How to create a proper global or OS level keybinding in OSX

Let's say I set command-z to something in system preferences -> keyboard -> shortcuts. Every application on the planet will override my keybinding and command-z will "undo" instead of whatever I set it to do in OSX.

This is just an example, I have no desire to use command-z for anything other than undo, but if I did, how would I go about it? I have a keybinding i have used for years and a new application I have started using redefines it or some nonsense and it is driving me insane because my fingers do it automatically at this point. Further, what is the point of setting any keybindings in system preferences if any app, or even browser extension, can come along at some point in the future and override any of them?

penchant

Posted 2017-06-06T22:15:36.913

Reputation: 121

Perhaps the shortcut needs to be application-specific instead of for all applications? This would fix your problem with the new app specifically. – D Schlachter – 2017-06-07T15:20:03.683

Answers

You can override a keyboard shortcut in an Application by adding an Application Shortcut in System Preferences > Keyboard. For example, if you create a keyboard shortcut for a certain app for Undo, then the default shortcut (Command-Z) will not work — only the new keyboard shortcut.

D Schlachter

Posted 2017-06-06T22:15:36.913

Reputation: 1 399

1This is interesting! I have created an automator service that i am adding a keybind for. The application in question appears to be eating my keybinding. I am going to play around with this and see if i can get it to stop somehow – penchant – 2017-06-07T17:55:45.103

1The strange thing is that it is a chrome extension that is eating the keybinding. Even if I set something like Undo to be my keybinding, this extension blocks it.. This is maddening! How does a chrome extension have god mode control over my entire system's keybindings? – penchant – 2017-06-07T17:59:14.027