Max Gorin posted You’re using function keys wrong where he describes using function keys as a quick launcher!

So, here’s the trick: assign each of your top-12 most used apps to an F-key.

Max uses KeyboardMaestro to show/hide the apps, but we can do the same with Raycast (which I already use, and it’s free.)

Step 1

I have a 2019 MacBook Pro with Touchbar so the first change is to always display the function keys.

Within System Settings/Keyboard and Touch Bar Settings change:

• Touch Bar Shows to “F1, F2, etc. Keys”
• Press and hold fn key to “Show Expanded Control Strip”

Step 2

Install Raycast

Step 3

Open Raycast (I use ⌘Space), find the application you want to assign to a function key, and go into application configuration (using ⌘⇧,)

Hit Record Hotkey and assign it to whatever Fn you want!

For example:

• F1 Kitty Terminal
• F2 Slack
• F3 Messages
• F4 Firefox
• F5 Drafts
• F9 Music

Brett Terpstra explained how to perform a “safe mode” boot of MacOS.

1. Shut down the computer
2. Hold down the Shift key as you press the power button
3. Keep holding the shift key until after you hear the chime
4. Wait for macOS to boot
5. Shut down and start again without the Shift key