How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac Apps

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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.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Setting up an Automator Service

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    In order to set a keyboard shortcut to open an app, you'll need to create a new Service in Automator.
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    Doing so will bring up Spotlight search.
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    It's at the top left corner of the menu bar.
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    It looks like a cog.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9c\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9c\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Adding the Launch Application Action to an App

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    They're the drop-down menus at the top of the window.
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    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.
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    A drop-down menu will appear under the newly added "Launch Application" action.
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    It's at the top left of the menu bar.
  10. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-18-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-18-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-18-Version-2.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-18-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  11. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/92\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-19-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-19-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/92\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-19-Version-2.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-19-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is what you'll use to assign the keyboard shortcut, so make it something memorable!
  12. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b6\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-20-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-20-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b6\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-20-Version-2.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-20-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Assigning the Keyboard Shortcut

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    It's at the top left corner of the menu bar.
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  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-24-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-24-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-24-Version-2.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-24-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-25-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-25-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-25-Version-2.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-25-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's on the menu on the left pane of the Shortcuts window.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4e\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-26-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-26-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4e\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-26-Version-2.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-26-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":349,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":552,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The list of services is located on the right side of the window.
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  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-29-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-29-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-29-Version-2.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-29-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":341,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":540,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    • Make sure that you enter a unique shortcut, meaning that the keyboard combination is not already designated to perform another task.
  10. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/13\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-30-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-30-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/13\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-30-Version-2.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-30-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  11. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-31.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-31.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-31.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-31.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  12. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-32.jpg\/v4-460px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-32.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-32.jpg\/aid8267053-v4-728px-Set-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-to-Open-Mac-Apps-Step-32.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":341,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":540,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Your newly assigned shortcut will open the app!
    13. Advertisement


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    How do I program the key to open in a specific part of an application? For example, I want to program a keyboard shortcut that opens image capture for a specific printer/scanner?
    Phantom Me
    Community Answer
    Just press and hold the Windows hardware button and then press Volume Down (on the left side of the device). This is analogous to pressing Win + PrtScr and will auto-save the screenshots in the Screenshots folder in the Pictures Library.
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