Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is one of the options below. Facts about Windows, macOS and other products were checked on 23 October 2026 and can change. SofaDeck is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple; all trademarks belong to their owners.
Short answer: open System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts, pick a category, double-click a shortcut and press new keys. To give any app's menu command its own shortcut, use App Shortcuts → + and type the menu title exactly. Below: the step-by-step, how to fix shortcuts that don't work, modifier-key remapping, and how to put long shortcuts on buttons so you never have to remember them.
Change a built-in Mac shortcut
- Open Apple menu → System Settings → Keyboard.
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Choose a category on the left, such as Screenshots, Mission Control or App Shortcuts.
- Double-click an existing shortcut and press the new keys, or click + under App Shortcuts to add one for a menu command.
- Click Done, then quit and reopen any app whose shortcut you changed.
On macOS Monterey (12) and earlier the same controls live in System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts. The categories you'll use most:
| Category | What you can change | Example default |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshots | Screenshot and screen recording shortcuts | Cmd+Shift+4 (selection), Cmd+Shift+5 (toolbar) |
| Mission Control | Mission Control, App Exposé, switching Spaces | Ctrl+Up Arrow, Ctrl+Left/Right Arrow |
| Spotlight | Spotlight search and Finder search window | Cmd+Space |
| Keyboard | Move focus to the menu bar, Dock, next window | Ctrl+F2 (menu bar) |
| Input Sources | Switch keyboard language | Ctrl+Space |
| Accessibility | Zoom, VoiceOver, invert colours | Cmd+F5 (VoiceOver) |
| App Shortcuts | Your own shortcuts for any menu command | — |
| Modifier Keys | Remap Caps Lock, Control, Option, Command, Globe | — |
Category names and defaults as in macOS Sequoia, checked 23 October 2026; older versions differ slightly.
Create your own shortcut for any menu command
- Find the command in the app's menu bar and note its exact wording, for example Export as PDF…
- In Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts, click +.
- Choose the app from the Application menu, or All Applications for a command many apps share.
- Type the Menu title exactly — capitals and punctuation included. The three dots are one character, the ellipsis (…): type Option+;.
- Click the Keyboard shortcut box, press the combination, and click Done. Quit and reopen the app.
For commands nested in a submenu with a common name, write the full path with -> between levels, for example Format->Font->Bold, so macOS picks the right one.
When a Mac shortcut doesn't work
- Typo in the menu title — the most common cause. Copy the wording from the menu, and use the real ellipsis.
- Conflict — a yellow warning triangle marks a combination already in use; pick another.
- The app wasn't restarted — apps read their shortcuts when they open.
- Function keys — on many keyboards F1–F12 act as brightness and volume keys; hold Fn, or change that under Keyboard settings.
- Another utility grabs the keys first — clipboard managers and window tools often own combinations.
Shortcuts you can't remember? Put them on buttons
Once you've made Cmd+Option+Shift+E for "Export as PDF…", you still have to remember it. SofaDeck puts your shortcuts on big labeled buttons on your phone, served from the Mac's menu bar to the phone's browser over your home Wi-Fi (macOS 11 Big Sur or later, on Apple silicon or Intel). Add a hotkey button, type the combination, label it "Export PDF", and it's one tap away — or say "export PDF" into the phone's mic. Pages keep each app's shortcuts together; a Pro macro can chain several. In shortcut buttons, Windows and Alt map to Command and Option on a Mac.
- Install SofaDeck for Mac from the download page, allow Local Network, and allow it under Privacy & Security → Accessibility so it can press keys.
- Pair your phone by scanning the QR code in the menu-bar item and typing the PIN.
- Add a button for each shortcut you made. Single keys are free; Command/Option combinations and macros are SofaDeck Pro ($9.99 once).
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getOn Windows too? See custom hotkeys on Windows 11. More for Mac: Mac automation for everyday tasks and use your phone as a macro pad.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change keyboard shortcuts on a Mac?
Open Apple menu → System Settings → Keyboard and click Keyboard Shortcuts. Pick a category on the left, double-click the shortcut you want to change and press the new combination. Untick a shortcut to turn it off, or click Restore Defaults to undo your changes. On macOS Monterey and earlier it's System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts.
How do I make a custom keyboard shortcut for a menu item?
In System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts, click +, choose the app (or All Applications), type the menu command exactly as it appears in the menu — including any ellipsis (…) — and press the shortcut you want. Then quit and reopen the app.
Why doesn't my new Mac keyboard shortcut work?
The menu title must match exactly, including capitals and the ellipsis character (type Option+; for …). The combination may already be used by the app or by macOS; a yellow warning triangle in Keyboard Shortcuts marks conflicts. Restart the app after adding a shortcut.
Can I remap Caps Lock or other modifier keys on a Mac?
Yes. System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Modifier Keys lets you swap Caps Lock, Control, Option, Command and Globe for each connected keyboard, or set a key to No Action.