Raycast's Latest Update Makes It Way Easier to Create New Keyboard Shortcuts on Mac

Raycast, which is a more fully featured alternative to your Mac's Spotlight Search, has finally added a "hyper key" to its long list of features. The idea behind a hyper key is simple: you press one button, but your computer thinks you've pressed multiple buttons. Raycast lets you map the Hyper Key to all of your Mac's modifier keys, which means you can use it to press Command-Control-Option-Shift without mastering some kind of complex finger yoga. Just hit the one button and your Mac will think all the modifier keys are being pressed at the same time. Why would you want to do that? Well, it means you can create completely new keyboard shortcuts that don't interfere with the system defaults. 

To get started, open Raycast and go to the app's Settings. If you're not sure how to get there, just press Command-, (comma) when Raycast is open. Go to the Advanced tab and click the drop-down menu next to Hyper Key. This lets you choose which button to map to the Hyper Key. You can choose one of the following:

Caps Lock

Control

Shift

Option

Command

Right Control (note that this key doesn't exist on some Mac keyboards)

Right Shift

Right Option

Right Command

I chose Caps Lock because I hardly ever use that button. Then, I mapped Caps Lock-Tab as a shortcut for opening Pieoneer, an exciting new launcher app for your Mac.

The good thing is that Raycast's Hyper Key feature is available for free, and you can map it to system-level shortcuts, too. In fact, I don't use the Hyper Key for any Raycast-related actions at all.

Very few app shortcuts require you to use all the modifier keys at the same time, which makes it perfect for setting up a bunch of shortcuts that don't interfere with others. You can even make common system tasks such as taking screenshots a lot easier with the Hyper Key. For instance, instead of pressing Command-Control-Shift-3 to copy a full-page screenshot to the clipboard, you could map it to Raycast's Hyper Key to make Caps Lock-3 your shortcut instead. For a keyboard shortcut nerd like me, this opens up endless possibilities.

In the odd chance you end up with a binding conflict, you can also check out common Hyper Key troubleshooting tips on the company's website.