There are five main options to configure, and for each of them, it is possible to set up a keyboard shortcut, a mouse shortcut and a screen hot corner. The “Show all Windows” option can be used to see a thumbnail of every open program and window, while “Show Foreground App Window” highlights the foreground app.
When Apple designed the MacBook keyboards, they were probably thinking of which commands we will be using the most when they assigned shortcuts to specific functions, but as with everything else that is being used by millions of people, actual usage does not always align with intended purpose, so many default keys are left unused while some missing keys remain desired. If you have a lot of unused keyboard shortcuts yourself and would like to replace their functions with something that you actually use, below is a guide on how to remap keys on your Mac.
Which Keys Can You Remap?
There are several sets of keys on your Mac keyboard that perform individual functions. You can modify the functions of some keys, but there are some that you cannot. Among the sets of keys that the functions of which you can easily change and remap according to your needs are the function and modifier keys.
How Can I Make a Shortcut Icon for the Desktop on My PC? Part of the series: Computer Icons & Desktops. You can make a shortcut icon for the desktop by right clicking any empty space. Find out how you can make a shortcut icon for the desktop with help from an experienced computer professional in this free video clip. Choose the application for which you want to use the new keyboard shortcut. If you can’t find the app that you want on the list, choose “Other” then find the app by using the “Open” dialog (note that some apps do not allow users to create custom keyboard shortcuts). If you’ve been using the keyboard shortcuts we’ve listed for Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, then these shortcuts for Outlook are for you. You might prefer to use Outlook as your email app on Mac or simply use it for certain accounts or business.
The function keys are usually located at the top most part of your keyboard and are either marked with a letter F followed by a number (e.g. F1, F2, F3, etc.) or an icon that signifies what they do (e.g. sun icon for brightness and speaker icon for volume).
The modifier keys, on the other hand, are the sets of keys that you use in combination with another key to perform specific functions like the CMD, CTRL, Caps Lock, Shift, and Option keys.
What Do Function Keys Do?
Traditionally, Function keys were designed to work as shortcuts to system-related commands usually buried under convoluted menus and submenus; however, since they are not frequently used by the average user, Function keys have been increasingly remapped to provide quick access to basic customization tools (like brightness or volume control) although their traditional functions have not been completely removed but simply delegated to the backseat instead.*
For example, in the current Mac keyboard design,
- Pressing F1 reduces brightness.
- Pressing F2 increases brightness.
- Pressing F3 lets you switch to “Expose” view to see all running programs or apps.
- Pressing F4 gives you quick access to business, communication and Internet tools.
- Pressing F7 lets you rewind a video that you were watching.
- Pressing F8 displays thumbnails of your current work spaces.
- Pressing F9 launches “Mission Control.”
- Pressing F10 shows all open windows for the active application.
- Pressing F11 hides all open windows and shows the desktop instead.
- Pressing F12 shows or hide the dashboard.
*To use the traditional functions of the Function keys, you have to press F1 or F2 together with the Fn key.
**F5 and F6 has no specific function attached to it by default.
What Do Modifier Keys Do?
Like Function keys, modifier keys also work as keyboard shortcuts to frequently used commands. Some examples of commands that your modifier keys are assigned to perform by default are:
- Command+A which selects all items in the active window
- Command+C which copies highlighted items.
- Command+X Cuts the selected items
- Command+F which opens the “Find” dialog
- Command+I which shows additional information about the currently selected item.
- Command+M which minimizes the active window
- Command+Z which undoes a previous action
- Command+V which pastes items previously cut or copied
- Command+O which opens the selected item
- Command+W which closes the active window
Aside from being used as keyboard shortcuts for system-wide commands, modifier keys can also be used to execute application-specific commands like:
- Command+Option+Space which opens the “Spotlight” menu.
- Command+Shift+A which opens the “Applications” folder.
- Command+Shift+U which opens the “Utilities” folder
- Command+Shift+I which connects you to your iDisk
- Shift–Command–(?) which opens the “Help” menu.
How to Remap Keys on Your Mac
If you are not happy with the default functions of your Function and Modifier keys, you can easily remap the keys on your Mac to assign keyboard shortcuts according to your specific needs and preferences.
To remap the Function keys and change how they work,
Go to the Apple menu
- Open “System Preferences,”
- Click on the “Keyboard” tab.
- Select “Shortcuts.”
- Select “Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys.
To remap the modifier keys and assigned new key combinations for shortcuts,
- Follow Steps 1 to 3
- Click on “Modifier Keys.”
- Select the modifier key that the function of which you wish to change.
- Choose the new action that you want the modifier key to do when clicked on.
This works for system-wide commands; however, you can also remap keys to perform certain functions while particular certain apps.
Apple database apps. To do this,
- Follow Steps 1 to 4
- Select “App Shortcuts.”
- Click on the “Add” button (the one with the plus icon).
- Click on “Application”
- Choose the application for which you want to use the new keyboard shortcut.
- If you can’t find the app that you want on the list, choose “Other” then find the app by using the “Open” dialog (note that some apps do not allow users to create custom keyboard shortcuts).
- If you want to use the same shortcut for multiple applications, select “All Applications.”
- Go to the “Menu Title” field.
- Type the menu command for which you want to create a new shortcut, like “Merge All Windows,” for example.
- If the menu command that you wish to make a shortcut for takes several steps to reach, type the menu command in the exact order of steps that you need to do to reach that particular command, with each step separated by the “>” character. For example, if you want to create a shortcut to the “Export to PDF” command, type in “File > Export to PDF” in the “Menu Title” field.
- After that, go to the “Keyboard Shortcut” field, then press the combination of keys that you want to use for your custom keyboard shortcut.
- Click “Add.”
- Follow the same steps if you want to create separate keyboard shortcuts for specific apps.
Just make sure that the new keyboard shortcut that you created isn’t already assigned to another command. Otherwise, it’s not going to work unless you will change the shortcut that was created first. If you don’t know which keyboard shortcuts have already been assigned to which commands, you can use this detailed list for reference.
Zoom needs no introduction when it comes to making video calls. Large organizations and companies are switching to digital meetings and conferences over Zoom and many of them are still resorting to Skype or Google Hangouts. While Zoom is the hot property right now, it only seems wise to learn some Zoom keyboard shortcuts to speed up your progress.
Zoom went from 10 million last December to 200 million in just four months. It’s been the default choice for many to conduct large hassle-free meetings. Of course, Zoom's wildfire popularity has also raised concerns regarding security and privacy of data shared through video calls.
There are many reasons for the software’s sky-rocketing popularity. Zoom offers easy to use interface, quick-join function, virtual background, screen sharing, screen recording, and more. The app offers a bunch of keyboard shortcuts to fly through the settings and options.
In this post, we are going to talk about eleven (11) best Zoom keyboard shortcuts for Windows PC and Mac. Let’s get started.
1. Join Meeting
This is a must-have for everyone. With the join meeting shortcut, you can quickly join a meeting from any interface of the app. You can use Command ⌘ + J on macOS or Alt + J for Windows to join an ongoing meeting. Use the shortcut, add invite link, and join the meeting.
2. Invite Someone
During a call, you might want to invite someone for the ongoing meeting. Instead of tapping on small buttons, you can just use the keyboard shortcut to invite the participants to the call. Hit Command ⌘ + T for macOS or Alt + T for Windows to open the invite screen and type the attendee’s email or copy the URL for the call.
3. Start/Stop Screen Sharing
Zoom comes with a screen sharing function, which the users can use to share the screen with attendees. It’s useful when one wants to explain something to participants. You can either tap on the share screen button at the bottom or use the keyboard shortcut Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + S on macOS or Alt + S on Windows. Which sharing the screen, one can also use the same shortcut to stop the sharing.
4. Pause/Resume Screen Sharing
During screen sharing, you might want to pause the process for a bit. The reason could be anything from minor interference to personal. You can navigate the cursor to pause button or use the Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + T keyboard shortcut for macOS or Alt + T for Windows. Use the same shortcut to resume the screen sharing.
5. Raise Hand
Zoom’s free plan allows you to host a meeting with up to one hundred people at a time. The limit raises to one thousand participants with paid plans. Imagine a situation when you are conducting a meeting with hundreds of participants, and it becomes head-scratching to hear everyone’s opinion.
Thankfully, Zoom has provided raise hand function, which allows you to alert the host about your opinion. You can use the keyboard shortcut Option + Y for macOS or Alt + Y for Windows.
What Is App Expose
6. Schedule Meeting
There are several ways to create a meeting on Zoom. You can either use the schedule meeting button from home screen, use the Zoom web, or the keyboard shortcut for it. https://kwqmqg.weebly.com/blog/mac-air-best-planner-app. It’s the fastest way to schedule a meeting on Zoom. I use it all the time to compose a meeting.
Use Command ⌘ + D on Mac or Ctrl + D on Windows to open the schedule meeting box. Add time, date, password, and other details to create meetings.
Also on Guiding Tech
How to Record Your Screen with Zoom on Windows 10 and macOS
Read More7. Mute/Unmute Your Audio
During the meeting, you might want to mute your side of audio for some time. Instead of looking for that option, one can use the Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + A keyboard shortcut for Mac or Alt + A shortcut for Windows.
8. Mute/Unmute Audio for Host
For hosts, handling hundreds of participants can be confusing. Especially at times when the attendees are raising hands to explain things. Hosts can use the Alt + M keyboard shortcut or Control + Command ⌘ + M on macOS to mute everyone else at the meeting.
9. Pause/Resume Meeting Recording
Do you know you can record the entire meeting on the device using Zoom? While it’s a good function to have, you won’t want to record everything. Attendees may want to record certain parts of meetings. You can use the Alt + P on Windows or Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + P keyboard shortcut on macOS to pause or resume the meeting recording. You can find those Zoom video call recordings and edit them on your Mac or PC.
10. End Meeting
Zoom provides a neat keyboard shortcut to end meetings quickly. You can use Command ⌘ + W on macOS or Alt + Q on Windows to end meetings.
Also on Guiding Tech
#Zoom
Click here to see our Zoom articles pageHow To Use Shortcuts App
11. Jump to Chat with Someone
As its case with any meetings app, Zoom provides the chat function to discuss certain things with team members. You can quickly jump to chat screen using Ctrl + T on Windows or Command ⌘ + K on Mac.
Customize Keyboard Shortcuts in Zoom
The above-mentioned keyboard shortcuts are set by default on Zoom. You can remove and even customize them. Open Zoom app, head to Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts and double tap on mentioned keyboard shortcuts. Select it and hit delete. Now assign a new keyboard shortcut by pressing the combination of keyboard keys on the laptop.
Use Zoom Like a Pro
With these keyboard shortcuts, you can boost your productivity by cutting down on clicks and speed up your work with Zoom. Whether you use it for leisure or in professional settings, these keyboard shortcuts will certainly help you save a few seconds a day.
Next up:Are you wary of getting started with Zoom? Check the next article for our compilation of 9 useful tips and tricks for using Zoom efficiently.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read Next9 Best Zoom Tips and Tricks to Begin Video ConferencingAlso See#productivity #video calls
Did You Know
Google Duo was released in 2018.