KeySteer

macOS ​

KeySteer supports macOS 14 and later. After installing, grant keyboard and pointer control permission (formerly Accessibility), then try your first click in Getting started.

Install and upgrade with Homebrew ​

bash
brew tap dccif/keysteer https://github.com/dccif/KeySteer.git
brew install --cask dccif/keysteer/keysteer

The cask selects the Apple Silicon or Intel package. Exit KeySteer before upgrading:

bash
brew update
brew upgrade --cask dccif/keysteer/keysteer

User configuration stays in the data directory below across upgrades. Complete the permission steps below after installing.

Install from a GitHub Release ​

Download the ZIP for your architecture from the official GitHub Releases, extract it, and move KeySteer.app to /Applications. If Gatekeeper prevents it from opening, first confirm the download source, then run:

bash
sudo xattr -cr /Applications/KeySteer.app

First-time permissions ​

  1. Open /Applications/KeySteer.app.

  2. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security, then open the permission for your macOS version:

    • macOS 27: Device Control and Data Access.
    • macOS 14–26: Accessibility.

  3. Allow KeySteer to control your computer.

  4. Restart KeySteer and test it with Command+E.

If you cannot find the permission, search System Settings for “Device Control” or “Accessibility” and open the app permission list. If KeySteer is missing, click + and add /Applications/KeySteer.app. Older app messages mentioning “Accessibility permission” refer to the renamed permission on macOS 27.

Visual recognition in UI Hint also needs Screen & System Audio Recording permission (called Screen Recording on older versions), on the same privacy page. Grid and Recursive Grid do not read screen contents, but still need the keyboard and pointer control permission above.

Missing visual labels?

Check Screen & System Audio Recording permission, then restart KeySteer.

File locations ​

The packaged app uses:

text
~/Library/Application Support/KeySteer/

It contains:

  • keysteer.<name>.toml: configuration files.
  • keysteer.log: runtime log.
  • keysteer.log.1, .2, .3: rotated logs.

Scroll direction ​

When you use natural scrolling, vertical inversion is enabled by default. Adjust it in the configuration if needed:

toml
[platform.macos.scroll]
invert_horizontal = false
invert_vertical = true

Permission problems ​

If the top status icon appears but keys do nothing:

  1. Check that Device Control and Data Access (or Accessibility on older versions) authorises KeySteer.app.
  2. Quit and reopen KeySteer.
  3. Run keysteer --doctor to check whether the keyboard is available.
  4. If it persists, inspect keysteer.log in the data directory.

Keys stop working after an upgrade

Remove the old KeySteer entry from the permission list, add /Applications/KeySteer.app again, then restart the app.

Top status icon ​

While KeySteer is running, its status icon appears at the top right of the screen. Use it to pause control, reload configuration, check for updates, or quit. This menu is where you manage the app; there is no separate Dock icon.