UI Actions › Actions › Simulate Specific Key
Simulates pressing a specific key on the keyboard, like “Home”, “Escape”, “Return”, cursor keys etc.
Parameters
Keystrokes target
Selecting “frontmost app” will send them to the app currently in the foreground (default).
Select “macOS (system-wide)” to let macOS find the right destination for the keystrokes.
Select a specific app if you want to send the keystrokes to that particular app.
What’s the difference between frontmost app and system-wide? For example, if you try to open Spotlight search with ⌘Space but target the frontmost app, and that app also uses that key combination for one of its own features, you might end up triggering that feature instead of Spotlight. So if you want to send a keystroke and let macOS decide on the intended recipient, use the destination “macOS (system-wide)“.
Type: An app from a pre-defined list of available apps
Key
The key to type.
Type: A key from a pre-defined list of keyboard keys
Modifiers toggle
Enable or disable modifiers (like Cmd, Opt, etc.)
Options:
- with modifiers
- without modifiers
Cmd modifier
Simulates holding down the ⌘ key, i.e. Command. Ignored unless modifiers are enabled.
Type: Boolean (YES/NO)
Ctrl modifier
Simulates holding down the ⌃ key, i.e. Control. Ignored unless modifiers are enabled.
Type: Boolean (YES/NO)
Fn modifier
Simulates holding down the fn/Globe key, i.e. Function. Ignored unless modifiers are enabled.
Type: Boolean (YES/NO)
Opt modifier
Simulates holding down the ⌥ key, i.e. Option. Ignored unless modifiers are enabled.
Type: Boolean (YES/NO)
Shift modifier
Simulates holding down the ⇧ key, i.e. Shift. Ignored unless modifiers are enabled.
Type: Boolean (YES/NO)
Pause after key press
This adds a short pause after the key presses.
Options:
- no pause
- 0.2 secs
- 0.5 secs
- 1.0 secs
- 1.5 secs
- 2.0 secs
- 3.0 secs
- 4.0 secs
Related Links
- Search the UI Actions community forum for "Simulate Specific Key"