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Add ability to use special hotkeys. All of my "modifier+space" combos are taken, but i still have R. Opt and R. Shift available and I never use them normally.

Feature Requests

ctrl+space, opt+space, cmd+space, ctrl+opt+space, cmd+opt+space are all taken

Example of the type of hotkey i’m referring to: Currently I have MacWhisper set to toggle recording for dictation (Similar to your Instant Dictation feature) by simply pressing the right-side command button. I still have right-opt and right-shift* completely free

*(I never learned to type properly so I don’t use right shift, i’m too quick at typing to feel the need to learn)

Posted by kernkraft ·
5 comments

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Comments5

  • Daniel Nguyen

    Team•

    Oct 30, 2025

    Hmm I’m confused. The hotkey is configurable if you’re referring to the Instant Chat Bar. Am I missing something?

    • kernkraft

      •

      Oct 31, 2025

      What I’m saying is that I already have the common keyboard shortcuts used for this kind of thing taken:

      cmd+space = spotlight
opt+space = ChatGPT
ctrl+space = Antinote
ctrl+option+space = Claude
ctrl+option+cmd+space = palettro
opt+cmd+space = iTerm quake window
ctrl+cmd+space = custom service I’m working on

      Sure I could bind Bolt.ai to $mod+alphanumeric key, but then i start running into conflicts with other keybinds. I like my “quick access tools” (the apps listed above) to have distinct shortcuts.

      How this benefits me (the user)

      Another app I use called MacWhisper provides me a path forward:

      • I can simply bind its global activation hotkey to a single keypress of my right side ⌘ key.

      • It ONLY activates on the right command key, not the left.

      • This provides me 3 more potential “high value hotkeys” that satisfy my scheme of having my “quick access tools” not conflict with normal hotkeys ($mod+alphanumeric)

      • Many users do not use right ⌘ or right ⌥ for any reason. Some users might not use right shift either, but I can only speak for myself since I don’t type traditionally

      • MacOS is getting progressively buggier, especially input methods, so I actually haven’t installed Karabiner Elements in macOS 26 due to fear of excessive jank (it was already slightly sketchy in macOS 15). So i no longer trust my “power user” work arounds to do stuff like this myself.

      How this benefits you (the developer)

      • Being able to bind a new app’s “global activation” hotkey to an open right-side modifier means I am going to be more likely to make a habit of using the app since the hotkey is so easy and memorable —> More usage = more positive mentions to friends/coworkers/family

      • Not many apps have this special type of invokation method, so it’s “free real estate” to differentiate yourself when power users might already have the traditional keybinds taken.

      • Even though it’s a niche feature, for me personally, it significantly enhances my odd’s of purchase because you no longer have to “out compete” an app that I already use in my “quick access tools”

      • Daniel Nguyen

        Team•

        Oct 31, 2025

        Ah I see. So what you want is the keyboard shortcut module to recognize right command key, for example, instead of treating left and right keys the same. Is that correct?

        • Alex K

          •

          Jan 15

          even better - can we have all those actions support x-callback-url like boltai://

          then we can do whatever we want calling those, like BetterTouchTool leader key and what’s not

  • kernkraft

    •

    Oct 30, 2025

    Having your app’s quick-use features be able to map to an ultra-convenient hotkey will increase user habit-forming of boltapp.

    Binding it to globe+key would be sweet (i’d probably use globe+space with boltai in my situation), but it must be hard for apps to do because the only apps I’ve seen do this are iTerm and Karabiner Elements.