How do I change keyboard shortcuts?

Goal

Set, change, or remove a key for one of Nova’s commands.

Before you start

• This is in Simple. The Context & dictation tab is in Expert. The switch is in How do I switch between Simple and Expert?
• For keys to work in the background, Nova needs Input Monitoring. See Which macOS permissions does Nova need?

Steps

1. Settings, Keyboard shortcuts, the Window & speech tab.
2. Pick the command in the Command menu. Commands sit in groups, such as Windows and speech or Context and dictation. Below it is what the command does, the keys on the right.
3. Press Change, then the new keys. While recording it reads Press keys… (Esc). Escape cancels.
4. Keyboard layout below highlights the keys of the chosen shortcut.
5. Default brings back the factory key. Remove takes the shortcut away, and it then reads No shortcut set. Reset all at the top resets every shortcut. Default and Reset all only appear once you have changed something.
6. Hyper Key & QuickLinks tab: card Hyper Key, menu Key. The chosen key, together with another key, counts as Shift, Control, Option, and Command. Add QuickLink opens a website, folder, or app with a key.
7. In Expert, the Context & dictation tab: the actions in the menu, the target language, and the card Circle a region.

Example

Set Command to Show/hide window. The default is Option and Space. Only press Change if you really want a different key.

Common problems

• The same combination cannot serve two commands. The line names the command that already has it.
• The keys for speaking and for the circle have their own guides: How do I set the key for speaking? and How do I mark a spot with a circle?
• Hyper Key needs Accessibility. Other apps see the same four-modifier combination.
• The clipboard shortcut has no Change button here. It is set under Clipboard.