Customize HyperSwitcher
Most day-to-day choices live in Settings → General, Settings → Apps, and Settings → Shortcuts. The settings reference lists every option.
Choose who provides the Hyper key
Section titled “Choose who provides the Hyper key”Set Hyper key authority to HyperSwitcher for the built-in Caps Lock or Right Command mapping. Choose External app if another utility already creates Hyper.
HyperSwitcher normally treats Hyper as Command + Control + Option. If your external setup also sends Shift, turn on App shortcuts include Shift key. You still record only the base key (S, for example) when assigning an app.
The built-in Hyper key uses Accessibility, the same permission that enables window features. It does not need Input Monitoring for normal use. Permissions and macOS privacy explains what the app can do with and without access.
Add a second shortcut layer
Section titled “Add a second shortcut layer”Turn on Enable second shortcut layer for another profile-specific set of configurable shortcuts. It is available only when Hyper key authority is HyperSwitcher and App shortcuts include Shift key is off.
Record without Shift for the base layer, or hold only physical Left Shift while pressing the key for the second layer. Physical Right Shift remains the default Quick Layout action key, and the recorder rejects Right Shift or both Shift keys with inline guidance.
Turning the setting off keeps second-layer assignments saved but inactive. Switching to an external Hyper key or adding Shift to the Hyper mapping does the same instead of remapping them onto the base layer. Settings shows the dormant assignments as conflicts. If the second layer is enabled when you add Shift to Hyper, its unavailable subtitle turns orange.
App and window shortcuts lists every recorder that supports the layer and explains how same-key assignments work.
Decide how shortcuts choose windows
Section titled “Decide how shortcuts choose windows”| Setting | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| App switching → Follow pointer | A shortcut should begin with a window on the display under the pointer. |
| App switching → Last used | You want the app’s front or most recently used window, regardless of display. |
| Window switching → Disabled | Repeat app shortcut presses should keep the current window. The separate Cycle app windows shortcut still cycles. |
| Window switching → Follow pointer | Repeat presses should prefer reachable windows on the pointer display. |
| Window switching → Cycle all windows | Repeat presses should cycle without using the pointer as a display filter. This is the default. |
| Temporary shortcuts → Focused window | A temporary key should return to one exact window. This is the default. |
| Temporary shortcuts → Focused app | A temporary key should behave like a normal shortcut for that app. |
App and window switching choices apply to app shortcuts and temporary shortcuts that target an app. Shortcut Groups use App switching when entering an app and keep moving between apps regardless of Window switching. Flash focused window briefly outlines the selected window. Move reopened windows to pointer display moves a newly reopened window before focusing it.
Manage apps and shortcuts
Section titled “Manage apps and shortcuts”Search for an app in Settings → Apps, open its row, and press the base key you want to pair with Hyper. Hold only Left Shift while recording when you want the optional second layer. Use the Conflicts and Unavailable filters when an assignment is duplicated, a second-layer assignment is dormant, or macOS refuses to register it.
Finder’s row also has Destination shortcuts. Add a folder there when you want a permanent key to open or focus that location, and use the optional name when the folder name alone would not be clear.
Each assigned app also has a minimized-window choice:
- Ignore when cycling prefers visible windows, but restores one if every selectable window is minimized.
- Include when cycling adds minimized windows to the normal rotation.
Use Settings → Shortcuts to record the optional Back, Forward, Cycle app windows, and Cycle workspace windows keys. Navigate history with Hyper taps in Settings → General offers Off, Double tap (the default), and Single tap, saved per profile. Single tap goes back on one brief release; Double tap goes back on the second. Existing saved on/off choices become Double tap or Off. With the built-in Hyper mapping, hold either physical Shift key before the first press to go forward instead. Keep each tap shorter than 250 ms and your Quick Layout hold delay; longer presses never navigate history. Back and Forward browse recently focused windows during the current HyperSwitcher session. App and window shortcuts explains tap behavior and how using a visited window changes its place in history. The same page also covers window cycling.
Shortcut Groups move through a fixed set of apps. See Limited mode and licensed mode for feature limits.
Menu bar, login, and Dock
Section titled “Menu bar, login, and Dock”The menu bar gives you quick access to Settings, profiles, updates, and Quit. A warning mark on the icon means HyperSwitcher has found a problem; open the menu to see it.
Three General settings apply across every profile:
- Open HyperSwitcher at login adds a macOS login item.
- Show HyperSwitcher in Dock adds a Dock icon without changing the menu bar item or shortcuts.
- Send anonymous telemetry controls anonymous daily usage totals, privacy-safe setting choices, and rare milestones. App names, window titles, and shortcut assignments are not included. See what HyperSwitcher stores and sends.
Most other shortcut, switching, and layout behavior belongs to the active profile.