Use Mac shortcuts and Hyper key on Windows (and defeat the dreaded Office key!)

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Use Mac/Linux shortcuts on Windows (and defeat the dreaded Office key!)

A two-step process made things super easy for me. No buggy reg edits and arcane scripts.

List of app/downloads below.

FIRST disable Windows shortcuts that conflict with your desired Mac / other shortcuts. THEN use app of choice to configure new shortcuts.

This prevents Windows from fighting you on the NEW shortcuts you want to make - a persistent issue for many people.

You are disabling the low-level WIN + shortcuts in a way that Windows understands and accepts (via PowerToys).

Keep core Windows shortcuts you like - the important ones.

I found this much more effective - and bug-free - than trying to remap Windows shortcuts in one go.

For example: I could not map WIN/CMD + Space to trigger Raycast until WIN + Space was disabled in Windows FIRST (via PowerToys).

Step 1. Use Windows PowerToys (free download with Windows Professional) to disable shortcuts

Look in PowerToys for Keyboard Manager then add each shortcut that is fighting you.

e.g.

• disable the super useful and otherwise unique Hyper Key / CTRL + SHIFT + ALT + WIN - which Windows sees as the Office Key (which fights many shortcuts)
• disable WIN + E - which opens Windows Explorer - so it can be remapped to better / Mac-style replacement
• disable WIN + Space - so it can be remapped to Raycast

You can pick and choose which mini-apps you want to run in PowerToys - including Keyboard Manager - then PowerToys just sits running in your system tray, and runs at Start Up by default.

Step 2. Use shortcuts app of your choice to create new shortcuts

e.g.

• remap a shortcut using Hyper key-combo to open replacement for Windows Explorer (such as Mac-user-friendly SPAN Finder )
• remap a shortcut using Hyper key-combo to WIN + Space to open Raycast (directly via Raycast settings)

I'm using an app made in Rust called Shortcuts Remapper Studio - very user-friendly and available in Windows store.

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App Download Links

Windows PowerToys (inc. Keyboard Manager)

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/install?tabs=gh%2Cextract-094

Shortcuts Remapper Studio:

• https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nkz25gpf21l?hl=en-GB&gl=AU

SPAN Finder (better file explorer):

• https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9p7nj351x9tl?hl=en-GB&gl=AU
• https://github.com/LumiBearStudio/SpanFinder

Raycast (Spotlight/Alfred like launcher):

• https://www.raycast.com/