September 30, 2024

Option and Shift Modifiers Not Available Anymore in macOS Sequoia

Matthias Gansrigler, on developer.apple.com:

In my app, I use RegisterEventHotkey to implement global keyboard shortcuts to trigger actions.
Up until macOS Sequoia, I was able to use a keyboard shortcut with option and shift as the modifiers, like option shift 2 (⌥ ⇧ 2).
Now, on macOS Sequoia, using RegisterEventHotkey to register a hotkey with those exact modifiers (option and shift), regardless of the key, fails with the error -9868 (eventInternalErr).

Apple’s Frameworks Engineer reply:

This was an intentional change in macOS Sequoia to limit the ability of key-logging malware to observe keys in other applications. The issue of concern was that shift+option can be used to generate alternate characters in passwords, such as Ø (shift-option-O). There is no workaround; macOS Sequoia now requires that a hotkey registration use at least one modifier that is not shift or option.

Say goodbye to option-shift (⌥ ⇧) keyboard shortcuts. If you’re pro enough to use these sort of shortcuts, you should really consider adopting a hyperkey. Hat tip to this Shottr KB article.

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