Supercharge
Elevate your Mac experience
Requires macOS 15+
Improve your Mac experience with a bunch of useful functionality:
- Clear notifications with a keyboard shortcut
- Clicking an active app’s Dock icon hides the app or minimizes its windows
- Unminimizes an app’s windows when activated (e.g., via Command+Tab)
- Hide all windows (aka. boss mode)
- Prevent accidental app quits1 by instead using ⇧⌘Q, double tap Q while holding ⌘, or press and hold ⌘Q
- Quit apps when closing their last window (clicking the red traffic light button or Command+W) (similar to Swift Quit and RedQuits apps)
- Finder: Move files by cutting2 (Command+X) and pasting (Command+V)
- Finder: Open files with Return (you can then rename with Shift+Return or F2)
- Finder: Create new text file with Option+N (video) or from the context menu
- Finder: Move files to the trash with ⌫ instead of ⌘⌫
- Finder: Adds many useful actions to the context menu: copy path, move to, open folder with, AirDrop, etc.
- Finder: Auto-adjust column widths to filenames in column view
- Finder: Invert selection (deselects what’s currently selected and selects everything that wasn’t selected)
- Mail: Copy message link
- Toggle Finder with a keyboard shortcut (aka. visor mode)
- Show the menu bar window for the Passwords app with a keyboard shortcut
- Change default browser (without a prompt)
- Export/import (backup) settings for any apps (video)
- Toggle Terminal with a keyboard shortcut
- Offers to install apps from mounted DMG files
- Show desktop (menu action)
- Quit all apps (menu action and keyboard shortcut)
- Eject all disks (menu action and keyboard shortcut)
- Dim icons of hidden apps in the Dock
- Toggle dark mode
- Toggle low power mode
- Toggle grayscale mode3
- Toggle desktop widgets visibility
- Toggle function keys (switch between using F1, F2, etc., as standard function keys or media keys)
- Only supported for the built-in MacBook keyboard and Magic Keyboard.
- Clear clipboard
- Empty trash keyboard shortcut
- Open system settings directly (usually requires a lot of clicks):
- Hide My Email
- Private Relay
- Only show system sound menu bar icon when muted
- Add Dock spacers
- Reset privacy permissions for any apps
- Shortcuts actions
- More planned…
This is my playground for supercharging macOS. It’s just the start. Come along for the ride.
Features explained
Dock icon click behavior
By default, clicking an app’s Dock icon when the app is active does nothing. With Supercharge, you can make it either hide the app or minimize all its windows. This can be particularly useful for quickly clearing your workspace.
Finder context menu additions
Adds the following actions (can be customized) directly in the right-click menu in Finder:
- New Text File
Shown only when right-clicking an empty area in Finder. - Image Dimensions
- Copy Path
- Copy Filename
- Copy File URL
Useful for deep links. Clicking such link reveals it in Finder. - Copy Markdown Link
- Open Folder With
- Make Symlink
- Move To
- Copy To
- Open in Terminal
Shown only when right-clicking a folder or an empty area in Finder. Supports Terminal, iTerm, kitty, WezTerm, Alacritty, and Warp. - AirDrop
- Run Shortcut
- Update Modified Date
- Make Executable
Makes files executable, similar tochmod +x
in the terminal. Useful for shell scripts. - Invert Selection
Selects the files/folders in Finder that are not selected. - Delete Immediately
Permanently deletes files/folders without sending them to the Trash. - Copy Checksum
SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, MD5, CRC32 - Unquarantine
Removes the quarantine flag that macOS adds to downloaded files and apps. This removes security prompts and restrictions for trusted items.
They appear at the bottom of the context menu. There is no way to change that. They also won’t appear in iCloud, Dropbox, or any other sync folder.
Copy message link in Mail
When you are in the Mail app, you can open the Supercharge menu to copy a direct link to one or more selected messages. You can also set up a keyboard shortcut for this. Copying a message link can be useful if you want to refer to specific emails in other contexts. The link will look like this: message://%[email protected]%3e
.
You may also like my Shareful, Menu Bar Spacing, and Pure Paste apps.
Trial
Try the fully functional trial here. The only limitation is a reminder to buy the app every 12 hours, and no automatic updates. All data and settings carry over if you buy it.
Requires macOS 15
Tips
Troubleshooting
- Ensure you are on the latest version (click the “Check for Updates” button).
- Restart your computer.
- Try closing any anti-virus app you have running as it may interfere with the app (or at least disable any Secure Keyboard Entry type setting it may have). And if you don’t have any anti-virus app, try closing down all apps and menu bar items, just to rule out some other app interfering. If it’s a work computer, your company may have something installed that prevents the app from working.
- Try clicking “Reset Permissions” in the Supercharge menu.
Cut and paste files troubleshooting
Ensure you pressed Command+X and not Command+C.
To make sure you used the app correctly. Try this: Select a file in Finder, press Command+X, change to a different folder, press Command+V. The file should have been moved to this new folder.
Note: You cannot cut, highlight a folder, and then paste. You have to actually go into the folder to paste to it. That’s just how Finder works. Same with copy-pasting.
Tricks
Some things you can already do that you may not know about:
- Hide an app by Option-clicking on the app’s Dock icon.
- Show Control Center by pressing Fn+C.
- Toggle a specific VPN using a keyboard shortcut with Shortcuts. Add this shortcut and set the VPN parameter and a keyboard shortcut.
- Make Finder remember its size and position.
- Prevent opening apps when clicking links that are Universal Links.
- Change the keyboard shortcut for menu item actions in all apps.
- Set Finder’s default view options: Open a folder, press Command+J, adjust settings, and click “Use as Defaults”. To reset a folder’s custom settings, press Command+J, hold Option, and click “Restore to Defaults”.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a feature request, bug report, or some feedback
Click the feedback button in the app or send it here.
Some things are not possible though:
- Removing the Trash icon in the Dock.
- Removing the Finder icon in the Dock.
- Disabling Stage Manager animations.
- Fill the entire row with the file’s tag color in Finder.
The app does not show up in the menu bar
macOS hides menu bar apps when there is no space left in the menu bar. This is a common problem on MacBooks with a notch. Try quitting some other menu bar apps to free up space. If this does not solve the issue, try quitting Bartender/Ice if you have it installed.
You may also have disabled the “Show menu bar icon” setting, which hides the menu bar icon. Launch the app again to show the main window.
I can already do this with the command-line, BetterTouchTool, Keyboard Maestro, etc.
Supercharge offers a simpler, more user-friendly approach. It’s designed for users who want quick access to useful features without the complexity of scripting or configuring advanced tools. Supercharge provides a curated set of enhancements that work right out of the box, saving you time and effort in setup and maintenance. If you prefer more granular control and don’t mind the setup process, those other tools might be a better fit for you.
Why Command+X? I can already move files with Command+C and Option+Command+V
- It’s more logical to cut & paste than copy & move.
- Consistency and muscle memory benefits if you also use Linux or Window.
What are Dock spacers?
Dock spacers are invisible gaps you can add to your Mac’s Dock. They help organize your apps into groups, improving visual clarity. Supercharge lets you easily add these spacers, giving you better control over your Dock’s layout.
Can I add custom actions to the app?
As of now, the app focuses on providing a curated set of built-in features for enhancing your Mac experience. I’m happy to consider requests.
Can you add a certain toggle?
I’m happy to consider requests, but I don’t intend for this app to turn into a “toggler” app. I have just provided some commonly needed toggles.
Some toggles I don’t plan to add:
- AirPods
- Keep awake (check out Lungo)
Does the app consume a lot of system resources?
No, the app is optimized to run efficiently in the background with minimal CPU, memory, and battery usage. Most features are event-driven and only activate when needed.
I cannot use Control+Space or Control+Shift+Space as a keyboard shortcut
Go to “System Settings › Keyboard › Keyboard Shortcuts › Input Sources” and disable them all.
Why would I want to clear my clipboard?
Clearing the clipboard helps protect privacy by removing potentially sensitive information (like passwords or personal data) that might otherwise remain available for pasting. Any app can silently read the clipboard. And you could also accidentally paste it somewhere you didn’t intend to.
Why don’t the Finder context menu items show up in iCloud and Dropbox folders?
Finder Sync extensions, which power these context menu items, are intended to add sync functionality for third-party services in Finder. Since iCloud and Dropbox folders have their own built-in sync, macOS don’t allow the Supercharge extension in these locations to prevent conflicts.
How can I add my preferred apps to the “Open Folder With” Finder context menu?
The menu shows apps that declare support for opening folders. This is controlled by the app developers, not by Supercharge. To get your preferred apps to appear in this menu, contact the developers of those apps and request them to add folder opening support.
The developer will need to add public.folder
to LSItemContentTypes
their app’s Info.plist:
<key>LSItemContentTypes</key>
<array>
<string>public.folder</string>
</array>
Can you add support keyboard shortcuts to change default browser?
Maybe. For now, you can make a shortcut in the Shortcuts app, give it a keyboard shortcut, and use the “Set Default Browser” Shortcuts action that comes with Supercharge.
Can you add more features to changing the default browser, like rules?
Features like rules require the app to intercept and forward URLs by acting as the default browser. This is out of scope for this app. Check out my Velja app for that.
Can the app support hiding menu bar items?
No, that’s out of scope for this app. I recommend Ice.
Why is this not in the App Store?
Much of the functionality would not be possible in the App Store because of sandboxing.
Can this app be available on Setapp?
Setapp curates apps based on demand, so if you’d like to see this app on Setapp, email them and request its inclusion.
More FAQs…
Footnotes
-
The Q key is next to W, making it easy to accidentally hit Command+Q (quit) when reaching for Command+W (close window). ↩
-
Without this feature, you have to first copy (Command+C) and then remember to move (Option+Command+V). The feature works by overriding the normal cut ⌘X keyboard shortcut when Finder is active and executes a copy ⌘C instead. When you then paste ⌘V, it executes the native move ⌥⌘V keyboard shortcut. So really, it’s Finder moving the files. This app just makes the keyboard shortcuts more intuitive. If you don’t paste, the files just stay in place. This feature also works with the Forklift app. ↩
-
Grayscale mode on macOS can be a useful tool for various purposes. It can help reduce eye strain during long work sessions, especially in low-light environments. For designers and developers, it’s valuable for checking contrast and readability of user interfaces without the influence of color. Content creators may use it to evaluate the tonal balance of images or videos. Additionally, some users find that grayscale helps minimize distractions and improve focus by reducing the visual appeal of non-work-related apps and websites. While initially an adjustment, many users report increased productivity and a more mindful approach to computer usage when employing grayscale mode periodically. ↩