When you download an app on Android or Windows, you get an option, or it automatically creates a shortcut on the home screen or the desktop. On Mac too creating a folder or app shortcut is extremely easy. It hardly requires four clicks. We first make an alias and then move it to the desired location.
Press the Spotlight keyboard shortcut (by default this is Command-Space) and type the first couple of letters of an app’s name. For example, if you want to launch Safari, type SAF. Create a custom keyboard shortcut for ALL Applications – choosing “All Applications” will allow that keyboard shortcut to be used in every single app that has the menu item option. This is most relevant to common shared menu items, like things found in the File and Edit menus on all Mac apps.
While macOS allows users to create their own keyboard shortcuts to perform functions in apps, there isn't a built-in way to launch the apps themselves using a similar maneuver. AppleInsider shows. Assign a Keyboard Shortcut. Back in System Preferences, click on the 'Keyboard' pane and go to the 'Keyboard Shortcuts' tab. In the left column, select 'Services' and in the right column, locate and select your newly created Launch Tweetbot Service (or whatever app you went with). Bakugan game for android free download.
You can add shortcuts for folders and apps to the desktop or Dock of your Mac. The first method below is the one I prefer. The second method is also quick, but it at times copies the folder instead of making the shortcut. Anyways, here are two easy ways to create desktop shortcuts on Mac running macOS Catalina.
How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac
Step #1. Decide which folder’s or app’s desktop shortcut you want to create. Find where the folder is located. If you cannot find it, see the end for instructions.
Mac Open Apps Hotkey Tutorial
Step #2.Right-click on the folder or app name and click on Make Alias.
Step #3. You will see that a shortcut is immediately created for that folder or app. Press enter key. It has the word alias at the end of the name.
Step #4. Drag this shortcut to your desktop or Dock. You may also copy the shortcut and paste it on the desktop.
This is it!
You have successfully created the desktop shortcut for a folder or app. Now you may quickly use this to open that folder, or launch the app. You may repeat this with as many folders and apps you like.
If you wish, you may select the shortcut, press the enter key, and rename it to remove the word ‘alias.’
Finally, if you wish to see the original folder, right-click on the shortcut icon and click on Show Original.
Note 1: Even if you move the original folder to some other location, the shortcut you created still works. Beautiful! Isn’t it.
Note 2: You may use this method to create shortcuts even for files like image, document, zip, music, movie, etc.
Not able to Find the Folder Location?
Finding applications is clear. You click on Finder → Applications, and there you have all your applications. Knowing the location of the Folders you create is also straightforward.
But for some folders, especially system folders like Downloads, Documents, etc. it may be a bit tough to know the path. Here are some ways to know it.
#1. From Sidebar: Launch Finder, place your pointer on the folder name in left Sidebar, and then right-click. Finally, click Show in Enclosing Folder. Now follow the above steps.
#2. Using Path Bar: Be inside Finder and click on View from the menu bar. Now click Show Path Bar. A tab will be added to the bottom of the Finder. It has the location/path for the folder you click or select.
#3. Use Spotlight Search: Launch Spotlight Search by clicking the search icon in menu bar or press Command (⌘) + Space Bar. Now type the folder name and then scroll to the bottom of the search result and click on Show all in Finder… Click on the folder and follow the above steps to make its shortcut.
#4. Use Siri: I do not like Siri on Mac, notably older Macs. Anyways, you may ask Siri on Mac to ‘Show Download Folder’ (or any folder) and then go to the bottom of the result and click on Show all results in Finder… Now you may follow the above steps. Please note that this does not always work.
Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac Using Drag and Drop
The above method is swift and simple. It is the one I prefer. However, there is an additional way to create folder and app shortcuts on Mac.
Step #1. Be at the location of the folder or app you want to create the shortcut of.
Step #2. Press and hold Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) key together. Do not leave the hold. Now click on the folder or app and drag it to the desktop.
Note: When you use this method, there are chances that you may unwillingly and unknowingly copy or move the folder instead of making its shortcut. Don’t worry. Press Command (⌘) + Z to undo and try again, or use the first method.
Add Folder Shortcuts to Dock on Mac
I recently wrote a post where I explained how to add website shortcuts to Dock on Mac. It is an interesting article. Similarly, you may add shortcuts to your Dock too.
Follow any of the above methods and make the shortcut of the folder or app (you may directly add an app to Dock, but anyway). Now drag that shortcut from Desktop to the rightmost part of Dock (Second left to the Trash icon).
Wrapping up…
These were two easy ways to create shortcut icons on Mac. There is a third method that I know of, which requires Terminal and some command lines. However, it is tricky and beyond the simplicity of the average user. Also, if you change the folder location, the shortcut stops working. So I did not mention this method.
Secondly, on Macs running OS versions before Catalina, you may also click on a Folder or App and then press together Command (⌘) + L. It will instantly make the alias. It works on my old MacBook Pro running macOS Sierra, but on a different MacBook Pro running the latest version of macOS Catalina, this quick method does not seem to work.
You may also like: Lastpass universal mac installer vs lastpass mac app windows 10.
What are your thoughts regarding shortcuts on Mac? Have you used it on Windows? How was the experience there? Share your opinion in the comment section below.
Suraj is a digital marketing expert on the iGB's team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.
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This cheatsheet covers the default hotkeys, keywords and shortcuts for Alfred's features. Hotkeys in green are part of Powerpack features.
Note that, if you have changed hotkeys and keywords away from defaults, you'll need to refer to your own Alfred preferences to find out what they are.
Clever Question Mark:In Alfred, type '?hotkeys', '?keywords' or the question mark followed by the name of a feature, workflow, snippet, custom search, etc to bring up the relevant results.
↩ Return
⇧ Shift
⌃ Control
⌥ Option
⌘ Command
Basic Hotkeys
⌥space Show Alfred
↓ Select the next result in the list
↑ Select the previous item in the list
↩ Action the currently selected item
⌘# Action the # item directly [1-9]
⌘o Open file or application in default application
⌘, Show the Preferences Window
⌥↩ Search the currently typed query in Spotlight
⌃↩ Search the currently typed query in default web search
⌘↩ Reveal in Finder (if the result is a local file)
preferences Show Alfred Preferences
Launch applications
app name To launch an application simply start typing its name, then hit Return
Search the web
google, wiki . Use predefined web search keywords
Find files quickly
open Follow keyword by query to open a file
spacebar Follow a space with your query to open a file
find Follow keyword by query to reveal file in Finder
⌘o Open the file
in Follow by a query to search for files that contain this query
Speed up your Mac productivity
define Follow keyword by a word and get a definition
spell Follow keyword by a word and see results with suggested spelling
13*567 Type a calculation into main window to get the result
= Start an advanced calculation (enable this function in the Calculator Preferences)
screensaver Start Screen Saver Can i open iphone apps on my mac.
trash Show Trash
emptytrash Empty Trash
logout Log Out
sleep Sleep your Mac
sleepdisplays Sleep your Mac's displays
lock Lock your Mac
Delete apps i don't need. restart Restart your Mac
shutdown Shut Down your Mac
eject Eject (removable media or all mounted volumes)
Mac Open Apps Hotkey Windows 10
hide Hide the running application
quit Quit the running application
forcequit Force Quit the running application
Work with files and applications
~ Navigate to your home folder
/ Navigate to your root folder Mega cloud download for mac.
⌥⌘/ Go to last browsed path in the File System Navigation
previous Go to last browsed path in the File System Navigation
→ Show list of available Actions for selected item
fn Show list of available Actions for selected item
⌃ Show list of available Actions for selected item
⌥⌘ Show list of available Actions for selected Finder item
⌘↓ Browse selected folder in File System Navigation
↩ Enter a folder in File System Navigation
backspace Go up a folder
⇥ Autocomplete
. Show hidden files in File System Navigation
Mac Hotkeys Pdf
Tip: start typing in name of a folder/file to select it
Save your clips
Clipboard History and Snippets are Powerpack features.
⌘c Copy selected clip to current Clipboard
snip Access snippets from main Alfred window with this keyword
clear Use keyword to clear Clipboard History
⌘s While in the Clipboard Viewer, save current clip as a snippet
Listen to Music
The iTunes Mini Player is a Powerpack feature.
These keywords must be used while the Mini Player is showing. Set up iTunes workflows to add keywords to your default results or global hotkeys.
⌃⌘↩ Show the iTunes Mini Player
itunes Use keyword to show the iTunes Mini Player
⌃⌘↓ Play / Pause
play/pause Play / Pause keywords
⌃⌘→ Next Track
next Next Track
⌃⌘← Back Track
back Back Track
previous Previous Track
random Play Random Album
volmax Maximum volume
volmid Half volume
mute Mute volume
⌃⌘[0-5] Rate currently playing song from 0 to 5 stars
backspace Go up a folder in iTunes Mini Player
⌘r Reindex iTunes library
Email and keep contacts
Contacts and Emailing is a Powerpack feature.
email Use keyword followed by name or email address to send an email using your default email client
Mac app desktop organizer. Tip: If you open Address Book entries within Alfred, you can action individual fields (e.g. pressing return on an email Address will launch a new email to this address, etc)
Workflows
Every workflow has its own set of keywords and arguments, so have a look at the workflow's own documentation for details. You'll either find the documentation within the content of the workflow or on the creator's own website. Future call fc-0613 user manual.
You can also type your keyword or part of the hotkey into the Workflows search to find them more easily!