Create a Mac shortcut for an existing menu command
Use System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts to assign a combination to an existing menu command.
- Scope
- macOS · Current vendor documentation checked 3 November 2026; no running-app compatibility test is claimed.
- Keyboard and customization
- Documented Mac defaults; punctuation and function keys depend on keyboard layout and hardware.. User bindings, app versions, focused controls and installed extensions can change a command. Inspect the active app menu or its shortcut editor when a listed combination differs.
- Review basis
- Documentation reviewed 2026-11-03 by Codex — primary-documentation and editorial review; no hands-on runtime test. These bindings were not tested in a running app for this guide.
Write down the exact menu title
Open the application’s menu and identify the command you want before creating a binding. Apple’s App Shortcuts feature matches the command title, including relevant punctuation and menu hierarchy. A translated label, an ellipsis or a renamed command can explain why a seemingly sensible custom shortcut is not attached to anything.
Limit the scope of the new binding
Choose a specific application unless you intentionally want the same menu title to be affected across applications. A narrow scope makes it easier to understand a later conflict. This feature assigns menu-command shortcuts; it is not a general tool for launching an app or constructing a multi-step automation.
Verify and undo the change
After adding the shortcut, return to the app menu and check whether the chosen combination appears beside the intended action. Test it on harmless content, then remove or revise it if another command already uses the same keys. Keep a note of your customisations so a printed default reference does not become misleading.
Documented commands for this workflow
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Action | Keys | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Open an app’s settings where supported | Command-, | This standard command may help inspect the app’s own shortcut preferences. ↗ |
| Assign the new menu shortcut | Your chosen combination | There is no universal default for a command you are customising; enter your own keys in App Shortcuts. ↗ |
Sources and corrections
- Create keyboard shortcuts for apps — Apple Support — checked 2026-11-03
- Mac keyboard shortcuts — Apple Support — checked 2026-11-03
Found a mismatch? Email pashaseenainc@gmail.com with your app version, macOS version, keyboard layout and the command. Please leave personal document names out.
Keep going
Right there when you need it.
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