Remapping the F4 key to Launchpad from Spotlight automatically on start

Guys if you want to change buttons F4 (launchpad), F5 (brightness low) and F6 (brightness up) as it was before on older Macs just add this code into your Library folder:

~/Library/LaunchAgents` saving the file with .plist extension (full name of file should be: com.local.KeyRemapping.plist)

It will Remapping your keyboard settings on launch of your system.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.local.KeyRemapping</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/bin/hidutil</string>
        <string>property</string>
        <string>--set</string>
        <string>{"UserKeyMapping":[
            {
              "HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc": 0xC000000CF,
              "HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst": 0xFF00000009
            },
            {
              "HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc": 0x10000009B,
              "HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst": 0xFF00000008
            },
              {
              "HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc": 0xC00000221,
              "HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst": 0x0C000002A2
            }
        ]}</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

I find this thread a bit surreal. F4 is not associated to Spotlight but to Launchpad.

Not always. As mentioned above, on my M1 MacBook Air the F4 key opens Spotlight. It has the Spotlight symbol (magnifying glass) printed on the key.

Visual Aid…

You can use a macro app like Keyboard Maestro to remap any key to any function, post fixed text via a typed string and change settings is apps like I do when I want to activate/deactivate a CSS file and change minimum font size for Safari:

Couldn't you run an Apple Script via an Automator app to execute the required Terminal command (example below illustrates executing the "pwd" command)? The Automator app could then be set up as a login item (in Users & Groups System Preference).

- Pie Lover

P.S. I also found an article that may be of interest

On my Macs, the F4 key is Launchpad (or somewhere close to F4).

It's a complete waste for me because I can't understand why we needed a Launchpad in the first place.

Do you not have a Launchpad key already?

FWIW, the F4 key on my M1 MacBook Air is assigned to Spotlight. All my Intel Macs are set to Launchpad.

My wireless keyboard with Touch ID is set for Spotlight. I doubt I can break the muscle memory, but at least the shortcut key is useful.

Yes but I already have the code I just need the OS to automatically use it on startup shouldnt be that hard

Create a launchd plist to run the shell script on login. Put the plist into /Library/LaunchAgents.

I find this thread a bit surreal. F4 is not associated to Spotlight but to Launchpad.

I think the really relevant question is WHY in your system F4 invoked Spotlight in the first place?

There must be either: a) some corruption that prevents changing it back to Launchpad; or b) something that launches at startup or login and sets F4 to open Spotlight.

Does the problem also occur if you start in Safe Mode?