Features

Every action, one list

BetterTouchTool ships with more than 600 built-in actions — this catalog covers the 428 most important ones. Each of them can be triggered by any gesture, keyboard shortcut, Stream Deck key or other trigger, and chained into sequences.

Mouse & Trackpad Actions

26 actionsTrackpad Gestures deep dive →

Left Click

Performs a standard left mouse click at the current cursor position. It will include the currently pressed modifier keys.

Left Click - Without Modifier Keys

Performs a left mouse click at the current location. It will NOT include any modifier keys.

Right Click

Performs a right mouse click at the current cursor position. It will include the currently pressed modifier keys.

Middle Click

Performs a middle mouse click at the current location. It will include the currently pressed modifier keys.

Double Left Click

Performs a double left mouse click at the current location. It will include the current modifier keys.

Ctrl + Left Click

Presses the ctrl modifier key and then performs a left click.

Opt + Left Click

Presses the option modifier key and then performs a left click.

CMD + Left Click

Presses the command modifier key and then performs a left click.

CMD + Double Left Click

Presses the command modifier key and then performs a double left click. This can e.g. be used to open a file in a new tab in Finder.

CMD + Shift + Left Click

Presses the command and shift modifier keys and then performs a left click.

Custom Click (Custom Mouse Buttons & Modifiers)

Performs custom mouse clicks with various options including button type, modifiers, and click behavior.

Move Mouse To Position

Moves the mouse cursor to a specific position on screen.

Save Current Mouse Position

Saves the current mouse cursor position for later restoration.

Restore Saved Mouse Position

Restores the mouse cursor to a previously saved position. If a variable identifier is provided, it first checks the BTT variable with that name for a saved position before falling back to UserDefaults.

Start Drag

Initiates a drag operation at the current mouse position.

Stop Drag

Ends the current drag operation.

Toggle Mouse Speed

Toggles between different mouse speed settings.

Toggle Cursor Size

Toggles the cursor between normal and large size.

Set Cursor Size

Sets the cursor to a specific size.

Scroll

Sends scroll events.

Shift + Click

Presses the shift modifier key and then performs a left click.

Start Drag By Double-Click

Starts a mouse drag operation initiated by a double-click.

Toggle Magic Mouse Touchpad Mode

Toggles Magic Mouse touchpad mode on or off.

Change Mouse Speed And Acceleration

Changes mouse tracking speed and acceleration settings.

Pick Color On Screen And Write To Clipboard

Opens a color picker to select a color from anywhere on screen and writes the result to the clipboard.

All Modifier Keys UP

Releases all modifier keys (Fn, Shift, Ctrl, Option, Command). Useful in action sequences to ensure a clean modifier state.

Keyboard Actions

16 actionsKeyboard Shortcuts deep dive →

Type String

Types a predefined string of text.

Paste String

Pastes a predefined string of text (faster than typing).

Send Keyboard Shortcut

Sends a keyboard shortcut to the system - just as if you had pressed it on your keyboard.

Send Shortcut to Specific App

Sends a keyboard shortcut to a specific application.

Function Keys (F1-F24)

Simulates pressing function keys.

Modifier Key Actions

Simulates pressing and releasing modifier keys (⌘, ⌥, ⌃, ⇧, Fn) — with compatibility options for apps that handle modifier keys in unusual ways.

Set / Press / Release Selected Modifier Keys

Manages multiple modifier keys at once with configurable mode and behavior. Supports pressing, releasing, or setting an exact combination of modifier keys including left/right variants.

ESC Key

Simulates pressing the Escape key.

Toggle Caps Lock

Toggles the Caps Lock state on/off.

Page Navigation Keys

Simulates page navigation keys.

Arrow Keys

Simulates arrow key presses.

Remap Key

Remaps one key to another.

Reset All Key Remappings

Resets all low-level keyboard key remappings to their defaults.

Act as Hyper Key

Makes the trigger key act as a Hyper Key (simultaneous Ctrl+Shift+Opt+Cmd).

Reset Current Key Sequence

Resets / stops the currently active key sequence recognition.

Press Context Menu Key

Simulates pressing the context menu key to show the context menu for the current selection.

Window Management Actions

26 actionsWindow Management deep dive →

Maximize Window

Maximizes the current window to full screen (not fullscreen mode).

Maximize Window Left

Maximizes window to the left half of the screen.

Maximize Window Right

Maximizes window to the right half of the screen.

Resize Window to Quarters

Resizes window to specific quarter of the screen.

Resize Window to Thirds

Resizes window to specific third of the screen.

Resize Window to Halves

Resizes window to top or bottom half of the screen.

Center Window

Centers the current window on screen.

Center Window on Next Monitor

Centers the window on the next monitor.

Move Window to Next Monitor

Moves the current window to the next monitor.

Maximize Window on Next Monitor

Maximizes the window on the next monitor.

Restore Old Window Size

Restores window to its previous size before maximizing.

Close Window Under Cursor

Closes the window under the mouse cursor.

Minimize Window Under Cursor

Minimizes the window under the mouse cursor.

Zoom Window Under Cursor

Zooms (green button) the window under cursor.

Bring Window Under Cursor to Front

Brings the window under the cursor to the front.

Move Window Left/Right

Moves window by a small amount left or right.

Start/Stop Moving Windows

Makes the window under the cursor follow the mouse until moving is stopped.

Start/Stop Resizing Windows

Resizes the window under the cursor with mouse movement until resizing is stopped.

Custom Move/Resize

Moves and resizes window with custom parameters.

Move Window to Specific Size and Position

Moves window to exact coordinates and size.

Window Layout Management

Save and restore window layouts.

Save/Restore Focused Window Size And Position

Saves or restores the size and position of the currently focused window.

Close Window, If Last Window Quit App

Closes the current window. If it is the last window of the application, quits the app entirely.

Pin/Unpin Window to Float on Top

Makes window float above all others or removes float status.

Window Switcher

Shows a window switcher for the current app or all apps.

Arrange Windows Side by Side

Arranges multiple windows side by side.

System Actions

25 actions

Sleep Display

Puts the display to sleep.

Sleep Computer

Puts the computer to sleep.

Logout

Logs out the current user.

Lock Screen

Locks the screen.

Unlock Screen

Unlocks the screen (requires password to be set).

Start Screen Saver

Starts the configured screen saver.

Empty Trash

Empties the trash.

Toggle Do Not Disturb

Toggles Do Not Disturb mode on/off.

Toggle Dark Mode

Toggles between light and dark mode.

Toggle Night Shift

Toggles Night Shift on/off.

Toggle True Tone

Toggles True Tone display on/off.

Show Desktop

Shows the desktop by hiding all windows.

Hide All Windows

Hides all windows of all applications.

Hide All But Active Window

Hides all windows except the currently active one.

Show All Windows

Shows all hidden windows.

Show/Hide Hidden Files

Toggles visibility of hidden files in Finder.

Notification Center

Shows the Notification Center.

Control Center

Shows the Control Center.

Close All Notifications

Closes all visible notifications.

Show Character Viewer

Shows the macOS Character Viewer.

Start Siri

Activates Siri.

Eject

Ejects removable media.

Refresh Status Bar Items

Refreshes all status bar items.

Search Selected Text With Google

Searches for the currently selected text using Google.

Switch to Login Screen

Switches to the macOS login screen without logging out.

Application Control

20 actions

Launch Application

Launches a specific application.

Show/Hide Specific Application

Shows or hides a specific application.

Quit Specific Application

Quits a specific application. Supports standard quit, force quit, and an optional fallback force quit after a timeout.

Quit App Under Cursor

Quits the application that owns the window under cursor.

Hide App Under Cursor

Hides the application under cursor.

Application Switcher

Shows the application switcher.

Activate Previous App

Switches to the previously active application.

Activate Previous Window

Activates the previous window.

Save Active Window

Saves reference to currently active window.

Go Back to Saved Active Window

Returns to previously saved active window.

Activate Specific Window

Activates a window by title or other criteria.

Expose And Sort

Shows Expose and sorts windows automatically.

Show Menu Bar in Context Menu

Shows the application's menu bar as a context menu at the current mouse position.

Show Shortcuts in Context Menu

Shows macOS Shortcuts app shortcuts in a context menu.

Activate Hovered App in Dock

Activates the application whose Dock icon is currently hovered.

Open Finder

Opens a new Finder window.

Create New File in Finder

Creates a new file in the current Finder location and can immediately reveal and open it.

Open Finder Selection with Specific App

Opens selected files in Finder with a specific application.

Compress Currently Selected Finder File

Compresses the currently selected file or folder in Finder into a .zip archive placed next to it (a number is appended to the archive name if it already exists).

Open Selected Folder with App

Opens selected folder with specific app.

Media Controls

13 actions

Play/Pause

Toggles media playback.

Next Track

Skips to the next track.

Previous Track

Goes to the previous track.

Volume Up

Increases system volume.

Volume Down

Decreases system volume.

Volume Up (Small Step)

Increases volume by a small amount.

Volume Down (Small Step)

Decreases volume by a small amount.

Mute

Toggles system mute on/off.

Set Volume

Sets volume to specific level.

Set Audio Output Device

Changes the system audio output device.

Set Audio Input Device

Changes the system audio input device.

Toggle Mute Microphone (Audio Input)

Toggles the mute state of the microphone (audio input device). Optionally also sets the input volume to 0 when muting and restores it when unmuting. Can apply to all connected input devices or just the default input device.

Play Sound File

Plays a sound file.

Display & Brightness

21 actions

Brightness Up

Increases display brightness.

Brightness Down

Decreases display brightness.

Brightness Up (Small Step)

Increases brightness by a small amount.

Brightness Down (Small Step)

Decreases brightness by a small amount.

External Monitor Brightness Up

Increases external monitor brightness.

External Monitor Brightness Down

Decreases external monitor brightness.

External Brightness Up (Small Step)

Increases external brightness by small amount.

External Brightness Down (Small Step)

Decreases external brightness by small amount.

Set Brightness

Sets display brightness to specific level.

Keyboard Illumination Up

Increases keyboard backlight brightness.

Keyboard Illumination Down

Decreases keyboard backlight brightness.

Set Keyboard Brightness

Sets keyboard brightness to specific level.

Toggle Mirroring

Toggles display mirroring on/off.

AirPlay Mirroring

Opens AirPlay mirroring options.

Toggle Super Brightness

Toggles super brightness mode for current display.

Enable Super Brightness

Enables super brightness for current display.

Disable Super Brightness

Disables super brightness for current display.

Move & Maximize All Windows to Mouse Display

Moves and maximizes all windows to the display where the mouse is.

Move All Windows to Mouse Display

Moves all windows to the display where the mouse is, preserving each window's size and relative position.

Rotate Display Clockwise

Rotates the display 90 degrees clockwise.

Rotate Display Counter-Clockwise

Rotates the display 90 degrees counter-clockwise.

Spaces & Mission Control

11 actions

Mission Control

Shows Mission Control.

Mission Control & Show Desktop Preview

Shows Mission Control with desktop preview.

Application Exposé

Shows all windows of current application.

Switch to Desktop (1-19)

Switches to a specific desktop/space.

Move Window to Desktop (1-19)

Moves current window to specific desktop.

Switch Space Left/Right

Switches to the space on the left or right.

Move Window to Left/Right Space

Moves window to adjacent space.

Add New Space

Creates a new desktop space.

Launchpad

Shows Launchpad.

Dashboard

Shows Dashboard (deprecated in newer macOS).

Navigate To Space Or Fullscreen App By ID or Index

Navigates to a specific space or fullscreen app using either its index or its unique ID.

Screenshot Actions

8 actions

Take Screenshot

Takes a screenshot with configurable options.

Screenshot Window

Takes a screenshot of a specific window.

Screenshot and Edit

Takes a screenshot and opens it for editing.

Screenshot to Clipboard

Takes a screenshot directly to clipboard.

Screenshot to Clipboard (New)

Enhanced screenshot to clipboard with more options.

Take Screenshot or Video

Opens screenshot/recording toolbar.

Change Formatting of Clipboard Content

Changes the text formatting of the current clipboard/pasteboard content.

Measure Area on Screen

Shows tool to measure distances on screen.

Clipboard Actions

22 actionsClipboard Manager deep dive →

Toggle Clipboard Manager

Shows/hides the clipboard manager.

Show Clipboard Manager

Shows the clipboard manager window.

Hide Clipboard Manager

Hides the clipboard manager window.

Save Clipboard Contents

Temporarily saves current clipboard contents.

Restore Clipboard Contents

Restores previously saved clipboard contents.

Set Clipboard Contents

Sets the clipboard to specific text or formatted content.

Upload Clipboard to Imgur

Uploads clipboard image to Imgur and copies URL.

Copy Selected Text with JavaScript

Copies selected text transformed by JavaScript.

Transform Clipboard with JavaScript

Transforms clipboard contents using a JavaScript transformer function.

Transform Clipboard with ChatGPT

Transforms clipboard using ChatGPT.

Paste Specific Clipboard Item

Pastes item from clipboard history.

Delete Items from Clipboard Manager

Deletes selected items from clipboard history.

Delete Specific Item from Clipboard

Deletes specific item from clipboard manager.

Paste and Remove Item

Pastes and removes item from clipboard manager.

Custom Paste

Pastes with custom options like plain text.

Check Clipboard Change

Checks if clipboard has changed.

Wait for Clipboard Change

Waits until clipboard content changes.

Enable/Disable Clipboard Manager Watcher

Controls clipboard monitoring.

Copy to Snippet Group

Copies to a specific snippet group.

Copy/Paste Text Style

Copies or pastes text formatting.

Change Formatting of Selected Text

Changes formatting of selected text with extensive customization options.

Change Formatting of Clipboard Contents

Changes formatting of clipboard contents with extensive customization options.

Text & Typing Actions

10 actions

Save Selected Text to Variable

Saves currently selected text to a variable.

Transform Selected Text with JavaScript

Transforms selected text using JavaScript.

Transform Selected Text with ChatGPT

Transforms selected text using ChatGPT.

ChatGPT Selection to Clipboard & Variable

Processes selection with ChatGPT, saves to clipboard and variable.

Reset ChatGPT Conversation

Resets the current ChatGPT conversation context.

Cancel ChatGPT Request

Cancels ongoing ChatGPT request.

OCR Area on Screen

Performs OCR on selected screen area.

Find Text on Screen

Searches for text on screen and clicks it.

Wait for Text on Screen

Waits until specific text appears on screen.

Force Check Selection Change

Forces check for text selection change.

Script Execution

12 actions

Run AppleScript (Blocking)

Runs AppleScript and waits for completion.

Run AppleScript (Background)

Runs AppleScript in background without blocking.

Run JavaScript (Background)

Executes JavaScript code in background.

Run JavaScript (Main Thread)

Executes JavaScript code on main thread.

Run Core JavaScript

Executes Core JavaScript code (BTT's built-in JS engine with async/await support).

Run JavaScript in Browser

Evaluates JavaScript directly in the active tab of a web browser and returns the result. Uses the BetterTouchTool Safari/Chrome browser extension when available. If no matching extension is active, BTT falls back to browser scripting for Safari and Chromium based browsers. Use an async IIFE if you need await. Only Safari and Chromium based browsers are supported.

Terminal Command (Blocking)

Runs terminal command and waits for completion.

Terminal Command (Background)

Runs terminal command in background.

Shell Script Task

Runs shell script with more options.

Automator Workflow

Runs an Automator workflow.

Run Apple Shortcut

Runs a Shortcuts app shortcut.

Trigger Apple Shortcut from System Settings

Triggers system-level shortcut.

BetterTouchTool Control

18 actions

Open BTT Preferences

Opens BetterTouchTool preferences window.

Open Specific BTT Settings

Opens specific section in BTT preferences.

Restart BetterTouchTool

Restarts BetterTouchTool.

Quit BetterTouchTool

Quits BetterTouchTool.

Toggle BetterTouchTool

Enables/disables BetterTouchTool.

Disable Gesture Recognition

Temporarily disables gesture recognition.

Disable Triggers for X Seconds

Disables all triggers temporarily.

Switch to Preset

Switches to a specific preset.

Toggle Preset

Enables/disables a specific preset.

Trigger Named Trigger

Executes a named trigger by name. If the named trigger declares variables, values for them can be passed along.

Trigger Actions for Item with UUID

Triggers actions of specific item by UUID.

Show BTT Menu Bar Status Item Menu

Shows BTT's menu bar menu.

Disable Configured Trigger

Disables a specific trigger identified by its UUID.

Enable Configured Trigger

Enables a previously disabled trigger identified by its UUID.

Save Menu Bar Status Item Layout / Ordering

Saves the current arrangement and ordering of menu bar status items so it can be restored later.

Restore Saved Menu Bar Status Item Layout / Ordering

Restores a previously saved menu bar status item arrangement.

Change Menu Bar Status Item Spacing

Changes the spacing and padding between menu bar status items.

Show Simple JSON Format Menu

Shows a customizable menu built from a simple JSON format. Can use JavaScript to generate menu content dynamically.

Touch Bar Actions

6 actions

Toggle Touch Bar

Shows/hides the Touch Bar.

Show Touch Bar

Shows the Touch Bar.

Hide Touch Bar

Hides the Touch Bar.

Toggle Global Touch Bar

Toggles global Touch Bar visibility.

Open Touch Bar Group

Opens a specific Touch Bar group.

Close Current Touch Bar Group

Closes the currently open Touch Bar group.

Notch Bar Actions

8 actions

Toggle Notch Bar Hidden

Shows/hides the Notch Bar.

Show Notch Bar

Shows the Notch Bar.

Hide Notch Bar

Hides the Notch Bar.

Disable Notch Bar

Completely disables the Notch Bar.

Disable Notch Bar for X Seconds

Temporarily disables Notch Bar.

Toggle Notch Bar Mode

Toggles between Notch Bar modes.

Open Notch Bar Group

Opens specific Notch Bar group.

Close Current Notch Bar Group

Closes current Notch Bar group.

Stream Deck Actions

8 actionsStream Deck & Macro Pads deep dive →

Open Stream Deck Group

Opens a Stream Deck button group.

Close Current Stream Deck Group

Closes current Stream Deck group.

Switch Stream Deck Plugin Profile

Switches the Stream Deck plugin to a different profile. Bundled starter profiles are available for all supported BTT Stream Deck plugin device types, and the amount is configurable when installing the BTT Stream Deck plugin. Leave the profile name empty to return to the previous profile. An optional page number (1-based) can be specified to jump directly to a specific page within the profile. If no target device serial is specified, BetterTouchTool switches all connected Stream Deck plugin devices. Legacy names such as BTT Main and BTT Focus are still recognized and mapped to the numbered starter profiles.

Macro Pad: Change / Set Brightness

Changes (relative) or sets (absolute) the brightness of connected macro pad devices. These actions are hardware-agnostic: they drive Elgato Stream Deck devices as well as the Mirabox / AJAZZ "Stream Dock" family (AKP03, AKP05E, AKP153, M18 and rebadges) and Loupedeck / Razer Stream Controller devices. The action IDs are unchanged - only the displayed names were updated from "Stream Deck: Change/Set Brightness" to "Macro Pad: Change/Set Brightness". Non-Elgato macro pads require macOS 13.0 or later.

Macro Pad: Turn Off / Turn On / Toggle

Turns connected macro pad devices off or on, or toggles them. Like the brightness actions these are hardware-agnostic and cover Elgato Stream Deck devices as well as the Mirabox / AJAZZ "Stream Dock" family and Loupedeck / Razer Stream Controller devices. The action IDs are unchanged - only the displayed names were updated from "Turn Stream Deck Off/On" and "Toggle Stream Deck On/Off" to "Macro Pad: Turn Off / Turn On / Toggle On/Off". On Mirabox/AJAZZ and Loupedeck hardware there is no separate power switch: "off" sets the panel brightness to 0 and "on" restores the brightness that was used before. Non-Elgato macro pads require macOS 13.0 or later.

Show/Hide Stream Deck Emulator

Controls Stream Deck emulator window.

Activate Stream Deck Touch Screen Group

Activates touch screen configuration on Stream Deck+.

Temporarily Change Stream Deck Item

Temporarily changes display of Stream Deck button.

Floating Menu Actions

19 actions

Show Floating Menu

Shows a specific floating menu.

Hide Floating Menu

Hides a specific floating menu.

Toggle Floating Menu

Toggles visibility of floating menu.

Open Floating Menu Submenu

Opens a submenu in floating menu. You can specify the target either by item UUID, or by menu name + item name.

Close Floating Menu Submenu

Closes current floating menu submenu. You can optionally provide the parent menu name or UUID. If no identifier is provided, all open submenus will be closed.

Floating Menu Execute JavaScript

Executes JavaScript in a floating menu web view item. Target the item by UUID, or by menu name + item name.

Floating Menu Load HTML

Loads HTML or URL into a floating menu web view item. Target the item by UUID, or by menu name + item name.

Floating Menu Evaluate Scripts

Re-evaluates all scripts in a floating menu.

Floating Menu Re-evaluate Position

Recalculates floating menu position based on its positioning configuration.

Floating Menu Bring to Mouse Screen

Moves floating menu to the screen where the mouse cursor is located.

Trigger Floating Menu Highlighted Item

Triggers the currently highlighted menu item in a floating menu.

Trigger Highlighted Item and Hide Menu

Triggers the currently highlighted item and then hides the menu.

Trigger Specific Floating Menu Item

Executes a floating menu item exactly like clicking it (runs the item's assigned actions).

Floating Menu Hover/Unhover

Controls hover state of a floating menu item.

Update Floating Menu Item Properties

Dynamically updates properties of a floating menu item at runtime. This is configured through the floating menu item property editor in BTT preferences.

Update Floating Menu Properties

Dynamically updates properties of a floating menu itself at runtime. This is configured through the floating menu property editor in BTT preferences.

Reset Floating Menu Item Properties

Resets dynamically changed item properties back to their defaults. Right-click an item in BTT to copy its UUID. If no UUID is provided, the action applies to the item this action is assigned to.

Run Floating Menu Content Scripts

Executes content scripts in a floating menu (re-runs shell scripts, AppleScripts, etc. assigned to menu items).

Toggle Attach / Pin Floating Menu To Active Window

Attaches or detaches a floating menu to/from the currently active window, so the menu moves with the window.

Control Flow Actions

33 actions

Delay (Async / Non-Blocking)

This action pauses the execution of the current action sequence but allows the BTT process to continue processing other stuff. Usually you'd use this action to add some delays to your action sequences, e.g. when waiting for some UI to react. If you need longer timeouts (e.g. to trigger something after 10 minutes) use the "Trigger Action Sequence After Timeout" action instead.

Delay (Blocking)

This one freezes the BTT process for the specified amount of time, preventing any action processing during that time. You should only ever use this with small delays.

Start Repeat

This marks the start of a for loop / repeat. All actions that come between this and the "End / Stop Repeat" action will be repeated.

End / Stop Repeat

Marks the end of the repeat / for loop.

Break

Can only be used between "Start Repeat" and "End/Stop Repeat". Behaves like a standard break e.g. in JavaScript.

Cancel Repeat

This will cancel the specified repeat loop (if it is running).

IF Condition

Starts conditional block based on variable.

IF JavaScript True

Conditional based on JavaScript evaluation.

IF AppleScript True

Conditional based on AppleScript evaluation.

IF Image Visible

Conditional based on image visibility on screen.

IF Text Visible

Conditional based on text visibility on screen.

ELSE

Else clause for IF conditions.

END IF

Ends conditional block.

Execute Action Sequence After Timeout (Cancellable)

This allows to execute an action sequence after a specific amount of time. While the previously described delay actions are only meant to be used for short delays, this one can also be used for longer delays. Additionally you can specify a name for the timer, which allows you to cancel it if necessary.

Cancel Timed / Delayed Action Sequences

Cancels the execution of action sequences that has been scheduled via predefined action "Execute Action Sequence After Timeout (Cancellable)".

Ask For Input & Save To Variable

Shows a floating input field and saves the entered text into a variable.

Wait for Keyboard Input

This will pause the currently executing action sequence until the specified continue or cancel key has been pressed.

Wait for Conditions To Become True

This will pause the currently executing action sequence until the specified conditions have been met.

Cancel Wait for Conditions To Become True

This will cancel a wait for conditions action.

Wait for Change Of Focused Window

This will pause the currently executing action sequence until the focused window changes.

Break

Breaks out of current loop or control structure.

Continue With Next Action

Continues to next action in sequence.

Stop All Action Sequences

Stops all running action sequences.

Wait For Conditions

Waits for specific conditions to become true.

Cancel Wait For Conditions

Cancels waiting for conditions.

Wait For App Launch/Terminate

Waits for app state changes.

Wait For Image to Become Visible

Waits for image to appear on screen.

Wait For Focus Change

Waits for window focus to change.

Wait For Keyboard Input

Waits for specific keyboard input.

Trigger Action Sequence After Timeout

Schedules actions to run after delay.

Cancel Action Sequence After Timeout

Cancels scheduled action sequence.

Wait For Other BetterTouchTool Trigger To Fire

Pauses the action sequence and waits until a specific trigger (identified by UUID) fires. If the trigger doesn't fire within the timeout, the wait is cancelled.

Debounce

Only continues the action sequence if the last execution has been more than X seconds ago. Useful to prevent rapid repeated execution of expensive actions.

Variable Actions

8 actions

Set Variable

Sets a persistent or temporary variable.

Increase Variable

Increases numeric variable value.

Toggle Variable

Toggles variable between values.

Toggle Multiple Variables / Cycle Through Multiple Actions

Toggles multiple variables at once or cycles through multiple actions.

Toggle On/Off

Simple on/off toggle for variable.

Ask For Input & Save to Variable

Shows input dialog and saves to variable.

Refresh Condition Values

Re-evaluates all condition-based variables.

Show Variables View

Shows window with all current variables.

Device Control

26 actions

Connect Bluetooth Device

Connects to a Bluetooth device.

Disconnect Bluetooth Device

Disconnects a Bluetooth device.

Toggle Bluetooth Device

Toggles Bluetooth device connection.

Enable Bluetooth

Enables Bluetooth on the system.

Disable Bluetooth

Disables Bluetooth on the system.

Toggle Bluetooth

Toggles Bluetooth on/off.

Connect MIDI Device

Connects to a MIDI device.

Send MIDI Command

Sends a MIDI command to a connected MIDI device / endpoint.

Send OSC Message

Sends an Open Sound Control (OSC) message to a UDP host/port. Arguments are provided as a JSON array.

Send Raw Data to Generic Device

Sends raw data to connected device.

Execute Generic Device Command

Executes command on generic device.

Connect Sidecar

Connects iPad as Sidecar display.

Disconnect Sidecar

Disconnects Sidecar display.

BTT Mobile Actions

Controls BTT Mobile companion app.

Mobile Trackpad Widget

Shows a configurable trackpad on BTT Mobile device.

Siri Remote Mouse Mode

Controls Siri Remote mouse mode.

Logitech: Change Mouse DPI

Changes the DPI (sensitivity) setting of a Logitech mouse (e.g. MX Master).

Logitech: Change Smart Shift / Ratchet Mode / Scroll Settings

Changes smart shift, ratchet mode, and scroll settings of a Logitech mouse.

Logitech: Change LED Color

Changes the LED color of a Logitech device.

Logitech: Change Report Rate

Changes the report rate (polling rate in Hz) of a Logitech mouse.

Logitech: Change Profile

Switches the onboard profile of a Logitech device.

Logitech: Increase / Decrease Keyboard Brightness

Increases or decreases the keyboard backlight brightness of a Logitech keyboard.

Logitech: Increase / Decrease Mouse DPI

Incrementally increases or decreases the mouse DPI by a scale factor.

Logitech: Toggle Ratchet Mode

Toggles the scroll wheel ratchet mode (free-spin vs. ratchet) of a Logitech mouse.

Logitech: Haptic Feedback

Triggers haptic feedback on a supported Logitech mouse (MX Master 4 only).

Logitech: Change Host / Channel

Switches the active host/channel (1-3) on a multi-device Logitech device.

UI Automation Actions

28 actions

Find Position of Image on Screen

Finds image on screen and optionally clicks it.

Scroll

Sends scroll events.

Start/Stop Scroll Blocking

Blocks scroll events from reaching apps.

Zoom (Pinch)

Performs zoom/pinch gesture.

Rotate

Performs rotation gesture.

Smart Zoom

Performs smart zoom (double tap with two fingers).

Look Up

Shows definition/info for selected text.

Show Context Menu

Shows context menu at current position.

Show Context Menu for Selection

Shows context menu for selected text.

Trigger Menu Bar Item

Clicks a menu bar menu item.

Trigger Context Menu Item

Clicks item in context menu.

Click Status Bar Item

Clicks a status bar item.

Show/Hide Status Bar Items

Controls visibility of status bar items.

Move Status Bar Item

Moves status bar item to new position.

Search Menu Bar Status Items

Opens search for status bar items.

Click Button in Active Window

Clicks a button by name in active window.

Change Slider Value

Changes the value of a slider with the given name in the active window/dialog, either relatively (default) or absolutely.

Interact with UI Element

Generic UI element interaction using accessibility (AX) paths.

Show UI Element Viewers

Shows debugging viewers for UI elements.

Get Hovered Link/URL

Gets link or URL under mouse cursor.

Start/End Keyboard Input Blocking

Blocks keyboard input from reaching apps.

Lock Mouse Axis Movement

Locks mouse movement to specific axis.

Start / Stop Smooth Scroll

Starts or stops continuous smooth scrolling. Can be used to simulate touchpad-like smooth scrolling.

Start / Stop Smooth Zoom

Starts or stops continuous smooth zooming (pinch zoom gesture simulation).

Start / Stop Smooth Rotate

Starts or stops continuous smooth rotation (rotation gesture simulation).

Start / Stop Smooth Space Switch

Starts or stops smooth space switching animation (smooth horizontal desktop transition).

Start Dictation / Speech Recognition

Starts recognizing and transcribing speech using macOS speech recognition. Requires macOS 26+ and microphone permission. All settings live in actionData.

Stop Dictation & Paste or Copy

Stops speech recognition and pastes or copies the transcribed text. Vocabulary and replacements are taken from the action that started the recognition.

Custom Actions

56 actions

Show Custom Context Menu

Shows a custom context menu with items.

Show Custom HTML Menu

Shows menu with HTML content.

Show Searchable List

Shows a searchable list of items. Items can be provided statically or retrieved dynamically from a script.

Show Floating Web View

Shows floating window with web content.

Close Floating Web View

Closes floating web view window.

Show HUD

Shows a heads-up display overlay with a message.

Show Notification

Shows system notification.

Haptic Feedback

Triggers haptic feedback on trackpad. Supports built-in patterns and custom haptic presets.

Show Color Picker

Shows the color picker dialog.

Show Cheat Sheet

Shows the cheat sheet (an overview of the triggers configured in BTT). Which triggers are included is configured via a trigger-selection dictionary; the cheat sheet's visual appearance is configured in the BTT preferences, not per action.

Hide/Toggle Cheat Sheet

Controls cheat sheet visibility.

Open URL

Opens URL in default browser.

Post Distributed Notification

Posts a system-wide notification.

Change Input Source

Changes keyboard input source/language.

Change Default Browser

Changes system default browser.

Set Function Key Mode

Sets function key behavior.

Call macOS Service

Calls a macOS service by name.

Set Icon for File

Sets custom icon for file/folder/app.

Create Snap Area

Creates a new window snap area.

Edit Snap Areas

Opens snap area editor.

Trigger Snap Area

Triggers specific snap area.

Plugin Action

Executes a BTT plugin action.

JSON Action Plugin

Executes a JSON-based action plugin (.bttjsonplugin). JSON plugins are simple JSON files that define actions with configurable form fields and placeholder substitution. They do not require compiled code — just a .bttjsonplugin file placed in the BetterTouchTool Plugins folder.

Comment

No-op action for adding comments in action sequences.

Separator

Visual separator in action lists.

AI Actions

AI-related actions for ChatGPT integration.

AI Chat Window

Opens an AI chat window with customizable settings.

h@llo.ai - Show Customizable AI Assistant

Shows the customizable h@llo.ai (hello.ai) AI assistant window.

h@llo.ai - Update AI Chat Properties

Updates properties of an active h@llo.ai chat session.

h@llo.ai - Cancel All Ongoing Requests

Cancels all ongoing h@llo.ai AI requests.

h@llo.ai - Close All Assistant Windows

Closes all open h@llo.ai assistant windows.

h@llo.ai - Run AI Task In Background

Runs an AI task in the background without showing a window.

Codex Controller Actions

Overview of the Codex Controller action family (605-614). BetterTouchTool uses a Codex app-server for task discovery, creates new tasks through the ChatGPT/Codex desktop composer, and forwards existing-task operations to the desktop app so both surfaces stay on the same live task. All actions require macOS 13.0 or later.

Codex Controller - Start Task

Starts a new Codex task.

Codex Controller - Send Message To Task

Sends a message to an existing Codex task.

Codex Controller - Stop Active Turn

Stops the currently running turn of a Codex task.

Codex Controller - Fork Task

Forks an existing Codex task into a new one.

Codex Controller - Open Task In Codex

Opens a task in the Codex app.

Codex Controller - Approve Pending Request

Approves a pending Codex approval request.

Codex Controller - Decline Pending Request

Declines a pending Codex approval request.

Codex Controller - Refresh Tasks

Refreshes the Codex task list / snapshot data.

Codex Controller - Set Active Task

Selects the task targeted by the shared control items in a Floating Menu and opens that task in the Codex app. It does not start a turn.

Codex Controller - Agent Key

Reproduces a Codex Micro Agent Key as one composable action. The first tap selects and navigates to the task without activating Codex. A second tap on the same key within the macOS double-click interval opens the task and brings Codex front and center. Selecting a completed task acknowledges its green completion state and returns it to idle.

Show Launcher

Shows the BetterTouchTool Launcher. Requires macOS 13.0 or later. Supports optional positioning configuration to control where the launcher window appears. You can also set a stable launcher ID so multiple actions target the same launcher instance. In "Move & Resize Freely" mode (default), BetterTouchTool remembers the last position per launcher ID when one is set, otherwise it keeps the legacy per-trigger behavior.

Hide Launcher

Hides the BetterTouchTool Launcher. Requires macOS 13.0 or later. If no launcher ID is provided, BetterTouchTool hides the currently active launcher.

Toggle Launcher

Toggles the BetterTouchTool Launcher visibility. Requires macOS 13.0 or later.

Stage Manager Actions

Controls macOS Stage Manager.

Dock Actions

Performs actions on dock items.

Toggle Actions

Various toggle actions.

Login/Security Actions

Login and security related actions.

Advanced Click Actions

Clicks with specific modifiers.

Gesture Control

Controls for trackpad/mouse gestures.

Zoom In/Out

System zoom controls.

Window Snapping

Split screen and window snapping.

Fullscreen

Fullscreen control.

No Action

Placeholder that performs no action.

More Actions

8 actions

Change Default Browser/Handler

Changes the default application handler for specific file types, URL schemes, or UTIs.

OCR (Extract Text from Image)

Performs optical character recognition on screen content or images.

Remap Key

Remaps keyboard input with customizable modifier keys and key codes.

Send Data to Connected BTT Mobile/iOS Device

Sends data to a connected BetterTouchTool mobile device.

Unlock Screen (with Password)

Unlocks the Mac screen using a stored password.

Dock App Click: Activate / Restore / Minimize

Smart Dock-icon click handling for the application under the mouse cursor. Activates the app and raises/restores its windows if it is hidden or all of its windows are minimized; otherwise it minimizes or hides it. Only works while the mouse is over an application icon in the macOS Dock (typically assigned to a Dock icon trigger or a mouse click).

Macro Pad: Show Menu / Next Page / Previous Page

Navigation actions for macro pads that are driven by a floating menu (Elgato Stream Deck, the Mirabox / AJAZZ "Stream Dock" family and Loupedeck / Razer Stream Controller). These replace the old "Open / Close Stream Deck Group" workflow: "Show Menu" retargets a pad at a different floating menu at runtime, the page actions move through the pages of the menu currently shown on the pad. To enter or leave a submenu on a pad, use "Open Floating Menu Submenu" (472) / "Close Floating Menu Submenu" (445) - those actions apply to macro pads too. Requires macOS 13.0 or later.

Ignore Built-In Trackpad While Mouse Present

Enables, disables or toggles the macOS setting "Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present" (System Settings => Accessibility => Pointer Control). The change applies immediately, no logout is necessary. This is a system wide setting, so it stays in effect until it is changed again - also after quitting BetterTouchTool. It only has an effect on Macs that have a built-in trackpad. The current state is available in the ignore_builtin_trackpad_active variable, which can also be used as a condition in conditional activation groups.

Configuring actions programmatically? The action JSON reference documents every action's parameters. Or explore all features.

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