App and window shortcuts
Saved shortcuts give apps and Finder folders permanent Hyper keys, independent of your Dock and recent-app order.
To assign an app, open Settings → Apps, search for it, open the shortcut recorder, and press the base key you want. HyperSwitcher supplies the configured Hyper modifiers and saves the change immediately.
Space, Return, Zero, Minus, and the physical Equals/Plus key are fixed layout controls, so they cannot be used for app, Finder destination, group, or cycle shortcuts. The recorder reports them as unsupported.
The custom Layout action key in Layout settings is different: HyperSwitcher lets you record a key that is already assigned and reports a shortcut conflict instead. The action key stays reserved while Layouts are enabled. Turning Layouts off releases it for app, Finder destination, group, and cycle shortcuts.
Use a second shortcut layer
Section titled “Use a second shortcut layer”Turn on Settings → General → Enable second shortcut layer when HyperSwitcher provides the built-in Hyper key and App shortcuts include Shift key is off. The setting belongs to the active profile.
Record a key without Shift for the base layer. Hold only the physical Left Shift key while recording to put the shortcut on the second layer; Settings marks it with L⇧. Physical Right Shift and both Shift keys are rejected with inline guidance because Right Shift stays available for Quick Layout.
The layer choice applies independently to app shortcuts, Finder destinations, Shortcut Groups, Back, Forward, and both cycle shortcuts. The same base key can be assigned once on each layer, while two assignments using the same key on the same layer remain a conflict. Temporary shortcuts created from Quick Layout stay on the base layer.
Turning the second layer off, changing Hyper key authority to External app, or turning on App shortcuts include Shift key keeps second-layer assignments saved but inactive. Settings shows their reason through the normal conflict styling; it never moves them onto the base layer.
One key handles every app state
Section titled “One key handles every app state”| App state | What the shortcut does |
|---|---|
| Not running | Launches the app. |
| Running without a selectable window | Asks the app to reopen or reveal a normal window, then focuses it if one appears. |
| Running with one eligible window | Activates the app and focuses that window. |
| Running with several windows | Chooses one using General → App switching. |
| One of its windows is already focused | Another press cycles windows using General → Window switching. |
If an app cannot create a normal window, HyperSwitcher still activates it.
App switching controls the first press from another app. Window switching controls repeat presses after you arrive. Choosing windows explains the pointer, last-used, minimized, display, and Space behavior together.
Copy an automation action
Section titled “Copy an automation action”Open an app in Settings → Apps to copy its focus URL or Terminal command. Both follow the same app and window selection behavior as its keyboard shortcut. For other actions, use the generator in Settings → Automation. See URL actions and the command line.
Open a Finder folder with one key
Section titled “Open a Finder folder with one key”Open Finder in Settings → Apps, then use Destination shortcuts → Add Folder…. Choose the folder, optionally give it a custom name, and record its key. Finder destinations belong to the active profile and support the same base and optional second layers as app shortcuts.
Pressing the shortcut asks Finder to open that exact folder. If Accessibility is available and a Finder window identifies itself as showing that folder, HyperSwitcher focuses it instead. Repeated presses move between exact matches when Finder exposes more than one. Otherwise Finder decides whether to reuse a window or tab or open a new one.
The folder still opens without Accessibility, but exact existing-window focus is unavailable. HyperSwitcher does not request Automation permission or use Finder Apple Events.
A moved or renamed folder follows its saved macOS reference when the system can resolve it. If you use the automatic folder name, it refreshes the next time you invoke the destination successfully; HyperSwitcher does not track external renames live. A missing folder or disconnected volume stays visible as unavailable and shows a brief notice instead of opening another location.
Cycle windows without assigning the app
Section titled “Cycle windows without assigning the app”Record Cycle app windows in Settings → Shortcuts to create one reusable window-cycling shortcut for the focused app.
The shortcut follows General → Window switching. In Follow pointer mode it stays with reachable windows on the pointer display. Cycle all windows ignores display location.
If the focused app has an individual shortcut, its minimized-window preference also applies here. Accessibility is required.
Cycle windows in a Workspace
Section titled “Cycle windows in a Workspace”Record Cycle workspace windows in Settings → Shortcuts to move through the current Workspace in visual slot order. When focus is outside a Workspace, the shortcut starts with the first available member on the pointer display and current Space.
The recorder is disabled with an explanation while Workspaces are off or a license is unavailable. See Workspaces for setup, replacement, and session behavior.
Return to recently focused windows
Section titled “Return to recently focused windows”Record independent Back and Forward keys in Settings → Shortcuts. Both start unset.
Back returns to the previously focused window, even when it belongs to another app. Forward retraces your path after you go back. HyperSwitcher follows windows focused by its shortcuts, a click, Command-Tab, app activation, or switching within the same app.
The history lasts only until HyperSwitcher quits. Closed or unavailable windows are skipped. Focusing another window after going back starts a new path and clears the old forward path. HyperSwitcher handles rapid presses one at a time, in order.
Back and Forward require Accessibility permission and belong to the active profile.
Switch and place a window in one hold
Section titled “Switch and place a window in one hold”App shortcuts act immediately. To arrange the selected window in the same gesture, release the app key but keep Hyper held, press an arrow, then release Hyper. Release Hyper after the app key when you only want to switch.
Change, remove, or repair a shortcut
Section titled “Change, remove, or repair a shortcut”Select an app’s shortcut to replace or clear it. The Apps list has two problem filters:
- Conflicts means more than one HyperSwitcher action uses the same key on the same layer, or a second-layer assignment is currently dormant.
- Unavailable means macOS refused the registration, usually because the system or another utility already owns it.
Finder destination recorders show the same conflict and registration warnings. See Troubleshooting for external Hyper-key conflicts.
Limited Mode allows four active app and Finder destination shortcuts in total. Later assignments remain saved.