Keyboard shortcut reference
Hyper means the base modifier layer configured in General settings. The default is Command + Control + Option, mapped by HyperSwitcher or an external tool. Enable App shortcuts include Shift key if your external mapping includes Shift.
When the optional second shortcut layer is available, a saved assignment may instead use Hyper + physical Left Shift + key. Its recorder shows an L⇧ marker. The same key may have one base-layer and one second-layer assignment. Temporary shortcuts stay on the base layer.
The Layout action key is either physical Shift by default. While the second shortcut layer is available, it is physical Right Shift only. You can also record a custom key for the active profile in Layout settings.
App and window switching
Section titled “App and window switching”| Shortcut | Result |
|---|---|
| Hyper + assigned app key | Launches or focuses the app, reopening a window when needed. |
| Repeat the same app shortcut | Cycles eligible windows when that app is already focused. |
| Hyper + assigned Finder destination key | Opens the saved folder or focuses an exact matching Finder window when available. |
| Hyper + assigned group key | Moves through running Shortcut Group members in saved order. Groups do not cycle windows. |
| Hyper + your Back key | Returns to the previously focused available window in this HyperSwitcher session. |
| Hyper + your Forward key | Moves forward after using Back. |
| Hyper + your Cycle app windows key | Cycles windows for whichever app is focused. |
| Hyper + your Cycle workspace windows key | Cycles available members of the current Workspace in visual slot order. |
| Hyper + temporary key | Returns to the captured app or window. |
Pressing an app key switches immediately. Keep holding Hyper after the key is released to continue into Quick Layout for the exact window that was selected.
Each saved app, Finder destination, group, Back, Forward, or cycle assignment uses the base or second layer chosen while recording it. Record without Shift for the base layer or with only physical Left Shift for the second. Right Shift and both Shift keys are rejected.
Assign Back, Forward, and both cycling keys in Settings → Shortcuts. All four are unset by default and belong to the active profile.
Quick Layout
Section titled “Quick Layout”These controls work while Hyper is held and Enable Layouts is on. Window controls and hidden arrow placement respond before the overlay appears. Adjusting a selected region and creating temporary shortcuts require the visible overlay.
| Control | Result |
|---|---|
| Hold Hyper | Starts Quick Layout for the focused window. Release without choosing a layout to leave it unchanged. |
| Arrow keys | Select, move through, or split layout regions. Release Hyper to place the window. |
| H / J / K / L | Mirrors Left / Down / Up / Right when Vim navigation is enabled. |
| Minus | Outside an active Workspace, makes the current window or selected region smaller. For an active Workspace member, makes its local split smaller before or after the preview appears. |
| Equals/Plus (physical Equals key) | Outside an active Workspace, makes the current window or selected region larger. For an active Workspace member, makes its local split larger before or after the preview appears. Works with or without Shift. |
| Zero | Outside an active Workspace, centers the current window before an arrow or equalizes the selected region’s local split after one. For an active Workspace member, equalizes its local split before or after the preview appears. |
| Layout action key, before any arrow | Previews maximize. Repeating it restores the remembered frame, or the current assigned slot for an active Workspace member without removing its assignment. |
| Layout action key + Arrow, after layout selection begins | Combines neighboring regions. With the second layer available, this is Right Shift + Arrow. Release the action key or Hyper to use the combined area. |
| Space | Opens the Workspace editor, preserving the visible selection and its proportions when a new Workspace is created. |
| Tab | Moves the placement preview to the next display. |
| Return | Runs Tidy Up on the display under the pointer and closes Quick Layout without applying its selected region. |
| Unused supported app key, while the overlay is visible | Saves a temporary shortcut when the key and license limit allow it. |
| Escape, Backspace, or Forward Delete | Cancels Quick Layout without placing the window. |
Quick Layout supports eight regions in licensed mode. Limited Mode allows one horizontal and one vertical split; further arrows move through existing regions.
Workspaces
Section titled “Workspaces”Once the Workspace editor remains visible, Hyper no longer needs to stay held.
| Control | Result |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys or H / J / K / L | Select, move through, or split slots while building. |
| Layout action key + Arrow | Combines neighboring regions while building. |
| Minus | Makes the selected slot’s deepest local split one grid unit smaller. |
| Equals/Plus (physical Equals key) | Makes the selected slot’s deepest local split one grid unit larger. Works with or without Shift. |
| Zero | Equalizes the selected slot’s deepest local split. |
| Return | Adds or replaces the focused window in the selected slot. |
| Space | Restores the assigned frames, shows the available Workspace windows, and hides the editor. |
| Tab | Moves the Workspace and its windows to the next free display. |
| Hyper + Space | Hides the editor and keeps the Workspace active. |
| Escape, Backspace, or Forward Delete | Hides the editor and keeps the Workspace active. |
| Command + Backspace | Deletes the Workspace for this display and Space. |
Click another window or use an app shortcut between placements. Workspaces require a license, support up to eight slots, and last for the current HyperSwitcher session.
Workspace-window cycling focuses one available member at a time. To restore and bring forward the whole Workspace, open its editor and press Space. A successful Quick Layout move removes that window from its Workspace, except for the temporary maximize and restore action.
Reserved and pass-through keys
Section titled “Reserved and pass-through keys”Space, Return, Zero, Minus, and the physical Equals/Plus key are fixed layout controls. They cannot be assigned to an app, Finder destination, Shortcut Group, cycle action, or temporary shortcut.
A custom Layout action key is reserved on both shortcut layers while Enable Layouts is on. HyperSwitcher lets you record a key that is already assigned, but Settings marks it as a shortcut conflict until you change one of the assignments. If the custom key is H, J, K, or L while Vim navigation is enabled, the Layout action key takes precedence and the conflict warning remains. Turning Layouts off releases the custom key for app, Finder destination, group, and cycle shortcuts.
Other H, J, K, and L keys are reserved when Vim navigation is enabled. Unassigned app keys pass through until the overlay appears, when they can create a temporary shortcut.