macOS can attach a keyboard shortcut to many commands that appear in an app’s menu bar. That includes system commands and app-specific items such as Export, Save As, or custom actions.
This guide applies to recent macOS versions.
Does This Affect You?
Use this when a menu command you use often does not already have a shortcut, or when you want to change a shortcut that is awkward or conflicts with another app.
Add a Shortcut for a Menu Command
- Open the app and note the menu command’s exact text, including capitalization, punctuation, and ellipsis if present.
- Open System Settings > Keyboard.
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Select App Shortcuts.
- Click the plus button.
- Choose the specific app, or choose All Applications if the same command should work anywhere it appears.
- Enter the exact Menu Title.
- Click the Keyboard Shortcut field and press the combination you want.
- Click Add and check the app menu for the new shortcut.
Change or Remove an Existing Shortcut
- Open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Choose the relevant category, such as App Shortcuts, Mission Control, Spotlight, or Screenshots.
- Double-click the current key combination.
- Press the new shortcut, or press Delete to remove it.
- Use Restore Defaults if you want Apple’s original shortcuts back.
Shortcut Troubleshooting
Exact Text Matters
Custom shortcuts attach to the literal menu command name. If an app update changes “Export as PDF…” to another wording, edit the shortcut title to match.
Conflicts Can Be Silent
macOS may allow duplicate shortcuts, but only one action may respond. Try a less common combination using Control or Option if yours does nothing.
Some Commands Appear Only in Context
If a command appears only after selecting a file or opening a certain panel, make it visible once before adding the shortcut.
Full Keyboard Access Helps Mouseless Work
Turn on Full Keyboard Access in Keyboard settings if you want Tab and arrow keys to move focus through more interface controls.
Sources
- Apple Support: Create a keyboard shortcut for an app on Mac
- Apple Support: Keyboard shortcuts for your Mac
- Apple Support: Use Full Keyboard Access on Mac