Shortcuts using fn don't work properly

[bashor]

[nikitabobko]

Thank you,

It turns out that HotKey library that I use for global shortcuts doesn't support it soffes/HotKey#31

I see that skhd somehow managed to capture fn key koekeishiya/skhd#10 but, on my machine, it only works for built-in MacBook keyboard and doesn't work for the external Logitech keyboard. And skhd still has some limitations (like fn + arrows is not possible koekeishiya/skhd#10 (comment))

I will drop the fn literal from parsing to not confuse users, I will keep this issue open for now.

But honestly, I have no hope that it will be supported in the future

[nikitabobko]

Workaround: since AeroSpace can be called from CLI, you can use skhd

[popbones]

I’d like to bring up support for fn again since the release of macOS 15.

In macOS 15, the usage of fn increased a lot. Indeed for a lot of system shortcuts, only fn from Apple keyboards are recognised. However, Karabiner has supported mapping any key to fn with support for all the new window layout shortcuts. I believe this is done by using the Apple vendor ID with their virtual keyboard device.

I’ve mapped a spare key to Apple fn on my keyboard. And I’d really like to be able to use that as my main modifier for all window management needs since I know it won’t conflict with any third party app.

[popbones]

The Apple Global Key (a.k.a. the fn key) is a bit special.
It’s not the same as the fn key you’ll find on most non-Apple keyboards.

On typical keyboards, the fn key only affects the keyboard’s internal processing.
It doesn’t actually send any keycodes over USB/Bluetooth to the computer.

Apple keyboards, however, do send data when you press fn.
But here’s the twist: it’s not a normal HID report or keycode.
macOS will only recognize it if it comes from a device with Apple vendor IDs.

Karabiner works around this by creating a virtual USB device that pretends to have an Apple vendor ID.
This trick allows you to remap any key to fn.

For example, I personally map Right Control → fn,
since I already use Caps Lock → Left Control.

How fn is triggered (via a genuine Apple keyboard, Karabiner, etc.) isn’t the main issue.
It would just be really nice if AeroSpace could treat it as a proper modifier key.

[jneidel]

Turn fn into meh/hyper and you can functionally use it as a modifier key. Whether there is aerospace support for fn or not. See

[popbones]

Turn fn into meh/hyper and you can functionally use it as a modifier key. Whether there is aerospace support for fn or not. See

I already have quite some other apps using a lot of hyper keys where I do prefer pressing the hyper key or using a QMK macro to trigger. Where for window management I want to use a single special modifier.

[dickiedyce]

Also...
You can map caps-lock to globe or fn on non-Mac e.g. keyboards using 'System>Customize Modifier Keys' ... would this fix your issue on your Logitech keyboard @nikitabobko ?
Because using fn from a QMK / Vial keyboard would be really useful.
[ ...Or have I toggled my idiot-mode setting on again ? ;-) ]

[jneidel]

I use Karabiner Elements to remap fn + everything but f keys to "hyper" (ctrl + alt + cmd).
Karabiner rule which I modified to the below to make shift work properly.

My complete Karabiner rule

{
    "description": "Fn to Hyper",
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "grave_accent_and_tilde",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "grave_accent_and_tilde",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "1",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "1",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "2",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "2",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "3",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "3",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "4",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "4",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "5",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "5",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "6",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "6",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "7",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "7",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "8",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "8",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "9",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "9",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "0",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "0",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "hyphen",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "hyphen",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "equal_sign",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "equal_sign",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "q",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "q",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "w",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "w",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "e",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "e",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "r",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "r",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "t",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "t",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "y",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "y",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "u",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "u",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "i",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "i",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "o",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "o",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "p",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "p",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "open_bracket",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "open_bracket",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "close_bracket",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "close_bracket",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "backslash",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "backslash",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "a",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "a",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "s",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "s",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "d",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "d",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "f",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "f",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "g",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "g",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "h",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "h",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "j",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "j",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "k",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "k",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "l",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "l",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "semicolon",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "semicolon",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "quote",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "quote",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "z",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "z",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "x",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "x",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "c",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "c",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "v",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "v",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "b",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "b",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "n",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "n",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "m",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "m",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "comma",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "comma",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "period",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "period",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        },
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "slash",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["fn"],
                    "optional": ["left_shift"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "key_code": "slash",
                    "modifiers": ["left_option", "left_control", "left_command"]
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
}

In my aerospace config I then have these bindings:

    cmd-ctrl-alt-1 = 'workspace 1'
    cmd-ctrl-alt-2 = 'workspace 2'

    cmd-ctrl-alt-shift-1 = 'move-node-to-workspace 1'
    cmd-ctrl-alt-shift-2 = 'move-node-to-workspace 2'

# you get the idea