Setting these preferences can help you get your system working just right for you. You Access these preferences via the system Preferences icon on the Dock. The Keyboard preferences panel has two tabs: Keyboard: Move the Key Repeat Rate slider to alter the rate at which a keystroke repeats. You can also adjust the Delay until Repeat slider to alter how long a key must be held down before it repeats. Tell application 'System Preferences' activate reveal (pane id 'com.apple.preference.universalaccess') end tell tell application 'System Events' to tell application process 'System Preferences' tell window 'Accessibility' click UI element 'Keyboard' of row 16 of table 1 of scroll area 2 click button 'Accessibility Keyboard' click checkbox 'Enable Accessibility Keyboard' end tell end tell. Provide menu items, not toolbar items, for accessing your app’s preferences. Toolbars are intended for frequently used items only. Users expect to find app-level preferences in the App menu and document-level preferences in the File menu. App-level preferences should also be accessible using the standard Command-Comma (,) keyboard shortcut.
If you own a new Apple magic keyboard or extended keyboard you may not realise how to use those extra function keys on the top right of the keyboard. You can set them up to launch and control applications. For example I have my f-19 key set up to toggle my Dragon Dictate microphone and I have f-18 set up to launch my Google Calendar calendar in a specific browser.
Singing auto tune software. There are various ways to set up a shortcut. Let’s go from the simplest (although limited) to the most versatile (but complex).
Within the app
Some applications allow you to set up your own shortcuts. You just go to Preferences in the app and you can select your own shortcuts from there.
System Preferences
If you go to System Preferences/Keyboard there’s a tab that allows you to customize many system keyboard shortcuts. Here you can see I have set my F-1 and F-2 keys to adjust the screen brightness. But you can also use the extended function keys like F16, F17 etc.
Launch Apps or URLs
You can launch applications or URLs directly from a function key.
The Apple way to do it is to set up an automator function and then assign it to a service and then assign that to a function key. I find that far too complex so I use an app called ‘Keyboard Maestro’. It allows you to set any key to launch any application or URL.
Here is what it looks like: (This shortcut opens my Google calendar.)
Applications that won’t let you assign function key
There are some applications that will let you set a keyboard shortcut using a modifier key (e.g. command-shift-key) but they won’t let you assign a function key directly to their shortcuts. The workaround for these applications is to use Karibiner Elements to remap your function key to a different shortcut. Creating your own complex modifications is a little tricky, I’ll leave you to read about it here:
Here is an example of where I have used Karibiner Elements to remap my f-19 key to shift-option-command-9 so that I can then assign a shortcut in Dragon Dictate to turn the microphone on and off:
So there you have it. Using Keyboard Maestro and Karibiner Elements you can map any key to any shortcut and even launch Applications or URL’s using function keys.
Update your software and check your version of macOS
First, use Software Update to check for any new software your computer may need. After those updates are complete, check which version of macOS your computer has by choosing About This Mac from the Apple () menu.
Identify your device and its requirements
Learn about device names, descriptions, and minimum software requirements.
Apple wireless mice
Sketch wireframe software.
Magic Mouse 2
Magic Mouse 2
- Lightning connector, built-in battery
- Requires OS X 10.11 or later
Apple Magic Mouse
- Removable battery door, uses two AA batteries
- Requires OS X 10.5.6 plus Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0, or Mac OS X 10.6.2 or later
Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse
- Multiple buttons, scroll ball
- Requires OS X 10.4.8 or later
Apple Wireless Mouse
- Single button
- Requires OS X 10.2.6 or later
Apple wireless keyboards
Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad
- Numeric keypad
- Lightning connector, built-in battery
- Requires macOS 10.12.4 or later
Magic Keyboard
- Lightning connector, built-in battery
- Requires OS X 10.11 or later
Apple Wireless Keyboard 2011
- Uses two AA batteries
- Exposé and Launchpad function keys:
- Requires OS X 10.5.8 plus Aluminum Keyboard Update 2.0, or OS X 10.6.2 or later
Apple Wireless Keyboard 2009
- Uses two AA batteries
- Exposé and Dashboard function keys:
- Requires OS X 10.5.8 plus Aluminum Keyboard Update 2.0, or OS X 10.6.2 or later
Apple Wireless Keyboard 2007
- No number pad, uses three AA batteries
- Requires OS X 10.4.8 or later
Apple Wireless Keyboard 2003
- White case, number pad, uses four AA batteries
- Requires OS X 10.2.6 or later
Apple wireless trackpads
Magic Trackpad 2
- Lightning connector, built-in battery
- Requires OS X 10.11 or later
Magic Trackpad
- Aluminum case, uses two AA batteries
- Requires OS X 10.6.5 or later
Find your device's serial number
Learn how find the serial number of your wireless device.
Apple wireless mice
Magic Mouse 2
The serial number of your Magic Mouse 2 is on the bottom surface of the device, along with other markings. It's a string of 17 letters and numbers.
Earlier wireless mice
You can find the serial number of earlier Apple wireless mouse models inside the device's battery bay:
Apple wireless keyboards
Snapshot apple tv. Magic Keyboard and Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad
The serial number of your Magic Keyboard is on the bottom surface of the device, along with other markings. It's a string of 17 letters and numbers.
![Apple Apple](https://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/use-windows-pc-keyboard-on-mac-remap-keys-3.jpg)
Earlier wireless keyboards
You can find the serial number of earlier Apple wireless keyboard models on the underside of the device, near the power button:
Apple wireless trackpads
Magic Trackpad 2
The serial number of your Magic Trackpad 2 is on the bottom surface of the device, along with other markings. It's a string of 17 letters and numbers.
Earlier wireless trackpads
You can find the serial number of earlier Apple wireless trackpad models on the underside of the device: