This underrated Mac feature turns the corners of your screen into shortcuts
Key things
- Hot corners in macOS allow you to quickly perform actions by simply moving the cursor in each corner.
- You could accidentally trigger a hot corner, but you can avoid it by using modifier keys like Command, Shift, Option, or Control.
- Third-party apps like BetterTouchTool and Slidepad extend the functionality of the hot corner and allow you to assign additional actions or shortcuts.
Hot Corners, an underrated feature of macOS, has helped me save time when performing various actions that would otherwise require multiple inputs from my end. I’ll show you how to set this feature up in macOS and share some tips to help you get the most out of it.
What are hot horns and how do you activate them?
Hot corners allow you to assign different functions to the four corners of your Mac’s screen. You can trigger actions such as opening Launchpad or launching a sticky note by simply moving the pointer to a designated corner. Here’s what you need to do to enable hot corners on your Mac:
- Click on Apple logo in the macOS menu bar and go to System settings > Desktop and dock.
- Scroll down and click Hot corners.
- You will see four different boxes for each corner of the screen. Click the drop-down menu for each one you want to use and select your preferred action.
While all options are useful in their own way, I configured my hot corners with the following actions: Launchpad, Sleep Display, Mission Control, and Lock Screen.
This way I can easily perform actions like putting my Mac to sleep with just a quick swipe on the trackpad instead of clicking Apple logo and picking Sleep from the drop-down menu.
Use the modifier keys to avoid accidentally triggering hot corners
As soon as I set up my hot horns, I immediately noticed the problem. I work very haphazardly, and since I use Universal Control to use my Mac’s keyboard and trackpad with my iPad, I’m constantly dragging the pointer to the corners of the screen to move it between the two devices, which often results in accidentally triggering shortcuts.
Fortunately, the fix is simple – you can use modifier keys with hot corners. Mac modifier keys include Command, Option, Control, Caps Lock, and the Globe key, which are often used to perform keyboard shortcuts.
To use modifier keys with hot corners, press and hold the desired combination of modifier keys while selecting a specific function for each corner.
You can use any combination of modifier keys to choose a different one for each corner. Note that you can only use the Command, Shift, Option and Control keys here.
Maximum use of hot spots with third-party applications
Unfortunately, you are limited to a few options for each hot corner. Oddly enough, you can’t even assign your own shortcut to a hot corner. Fortunately, you can rely on a few third-party apps to get more out of your hotspots. One good example is BetterTouchTool, which allows you to assign almost any shortcut to a hot corner.
Once you’ve downloaded the app and given it permission to access Bluetooth, a window similar to the one in the screenshot below will appear. On first launch, expand the drop-down menu where it says Touch Barand select Automation and named and other triggers. Then add your first “Other” launcher by clicking on plus (+) icon. You will now be redirected to a new window.
In the right sidebar, expand Select Run If it doesn’t expand automatically, click on Screen corners/edges. If you are aiming for the same functionality as hot corners, only about Move the mouse to the upper left corner, Move the mouse to the upper right corner, Move the mouse to the lower left cornerand Move the mouse to the lower right corner the options are relevant, so simply select one.
Click on plus (+) icon to assign an action to the selected trigger, expand the icon No action drop-down menu and select an action. Below you will find the most useful actions macOS functionalitysuch as turning Do Not Disturb on and off, switching between dark and light modes, quickly summoning Siri, and more.
The best part? You can also assign a shortcut you’ve created using the Shortcuts app on your Mac, so the possibilities are endless.
Unfortunately, even though BetterTouchTool offers a forty-day free trial, you will need to purchase a license to continue using it. It offers two licenses: Standard for $12 and Lifetime for $24. I think it’s worth it though!
Another third-party tool that really changes the way you use hot corners on your Mac is Slidepad. If you’re familiar with the Slide Over feature on iPads, you’ll love using it. You can instantly access your regular apps like Slack, Notion, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Gmail, or even search for something on Google just by dragging the cursor to the right edge of the screen.
Like BetterTouchTool, Slidepad offers a 30-day free trial, after which you’ll need to purchase a $13.99 license to continue using it.
All in all, the hot spots were so handy I can’t imagine not using them now. Setting them up will undeniably help you perform actions on your Mac quickly. While hot corners won’t dramatically save you time, remember that every second counts and should be saved whenever possible.