Where to find and change your keyboard shortcuts

You change keyboard shortcuts on a Mac in System Settings under Keyboard. Open System Settings, click Keyboard in the sidebar, then select Keyboard Shortcuts at the bottom of the window. From there you can modify shortcuts for apps, system functions, and services — or create entirely new ones.

The Keyboard Shortcuts window shows categories on the left: App Shortcuts, Function Keys, Modifier Keys, and others depending on your macOS version. Each category controls a different set of shortcuts. Most people start with App Shortcuts, which lets you reassign or create shortcuts for any menu command in any app.

Changes take effect when ready. You do not need to restart your Mac or the app you are modifying. If you change a shortcut and then realize you want the original back, you can delete your custom shortcut and macOS will revert to the default.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, go to Keyboard, then Keyboard Shortcuts to access the main shortcut editor.
  • App Shortcuts let you change or create shortcuts for menu commands in any process on your Mac.
  • You can reassign modifier keys (Control, Option, Command, Shift) separately if you want to swap their positions or disable one entirely.
  • Deleting a custom shortcut removes your change and restores the Mac's default shortcut for that command.
  • Some shortcuts cannot be changed because the system reserves them — if a shortcut does not stick, try a different key combination.

How to create a new shortcut for an app menu command

Click the plus button in the App Shortcuts section. A dialog box opens asking you to choose an process, type the exact menu command name, and enter your new shortcut. The process dropdown shows all installed apps; select the one you want to modify.

The Menu Title field must match the command exactly as it appears in the app's menu. For example, if you want to create a shortcut for "Export as PDF" in Preview, type that phrase word-for-word. If the text does not match, the shortcut will not work. You can open the app's menu to copy the exact wording if you are unsure.

In the Keyboard Shortcut field, press the key combination you want to use. macOS will display it as you press. Avoid combinations already in use by the system or the app — if your new shortcut conflicts with an existing one, the new shortcut takes priority, which can disable the old command. Test the shortcut in the app after you create it to make sure it works.

Changing modifier keys if you want to swap Control, Option, or Command

If you want to remap your modifier keys — for instance, swap Command and Control, or disable Caps Lock — go to Keyboard Shortcuts and select Modifier Keys. You will see four dropdowns: one for each modifier key on your keyboard (Control, Option, Command, Caps Lock).

Each dropdown shows what that key currently does. You can reassign it to act as a different modifier, or select "No Action" to disable it entirely. For example, many people disable Caps Lock because it is straightforward to hit by accident, or remap it to Control if they use Control frequently.

This setting applies system-wide to every app. If you use an external keyboard, you can set different modifier mappings for that keyboard alone — macOS lets you create separate profiles for different keyboards.

Function keys and what they control

The Function Keys section controls what happens when you press F1, F2, and so on. By default, these keys control brightness, volume, and other system functions. If you want them to send the standard function key signal to apps instead (which some software requires), click the checkbox for "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys."

You can also set this behavior per-app: check the box globally, then add exceptions for specific applications that need the standard function key behavior. This is useful if you use professional software like video editing or music production tools that rely on function keys.

Shortcuts that do not work and why

Some key combinations will not stick because macOS reserves them for system-level functions. Shortcuts like Command-Space (Spotlight), Command-Tab (app switcher), and Command-Q (quit) cannot be reassigned in the Keyboard Shortcuts panel. If you try to create a shortcut using a reserved combination, the system will either ignore it or warn you that the shortcut is already in use.

If a shortcut you created does not work in an app, the app itself may have claimed that key combination. Apps can override system shortcuts. Try a different combination — for instance, if Command-E does not work in an app, try Command-Shift-E instead. You can also check the app's own preferences to see if it has its own shortcut settings that might be conflicting.

Deleting or resetting a shortcut you created

To remove a custom shortcut, open Keyboard Shortcuts, find it in the list, select it, and click the minus button. The shortcut disappears when ready. If the command had a default shortcut before you changed it, that default shortcut becomes active again.

There is no "reset all shortcuts" button in Keyboard Shortcuts. If you want to restore all defaults, you can delete your custom shortcuts one by one, or you can reset the entire Keyboard preferences file — but that is a technical step best left for when nothing else works. Deleting individual shortcuts is the safer approach.

Shortcuts that sync across your devices

Custom keyboard shortcuts you create in System Settings do not sync to other Macs through iCloud. Each Mac maintains its own set of custom shortcuts. If you use multiple Macs and want the same shortcuts on all of them, you will need to create them on each machine separately.

Some third-party apps like Alfred, Keyboard Maestro, or BetterTouchTool let you create shortcuts that sync across devices or work more flexibly than the system shortcuts panel. These apps are optional — the built-in Keyboard Shortcuts panel handles most everyday needs — but they are worth exploring if you find yourself creating many custom shortcuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same shortcut for different apps?

Yes. You can create Command-E in one app and assign it to a completely different command in another app. The shortcut only activates the command in the app you assigned it to. This is useful because different apps use the same shortcuts for different purposes.

What if I accidentally disable a shortcut I need?

Delete the custom shortcut you created and the default will return. Open Keyboard Shortcuts, find your custom entry, select it, and click the minus button. The original shortcut becomes active again when ready.

Can I create a shortcut that works in all apps at once?

Not through the built-in Keyboard Shortcuts panel. System-wide shortcuts are reserved by macOS (like Command-Space for Spotlight). For custom shortcuts that work everywhere, you need third-party software like Keyboard Maestro or Alfred.

Why does my new shortcut not work in a specific app?

The app may have claimed that key combination for its own use, or the shortcut may conflict with a system-reserved combination. Try a different key combination, or check the app's preferences to see if it has its own shortcut settings. Some apps do not allow system shortcuts to override their internal shortcuts.

Do I need to restart my Mac after changing a shortcut?

No. Changes take effect when ready. If a shortcut does not work right away, try closing and reopening the app, or log out and back in. Restarting your Mac is rarely necessary for keyboard shortcut changes.