How to Change macOS Keyboard Shortcuts for Window Management

Or Any Other Keyboard Shortcut, for That Matter (With Extra Added Fun for Multilingual Users)

This year, Apple decided to upgrade the default window management on macOS, from terrible to OK. However, I’ve heard some complaints about the keyboard shortcuts, as they use the Globe key, which can cause some problems if you want to automate the hotkeys somehow.

But I have good news: You can change these, and any* other, keyboard shortcuts!

Here’s (one way) how:

If you go into the System Settings app, hit Keyboard and then the button Keyboard Shortcuts…, you’ll open up a screen. In this, you can then hit App Shortcuts to come here:

This screen is for changing the keyboard shortcuts to the items in your menu bar (or adding to those who don’t have one already), like those shown in this image:

You can either add them only to specific apps (like you can see I’ve done), or to All Applications – and when we’re dealing with this window management, we need to do the latter.

Hitting + gives us this screen:

When writing the menu title, you have to be very specific. Here’s what it could look like: Format->Bulleted List

The spelling and capitalisation has to be exact – and you need to separate levels with a - and > and no spaces.

Here’s what it looks like if I want to set a hotkey for tiling a window top left:

Window->Move & Resize->Top Left

As the option sits two levels deep, I have to add a bit more – but it works!

Cons of this method:

• Pretty fiddly – you can’t even paste text, as it will think you’re trying to set Command + V as the hotkey
• Doesn’t get backed up – you have to do it again if you reinstall macOS (Pro tip: Take a screenshot to back up!)
• Only works on menu bar items

Pros of this method:

• Works without third-party software
• Will change the displayed hotkey in the menu bar – making it easier to remember

An alternative: Keyboard Maestro

You can also use the excellent Keyboard Maestro for the same task.

Here you can see I’ve set it so hitting Ctrl + E will perform the View->Toggle Sidebar action. I think this would work on the window management as well. The Keyboard Maestro action you’re looking for is called Select or Show a Menu Item.

However, sometimes the hotkeys aren’t in the menu bar. And then you can use Keyboard Maestro to simulate a different screenshot. In the example above, hitting Command + K will simulate Command + U in a specific app.¹ However, I don’t think you can use this method to simulate the Globe key – as it isn’t available to third-parties. This Keyboard Maestro action is called Type a Keystroke.

Cons of this method

• Needs third-party software
• Doesn’t change the displayed hotkey in the menu bar

Pros of this method

• You can duplicate actions, etc., to make the workflow easier
• Keyboard Maestro setups can be backed up and shared
• Other powerful features are also readily available

For multilingual users (like me)

As shown, I’ve only added hotkeys to the corner options. I added those because the animation is nicer than what Raycast 🖇️ has access to – but I don’t use any of the others. The reason I use the ones for the vertical halves in Raycast still, is that Raycast will cycle between 1/2, 2/3 and 1/3 when you repeat the hotkey. Please add this within 10 years, Apple! 🙏🏻 I went into more detail on my window management here.

But anyway – my settings, for top left, look like this:

Window->Move & Resize->Top Left

Vindu->Move & Resize->Top Left

Window->Flytt og endre størrelse->Øverst venstre

I had to add all three version separatly – because, for some reason, the wording isn’t consistent depending on whether the app in question is in Norwegian or not. And I’ve no idea why there are two versions with a mix… If I wind an app where it doesn’t work, it’ll probably be one where everything is in Norwegian. 🤷🏻‍♂️

The morale is: You have to check what your menu says.