# How to set up a Hyper key on a Mac
Source: https://ribbonformac.com/hyper-key-mac
Updated: 2026-10-29
A Hyper key is one key, usually Caps Lock, that presses several modifiers at once, such as ⌃⌥⌘ (often with ⇧ too). No app uses that combination, so Hyper plus a letter is free for your own shortcuts. Raycast has a Hyper Key option built in; Karabiner-Elements does it with one rule; macOS alone can only remap Caps Lock to a single modifier.
## Option 1: Raycast
If you already use [Raycast](https://www.raycast.com/) (free for personal use):
1. Open Raycast's settings and find **Hyper Key**. It's under the Keyboard section in current versions; older versions had it under Advanced.
2. Pick **Caps Lock** (or another key you don't use).
3. Choose what a quick tap does: nothing, the original key, or Escape.
4. Turn on **Include Shift** if you want all four modifiers.
Raycast's Hyper is ⌃⌥⌘, plus ⇧ if you include it.
## Option 2: Karabiner-Elements
[Karabiner-Elements](https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/) is a free, open-source keyboard remapper and the long-standing way to do this.
1. Install it (`brew install --cask karabiner-elements`) and allow the permissions and driver it asks for.
2. Open **Complex Modifications** → **Add predefined rule** and import a Caps Lock to Hyper rule from the rule library, or add your own rule.
A rule that turns Caps Lock into all four modifiers, and Escape when tapped alone:
```
{
"description": "Caps Lock to Hyper, Escape on tap",
"manipulators": [{
"type": "basic",
"from": { "key_code": "caps_lock", "modifiers": { "optional": ["any"] } },
"to": [{ "key_code": "left_shift", "modifiers": ["left_command", "left_control", "left_option"] }],
"to_if_alone": [{ "key_code": "escape" }]
}]
}
```
Karabiner can also make Caps Lock any other combination. Change the `to` line to `{ "key_code": "left_control", "modifiers": ["left_option"] }` and Caps Lock becomes ⌃⌥, which suits window managers whose shortcuts already use that pair.
Use one remapper for Caps Lock, not both: Raycast's Hyper Key and Karabiner will fight over the key.
## Option 3: what macOS does alone
System Settings → Keyboard → **Keyboard Shortcuts** → **Modifier Keys** lets you set Caps Lock to Control, Option, Command, Escape or No Action, per keyboard. That's a single modifier, not Hyper, but Caps Lock as Control is a popular change on its own, especially for terminal and Emacs users.
## What to bind to Hyper
- **App launchers:** Hyper plus a letter opens or focuses an app (Hyper-B for the browser, Hyper-T for the terminal). Raycast can assign hotkeys to apps directly.
- **Window management:** the obvious use. Hyper plus H/J/K/L to move focus never clashes with an app.
- **Snippets and scripts** in Raycast, Keyboard Maestro or Shortcuts.
## Hyper with Ribbon
[Ribbon](https://ribbonformac.com/), a scrolling window manager, uses ⌃⌥ plus one key for every shortcut: ⌃⌥H/L to focus left and right, ⌃⌥R to cycle width, and so on. Two ways to put it on Caps Lock:
- **Map Caps Lock to ⌃⌥** with the Karabiner change above. Ribbon's default shortcuts then work as Caps Lock plus a letter, with nothing to rebind.
- **Use a full Hyper key** and rebind Ribbon's shortcuts to it in Settings → Shortcuts. Every shortcut can be changed.
The [live demo](https://ribbonformac.com/#demo) uses the same keys as the app, so you can try them in your browser. Ribbon is [$9.99 once](https://ribbonformac.com/#pricing) for macOS 13 or later on Apple silicon.
## FAQ
### What is a Hyper key on a Mac?
A single key, usually Caps Lock, remapped to press ⌃⌥⌘ (and often ⇧) at once. Apps don't use that combination, so it's free for your own shortcuts.
### Can macOS make a Hyper key without extra apps?
No. macOS can remap Caps Lock to one modifier (Control, Option, Command) or Escape. A full Hyper key needs Raycast or Karabiner-Elements.
### Will I lose Caps Lock?
Only if you want to. Both Raycast and Karabiner can send a real Caps Lock on a quick tap, or you can use the Shift keys for capitals as most people do.
## Keep reading
- [Vim keys for windows](https://ribbonformac.com/vim-keys-window-management-mac) — hjkl for focus and moving windows, the right modifier, and Vim keys beyond the editor.
- [Use a Mac without a mouse](https://ribbonformac.com/use-mac-without-mouse) — Launching, menus, dialogs, the browser and windows, all from the keyboard.
- [Linux keyboard habits on Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/linux-keyboard-shortcuts-on-mac) — Super, Ctrl and Cmd, terminal keys, Emacs bindings, remapping, and a WM layer.
- [Window keyboard shortcuts](https://ribbonformac.com/mac-window-keyboard-shortcuts) — Switching, hiding, closing, full screen, desktops and tiling, in one table.
- [Raycast window management](https://ribbonformac.com/raycast-window-management) — Raycast's window commands, how to set hotkeys, where they stop, and what to add.