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Navigate your Mac using only a keyboard only (because it’s cool)

By Kenneth Looi (Pingo) 3 min read

From the archive: first published on the original PCT WordPress blog on 4 September 2024.

For a full keyboard-only experience on macOS, there are several software options and utilities that can enhance and streamline your keyboard usage. Here’s a list of tools designed for productivity, window management, and accessibility through the keyboard:

1. Alfred

  • Purpose: Productivity launcher.
  • Description: Alfred is a powerful app launcher that helps you quickly open apps, search the web, run custom commands, and more—all without using a mouse. You can trigger workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and use keyboard shortcuts for just about anything.
  • Website: Alfred

2. Hammerspoon

  • Purpose: Automation and customization.
  • Description: Hammerspoon is a scripting engine that allows you to control and automate almost everything on your Mac using Lua scripts. You can remap keyboard shortcuts, manage windows, and automate actions using keyboard inputs only.
  • Website: Hammerspoon

3. Vimium (for web browsing)

  • Purpose: Keyboard-based web browsing.
  • Description: Vimium is a browser extension (for Chrome, Firefox, etc.) that lets you navigate the web using only the keyboard. It’s inspired by the Vim text editor and includes commands for scrolling, tab navigation, link navigation, and more without the need for a mouse.
  • Website: Vimium for Chrome

4. Rectangle

  • Purpose: Window management.
  • Description: Rectangle is a window management tool that allows you to move, resize, and snap windows using keyboard shortcuts. It’s fully customizable, enabling you to work entirely with your keyboard.
  • Website: Rectangle

5. Keyboard Maestro

  • Purpose: Automation and macros.
  • Description: Keyboard Maestro allows you to create and manage powerful macros and automation workflows. You can set up keyboard shortcuts to perform sequences of actions, launch apps, move windows, type text, and much more.
  • Website: Keyboard Maestro

6. Skhd

  • Purpose: Hotkey manager.
  • Description: Skhd is a simple and highly configurable hotkey daemon for macOS. It works in conjunction with window managers like Yabai to fully control window navigation and system actions via keyboard shortcuts.
  • Website: Skhd

7. Yabai

  • Purpose: Tiling window manager.
  • Description: Yabai is a tiling window manager that makes it easy to navigate and organize your workspace entirely via the keyboard. It’s designed for power users who want full control over how their windows are displayed and moved around.
  • Website: Yabai

8. Spectacle (Legacy)

  • Purpose: Window management.
  • Description: Spectacle lets you easily move and resize windows with keyboard shortcuts. It’s a lightweight and straightforward tool for users who want simple window management without complex setups.
  • Website: Spectacle

9. Vim (Text Editing)

  • Purpose: Text editing via keyboard.
  • Description: Vim is a powerful, keyboard-centric text editor for users who want to avoid the mouse while coding or writing. It’s known for its steep learning curve but unparalleled efficiency once mastered.
  • Website: Vim

10. Karabiner-Elements

  • Purpose: Keyboard remapping.
  • Description: Karabiner-Elements allows you to remap any key on your keyboard. You can set up custom keybindings to emulate mouse actions, enhance navigation, or create shortcuts for apps and system functions.
  • Website: Karabiner-Elements

11. Mouseless

  • Purpose: Learn keyboard shortcuts.
  • Description: Mouseless is a Mac app that teaches you keyboard shortcuts in various apps. It’s ideal for users who want to master their keyboard navigation skills for popular applications like Chrome, Finder, and more.
  • Website: Mouseless

12. Vimac

  • Purpose: Mouse-less navigation.
  • Description: Vimac brings Vim-style keyboard navigation to macOS. It lets you click, scroll, and move around the system entirely with your keyboard, providing a smoother and more efficient keyboard-only experience.
  • Website: Vimac

13. Magnet

  • Purpose: Window management.
  • Description: Magnet is a window manager that supports keyboard shortcuts for snapping and organizing windows. It’s simple and effective for users who want to organize their workspace without a mouse.
  • Website: Magnet

14. SensibleSideButtons

  • Purpose: Reassign side mouse buttons (can be remapped for keyboard use).
  • Description: If you use an external mouse and want to assign keyboard shortcuts to mouse buttons (or reassign them), SensibleSideButtons can help. While not fully keyboard-focused, it can support a hybrid setup.
  • Website: SensibleSideButtons

These tools should provide a complete keyboard-only environment, allowing you to handle everything from window management to app launching, browsing, and text editing—all with the keyboard.