Every OneMacTools keyboard shortcut
OneMacTools keyboard shortcuts come in two kinds. In-app shortcuts, such as ⌘K for Ask, ⌘F to search tools and ⌘↩ to run a tool, work while the window is in front. Global shortcuts, such as ⌃⌥⌘F Quick Search, ⌃⌥⌘M for Mac Health figures and ⌃⌥⌘S Capture & Annotate, work from any app. Most global shortcuts can be turned off, and the readout shortcut can be changed.
On this page
OneMacTools shortcuts at a glance
If you only learn five shortcuts, learn these:
| Shortcut | What it does | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘K | Ask: find files or describe a job in plain words | In OneMacTools |
| ⌘↩ | Run the current tool | On a tool |
| ⌘F | Search tools | In the main window |
| ⌃⌥⌘F | Quick Search for files | Any app |
| ⌃⌥⌘M | Mac Health figures and the busiest apps | Any app |
The rest of this page lists every shortcut by area. Keys are shown with the Mac symbols: ⌘ Command, ⌥ Option, ⌃ Control, ⇧ Shift, ↩ Return.
Go menu shortcuts
The Go menu in the menu bar jumps straight to the main screens and brings the window forward, even if it was closed.
| Shortcut | Menu command | Opens |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘K | Go › Ask… | The Ask panel over the main window. See Ask. |
| ⇧⌘H | Go › Home | Today, your Mac at a glance |
| ⇧⌘J | Go › Downloaded From | Downloads grouped by where they came from |
| ⇧⌘K | Go › Mac Clean Up | Mac Clean Up, starting a scan if needed |
| ⇧⌘D | Go › Duplicates | Mac Clean Up, scrolled to duplicates |
| ⇧⌘I | Go › AI Space | What AI apps keep on your Mac |
| ⌘Y | Go › History | Every job you've run |
| ⇧⌘C | Go › Copy Text from Latest Screenshot | Copies the words in your newest screenshot; while Ask is open, copies the text of the files selected there |
Mac Health and Dev & Agents are in the Go menu without a shortcut; open Mac Health from any app with ⌃⌥⌘M (below) when no readout is in the menu bar.
Main window and app shortcuts
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⌘F | Puts the cursor in the tool search (the floating capsule in Liquid Glass, the sidebar field in Classic) |
| Esc | Clears the tool search; closes Ask |
| ⌃⌘S | View › Hide Sidebar / Show Sidebar |
| ⌘, | Opens Settings |
| ⌘W | Closes the window; OneMacTools keeps running in the menu bar |
| ⌘Q | Quits OneMacTools, which also stops menu bar readouts, Watch Folders and global shortcuts |
| Space | Quick Look the selected files in Files |
Check for Updates… is in the OneMacTools menu, without a shortcut. In dialogs, Return chooses the highlighted button (Activate, Allow, Save) and Esc cancels.
Tool screen shortcuts
| Shortcut | What it does | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘↩ | Runs the tool (the main button in the footer) | Every file tool and long-text tool |
| ↩ | Runs the tool | Tools that take a link or a line of text, such as Download Video and QR Code |
| ←→↑↓ | Nudge the selected box, text, watermark or signature on the preview | Tools with a placement preview, such as Redact Images, Watermark Images, Add Text to Images, Circle Crop |
| ⇧ + arrows | Nudge in bigger steps | Same |
| Delete | Removes the selected box | Tools where you draw boxes, such as Redact Images |
| ← → | Step through results in Preview (Quick Look) | Any tool, after a job |
The processing screen reminds you of ⌘↩ in its tips. To learn the general tool flow, see how to use OneMacTools tools.
Global shortcuts that work from any app
These work wherever you are, as long as OneMacTools is running (in the window or just the menu bar) and activated. They use macOS's hot key system, so they don't need Accessibility permission.
| Shortcut | What it does | On by default? | Change or turn off in |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⌃⌥⌘F | Quick Search: a floating search box for files on your Mac and clouds | Yes | Files › toolbar menu › Quick Search from Any App (⌃⌥⌘F) |
| ⌃⌥⌘M | Opens the Mac Health readout dropdown, or Mac Health itself when no readout is shown | Yes | Settings › Menu Bar Readouts › Shortcut for the readout dropdown: ⌃⌥⌘M, ⌃⌥M, ⌥⌘M or Off |
| ⌃⌥⌘H | Quit Heaviest App: names the app using the most CPU or memory and quits it when you press Return | Yes | Settings › Menu Bar Readouts › ⌃⌥⌘H offers to quit the heaviest app |
| ⌃⌥⌘S | Capture & Annotate: select an area or window, then mark it up | Yes | The Capture & Annotate tool's ⌃⌥⌘S from anywhere option |
| ⌃⌥⌘L | Scrolling Screenshot: click a window to capture its whole length | Yes | The Scrolling Screenshot tool's ⌃⌥⌘L from anywhere option |
| ⌃⌥⌘V | Clipboard History panel | Only while Clipboard History is on | The Clipboard History tool |
| ⌃⌥⌘D | Dictate Anywhere: press, talk, press again to type it in | Only when chosen | The Dictate Anywhere tool's Start and stop with option |
| Hold Right ⌥ | Dictate Anywhere while held, typed in when you let go | Only when chosen | Same option, Hold Right ⌥ |
Quit Heaviest App never quits macOS, Finder or an app that would lose unsaved work without asking, and Return confirms while Esc cancels. Dictate Anywhere needs Accessibility permission to type into other apps.
Shortcuts inside panels, recorders and editors
Quick Search (⌃⌥⌘F)
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| ↑ ↓ | Move through results |
| ↩ | Open the file |
| ⌥↩ | Show in Finder |
| ⌘↩ | Show the search in Files |
| Esc | Close |
More in Quick Search.
Clipboard History (⌃⌥⌘V)
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| ↑ ↓ | Choose an item |
| ↩ | Paste it |
| ⌥↩ | Paste as plain text |
| ⌘P | Pin or unpin it |
| Esc | Close |
Recorders and screen capture
| Key | Where | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Record Audio | Start recording; press again to stop and save |
| ⌘Esc | Screen Recorder | Stop Recording (or use the menu bar icon) |
| Space, then click | Capture & Annotate selection | Capture a whole window instead of an area |
| Esc | Capture & Annotate selection | Cancel without saving anything |
| Esc ×5 | Clean Keyboard | Unlock the keyboard early |
| Esc | Break Reminders | Close the reminder |
Leaving the Record Audio tool while recording discards the recording, so stop with Space first. See Screen Recorder and Record Audio for their options.
Annotate editor
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘Z | Undo |
| ⇧⌘Z | Redo |
| ⌘C | Copy the annotated picture |
| ⌘S | Save |
The editor opens after a Capture & Annotate capture.
Can I change OneMacTools keyboard shortcuts?
Partly. Inside the app, OneMacTools' shortcuts are fixed. Global shortcuts can each be turned off where shown in the table above, and the Mac Health readout shortcut can be switched between ⌃⌥⌘M, ⌃⌥M and ⌥⌘M.
For anything else, use macOS:
- Change a menu command's shortcut in System Settings › Keyboard › Keyboard Shortcuts › App Shortcuts. Click +, choose OneMacTools, and type the menu command exactly as it appears, such as
HistoryorAsk…. - Give a Finder Quick Action a shortcut in System Settings › Keyboard › Keyboard Shortcuts › Services › Files and Folders, next to the “OMT: …” action. See Finder Quick Actions.
- Run any tool from a shortcut by building a shortcut in the Shortcuts app with the Run OneMacTools Tool action and assigning it a key. Grab Text from Screen and Pick Colour from Screen have their own Shortcuts actions for this. See Shortcuts and Siri.
Tools mentioned on this page
Questions
What is the OneMacTools shortcut for Ask?
⌘K, from anywhere in OneMacTools. It opens the Ask panel over the main window, where you can type a request like “compress last week's screen recordings to 25 MB”. The menu bar icon's Ask OneMacTools… opens it from other apps.
How do I search my files from any app?
Press ⌃⌥⌘F for Quick Search. Type what you're looking for, use the arrow keys to pick a result, and press Return to open it, ⌥Return to show it in Finder or ⌘Return to see the search in Files.
Why doesn't ⌃⌥⌘F or ⌃⌥⌘M work?
OneMacTools must be running and activated, since global shortcuts start only after a licence key is activated. Also check the shortcut isn't turned off (Files' toolbar menu for Quick Search, Settings › Menu Bar Readouts for ⌃⌥⌘M) and that no other app uses the same keys.
Do OneMacTools' global shortcuts need Accessibility permission?
No. They use macOS's system-wide hot keys, which don't need any permission. Only Dictate Anywhere's typing and Hold Right ⌥, and Scrolling Screenshot's automatic scrolling, need Accessibility.
How do I stop a screen recording with the keyboard?
Press ⌘Esc while the Screen Recorder tool is open, or click the red record icon in the menu bar and choose Stop Recording. The recording is saved to your OneMacTools folder when you stop.
Can I turn off the Quit Heaviest App shortcut?
Yes. In Settings › Menu Bar Readouts, turn off “⌃⌥⌘H offers to quit the heaviest app”. Even with it on, it only quits after you press Return, and it never quits macOS, Finder or apps that would ask to save.
