Hotkeys

Redcast doesn't come with any shortcuts. You record every global shortcut yourself.

What can have a shortcutCopy Anchor Link

• The palette itself (App Launcher, in Settings → General)
• Every built-in command, except Open in Browser, Run Shell Command and Quit Redcast. See Commands.
• Every app and every System Settings pane
• Every quicklink, snippet, custom command, custom Quick Action and extension command
• All 31 system actions
• All 35 window commands, every window layout and every room

You record each shortcut on the item's row in its Settings pane, and it appears as keycaps on the item's launcher row.

A command that opens a screen works as a toggle. Press its shortcut once to open the screen, and again to close it.

Recording oneCopy Anchor Link

The recorder isn't a regular text field. Click it, then press the keys you want.

A small bubble above the field shows a prompt, then the modifiers you're holding. If the shortcut is already in use, it shows a warning that names what uses it.

Recording a shortcut doesn't need any permissions. Only using some kinds of shortcuts does.

Double-tap modifiersCopy Anchor Link

Instead of a key combination, a shortcut can be a double tap of a single ⌃, ⌥, ⇧ or ⌘ key.

The rules:

• A tap is a press of exactly one of those four keys, with no other key held and no click, released within 250 ms.
• A double tap is a second tap of the same key that starts within 300 ms of releasing the first.
• The shortcut runs when you release the key the second time, not when you press it. The key is already up when the action runs, and double-tapping and holding does nothing.

⇧ works as a double tap, even though it can't be a regular shortcut on its own. Caps Lock can't be used this way; use the Hyper key for that. Having Caps Lock on doesn't interfere.

This needs Accessibility, but Redcast never asks for it on its own. The shortcut is saved anyway, the recorder shows a warning that opens System Settings, and the shortcut starts working as soon as you grant access.

Redcast only listens for double taps while at least one shortcut uses one, so if you don't use them, they cost nothing.

Hyper keyCopy Anchor Link

Settings → General → Hyper Key turns one physical key into ⌃⌥⌘, or into ⌃⌥⇧⌘ with Include Shift on.

You can choose Caps Lock, or the Left or Right side of Control, Shift, Option or Command.

Function keys aren't available. Their media functions run before Redcast sees the key press, and catching them earlier would need Input Monitoring, which Redcast never asks for.

Shortcuts you already use with those modifiers work with the Hyper key right away.

The ✦ symbolCopy Anchor Link

Any shortcut that includes all the Hyper modifiers is shown as a single ✦. For example, ⌃⌥⌘G is shown as ✦G, or ✦⇧G if it uses an extra modifier.

This only changes how the shortcut is displayed. With no Hyper key set, ⌃⌥⌘G is shown as it is.

Include ShiftCopy Anchor Link

Changing this setting updates every saved shortcut, so none of them stop working. If an update would conflict with another shortcut, Redcast skips it and that shortcut keeps its original keys.

The option is dimmed while Hyper Key is set to None.

Quick PressCopy Anchor Link

Settings → General → Quick Press sets what happens when you press Caps Lock by itself while it's your Hyper key: Does Nothing (default), Trigger Caps Lock, or Trigger Escape.

Many people who use Caps Lock as their Hyper key choose Escape.

Caps Lock detailsCopy Anchor Link

While Caps Lock is your Hyper key, it's remapped at the hardware level on every keyboard, including one you plug in later. Any remapping another app made for a different key is kept.

The remapping is removed when you choose a different key or quit Redcast, and it never persists after a restart. If Redcast is force quit or crashes, it stays until Redcast opens again, which removes it. It's also paused while your Mac sleeps, while the screen is locked, so Caps Lock works in the login password field, and while another user account is active.

If a keyboard ever loses the remapping, one press there acts as plain Caps Lock. Redcast then remaps that keyboard again and turns Caps Lock back off.

The Hyper key needs Accessibility. Redcast asks for it when you choose a key, keeps checking, and starts working as soon as access is granted.

Status and diagnosticsCopy Anchor Link

The Status row under the key shows a dot: green while the Hyper key works. Click Diagnostics… to see what's running, which keyboards are remapped, and anything that conflicts. Restart Hyper Key sets everything up again.

ConflictsCopy Anchor Link

• Hyperkey or Superkey running: they have their own Hyper key, so Redcast's stays off and says so. It starts again by itself when you quit them.
• BetterTouchTool running: listed in Diagnostics as a possible conflict, nothing more.
• Karabiner-Elements remapping the same key: shown in Diagnostics.
• System Settings → Keyboard → Modifier Keys remapping Caps Lock: this blocks the Hyper key. Diagnostics names the keyboard and links to the setting.

Secure InputCopy Anchor Link

Password fields, password managers and some terminals turn on macOS Secure Input, which hides every key press from apps like Redcast. While it's on, the Hyper key can't work, and pressing it shows a message saying why. Diagnostics names the app most likely holding Secure Input.

With Caps Lock as your Hyper key, turn on Secure Input Compatibility to keep Redcast's own Hyper shortcuts working there. Caps Lock then acts as Right Control, so while it's on, the Right Control key also works as Hyper and its own shortcuts are reserved. Inside Secure Input, Right Control plus a shortcut's key runs that Hyper shortcut. Left Control never triggers Hyper; existing Redcast Control shortcuts still work with Left Control. The Control combinations used by Hyper are reserved while Secure Input lasts. Other apps' Hyper shortcuts still don't work there.

Dictation key (🎤)Copy Anchor Link

Press 🎤 (F5) while recording any shortcut to use it in Redcast, push-to-talk included. While a shortcut uses it, macOS Dictation doesn't; remove the shortcut to give it back. With standard function keys on, press fn+🎤. Redcast sends it as F20, so other apps' F20 shortcuts fire too.

Hiding versus turning offCopy Anchor Link

Hiding an item doesn't turn off its shortcut. Clearing a row's checkbox, or pressing ⇧⌘H in the launcher, only changes what search shows.

A section's switch turns off its shortcuts. Enable Applications, Enable System Settings, Enable System Actions and Enable Commands each turn off every shortcut in their pane.

Turning off a feature turns off its shortcuts. File Search, Notes, AI, Quick Actions, Navigation, Calendar, window commands, quicklinks, snippets, custom commands and extensions all check their switch before doing anything. Turn the feature back on and its shortcuts work again.

A system action's confirmation appears when you use its shortcut, the same as in the palette.

Keeping themCopy Anchor Link

Shortcuts are included in backups, except for custom Quick Actions and snippets.

Shortcuts for items you deleted while Redcast wasn't running are removed the next time it starts.