How to Enable the Command + Space Shortcut for Sliprail on macOS

Many users are accustomed to using Command + Space as a quick shortcut for launching apps or performing actions. However, on macOS, this key combination is assigned by default to the system's Spotlight search feature and may sometimes also be used for switching input sources (like different keyboard languages).

Therefore, if you try to set Command + Space as the shortcut in Sliprail, you might find it doesn't work, or it still triggers Spotlight or switches your input method. This happens because system-level shortcuts generally have higher priority.

This guide will walk you through how to change or disable the default shortcuts for Spotlight and Input Source switching in macOS System Settings, freeing up Command + Space so Sliprail can successfully capture and use it.

Tip: Sliprail might use Option + Space as its default activation shortcut. If you change this to Command + Space in Sliprail's settings, you will need to follow the steps below for it to work correctly.

Step 1: Modify the Spotlight Shortcut

You need to tell macOS not to use Command + Space for Spotlight.

  1. Open System Settings.
  • Click the Apple menu  in the top-left corner of your screen.
  • Select System Settings....
  • (On older macOS versions, this is called System Preferences...).
  1. In the window that opens, scroll down the left sidebar and click on Keyboard.
  2. Click the Keyboard Shortcuts... button.
  3. A new window or sheet will appear. Select Spotlight from the list on the left.
  4. In the list on the right, find the item named "Show Spotlight search". You'll likely see ⌘Space (Command + Space) listed as its current shortcut.
  5. Change or disable this shortcut:
  • Method 1 (Recommended): Simply uncheck the box to the left of "Show Spotlight search". This completely disables this specific keyboard shortcut for Spotlight.
  • Method 2: Double-click the ⌘Space shortcut area on the right. It will become editable. Press the new key combination you want to assign to Spotlight (e.g., Control + Space, shown as ⌃Space), or just press the Delete key to remove the shortcut entirely.

Step 2: Check and Modify Siri Suggestion Shortcuts (If Applicable)

On some macOS versions or configurations, Siri-related shortcuts might also use Command + Space.

  1. While still in the Keyboard Shortcuts window, look for a Siri option in the left-hand list.
  2. Click Siri and check if any shortcuts listed on the right are set to Command + Space.
  3. Sometimes, Siri-related shortcuts (like "Show Siri Suggestions") might still be listed under the Spotlight category. Double-check all items in that category.
  4. If you find any Siri-related shortcuts using Command + Space, uncheck them or change them to a different shortcut, just like you did for Spotlight.

Step 3: Check and Modify Input Source Switching Shortcuts

macOS allows using shortcuts to switch between different input methods (like English, Spanish, or Pinyin keyboards), and Command + Space is a common default for this.

  1. Still in the Keyboard Shortcuts window, find and select Input Sources from the list on the left.
  2. In the list on the right, carefully check the shortcuts assigned to actions like "Select the previous input source" or "Select next source in Input menu" (the exact wording might vary slightly depending on your macOS version).
  3. Look for any item assigned the ⌘Space (Command + Space) shortcut.
  4. If you find a conflict, resolve it using one of these methods:
  • Uncheck the box next to the item to disable that specific shortcut.
  • Double-click the ⌘Space shortcut area on the right and press the new key combination you want to use for switching input sources.

Final Step: Verify the Settings

After completing all the checks and changes above, the Command + Space shortcut should be released from its default system functions.

  1. Make sure you have correctly set Command + Space as the desired shortcut within Sliprail's preferences.
  2. Now, try pressing Command + Space. If everything is configured correctly, Sliprail should respond as expected.

If the shortcut still doesn't work for Sliprail, carefully review all the steps above to ensure that the Command + Space shortcuts for Spotlight, Siri (if applicable), and Input Source switching have indeed been successfully disabled or changed.