Shorcuts Settings
The Shortcuts settings screen presents a list of all Monarch search items that you can attach a keyboard shorcut to. Currently this list consists of Monarch Modes, Custom Commands and the applications you have installed on your system. Creating a new shortcut To create a new shortcut, or overwrite an existing shortcut, click the “Record…” button next to the item. Monarch will then begin recording a shortcut. PressESC to cancel recording or click anywhere on screen.
Delete an existing shortcut
If you have a keyboard shorcut you want to clear and unregister, simply press the X button on the right side of the item you want to clear the shortcut for.
Keyboard Shortcut types in Monarch
Monarch features multiple types of keyboard shortcuts and for full flexibility you can use different shortcut types for different things. To change the shortcut type, click the dropdown in the Type column for the desired item, then click the desired shortcut type. When you change the shortcut type, it changes how Monarch records that shortcut as they all function differently. This section covers each shortcut type in depth.Combo (Default)
This is the standard shortcut style everyone is used to. It’s your regular modifier(s) + a letter/number/symbol. Things like⌘ + J and ⌘ + Shift + X. Most people already know how to create these kinds of shortcuts and that is why they are the default.
Combo style shortcuts are very simple to set up, but they have the highest chance of conflicting with the other apps you’re already using.
Akimbo
Akimbo style allows you to create shortcuts by pressing the two of the same modifier keys on both sides of the keyboard at the same time. This is a very handy kind of shortcut because they are so easy to remember and they will never conflict with any other app. Akimbo examples- Set
Left ⌘ + Right ⌘to Monarch Notes to easily capture your thoughts at any time. - Set
Left Shift + Right Shiftto Instant Send to quickly move your files around your computer.
Chord
Chord style shorcuts are often referred to as “leader key” shortcuts. This is the most flexible type of shortcut as they allows you create shortcuts in steps. While it’s not necessary to organize your Chords, it goes a long way if you do and many find that they can’t use a computer without it after trying it! Chord shortcuts are two-step shortcuts look like this:⌘ + J -> K
This means first press ⌘ + J, then press the K key by itself to trigger the shortcut. Because of this two-part sequence, you can effectively create 26 new keyboard shortcuts with letters alone simply because they are “gated” behind ⌘ + J.
Where Chords become especially powerful is mnemoic grouping. This is where users create key chords groups based on the letters of what apps or functions they trigger.
Chord Examples
Let’s say you have the Proton app suite installed on your Mac. You can use Monarch to access each of them quickly and easily, while also preventing conflicts with your many other apps. Here’s how:
- Set
⌘ + P -> Mfor Proton Mail - Set
⌘ + P -> Vfor Proton VPN - Set
⌘ + P -> Pfor Proton Pass
⌘ + M, ⌘ + V, and ⌘ + P and lose the ability to use those shortcuts anywhere else. With Monarch, you actually have the choice to preserve 3 shortcuts across your system!
Double-Tap
Another simple keyboard shortcut style. Double-tap is a way to leverage modifier keys further. Set the shortcut type to Double-tap and then press the key twice in quick succession to save it. Simple yet effective!Ambidextrous Mode
Ambidextrous shortcuts is a powerful feature of Monarch that allows you to leverage the full power of your keyboard. Generally, keyboard shortcuts are considered to be the same regardless of which side modifiers you use. ⌘ + C will copy text whether you use the left ⌘ or the right ⌘ key. Ambidextrous examples Using Combo: Set⌘ + Space to open Monarch and it will trigger whether you press the left ⌘ or the right ⌘. Disable Ambi and now only Left ⌘ + Space will open Monarch. Since other apps treat both ⌘ keys as identical, Right ⌘ + Space remains completely free for use in the rest of your system!
Using Chord: Set ⌘ + P -> M for Proton Mail and either ⌘ + P press will initiate the chord. Disable Ambi and you can bind Left ⌘ + P -> M to Proton Mail and Right ⌘ + P -> M to a completely different app. This effectively doubles the number of Chord shortcuts available to you — all without taking anything away from your other apps.
Bonus: In the above example, you would also get to use ⌘ + P in other apps, so in this way you can even free up use of your Chord key starters!
Using Double-tap: Set Double-tap ⌥ to launch Spotify and it will fire whether you tap the left or right ⌥ key. Disable Ambi and you can dedicate Left ⌥⌥ to Spotify and Right ⌥⌥ to something like Notion or Linear.
By default, all shortcuts in Monarch are ambidextrous. You need to explicitly disable them by unchecking the “Ambi” checkbox. Upon doing so, you will see the modifier keys tilt. The direction they tilt toward corresponds to the hand you’d typically use for that key. This makes it easy to remember which side of the keyboard your shortcuts are for!