Adding Custom Shortcuts in System Settings (Recommended First Step)
macOS lets you assign your own keyboard shortcuts to menu commands in any app. This is the safest and most beginner-friendly way to customize tools like Keynote.
What You’ll Learn
- How macOS stores app-specific shortcuts
- How to assign shortcuts to existing menu commands
- How to confirm they are active in Keynote
Step-by-Step
- Open System Settings
- Go to Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts…
- Select App Shortcuts from the sidebar
- Click the ＋ button to add a new shortcut
- Set Application to Keynote
-
Enter the exact menu name (for example:
Align Left) - Choose a keyboard shortcut that is not already in use
- Click Done and restart Keynote
Important: The menu title must match exactly as it appears in Keynote.
Even small differences will prevent the shortcut from working.
Screenshot Placeholder
Screenshot: System Settings → Keyboard → App Shortcuts
Why This Matters
Learning to customize shortcuts is a foundational power-user skill. Once you understand this workflow, you can apply it across nearly every macOS app.
When you’re ready to go further, you can manage these shortcuts entirely from the Terminal.
