    Click no input.
  4. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 12How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 12
    Click Actions. It's at the top left of the Service window. The list of available actions should be displayed in a scroll bar underneath the search window.
  5. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 13How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 13
    Use the scroll bar to find "Launch Application."
  6. Click and drag "Launch Application" to the right side. A drop-down menu will appear under the newly added "Launch Application" action.Image:Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Step 14.jpg
  7. Click the drop-down menu.Image:Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Step 15.jpg
  8. Click on an app.Image:Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Step 16.jpg
  9. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 14How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 14
    Click File. It's at the top left of the menu bar.
  10. Click Save.Image:Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Step 18.jpg
  11. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 15How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 15
    Type in a name for your service. This is what you'll use to assign the keyboard shortcut, so make it something memorable!
  12. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 16How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 16
    Click Save.
Part 3 of 3:

Assigning the Keyboard Shortcut

  1. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 17How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 17
    Click the Apple icon. It's at the top left corner of the menu bar.
  2. Click System Preferences.Image:Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Step 22.jpg
  3. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 18How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 18
    Click the "Keyboard" icon.
  4. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 19How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 19
    Click Shortcuts.
  5. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 20How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 20
    Click Services. It's on the menu on the left pane of the Shortcuts window.
  6. Scroll to find your newly created service. The list of services is located on the right side of the window.Image:Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Step 26.jpg
  7. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 21How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 21
    Click on your service to select it.
  8. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 22How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 22
    Click Add Shortcut.
  9. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 23How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 23
    Type in your custom keyboard shortcut.
    1. Make sure that you enter a unique shortcut, meaning that the keyboard combination is not already designated to perform another task.
  10. How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 24How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps Picture 24
    Click the red "x" button.
  11. Click on your desktop.
  12. Enter your new keyboard shortcut. Your newly assigned shortcut will open the app!
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