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Why does pressing m then return opens Mail?

Pressing m and then return sometimes opens the Mail app on Mac OSX Big Sur. I can't find documentation on this, as it doesn't seem to be a defined shortcut.


Normally shortcuts are two keys at the same time, but this is one then the other. I've found other combinations:

b then return opens Photo Booth.

a then return opens App Store.

something opens the activity monitor but I'm still not sure what it is.


How do I turn this off? I hate it.

Posted on Mar 10, 2022 2:02 AM

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9 replies

Mar 10, 2022 3:35 AM in response to aortiza

1 - Suggest restarting in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.


2 - Does the issue present in this mode ?


3 - If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up. To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac. Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.


4 - If the issue is present in the dummy account - then this appears to be a System Wide issue.


5 - Suggest downloading the Application Etrecheck directly from a well Respected ASC Contributor. And Safe to use.


The application is free or paid from added features. 


Run the application with Full Disc Access ( Security & Privacy - Full Disc Access ).



It will take a Snap Shot -  both the hardware and software.


 The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 


Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last )


We can have a look at the report for possible issues and may have possible suggestions to resolve the issues.


Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, alter, modify, remove or delete or attempt to do so is an invitation for disaster and may require a Reinstallation of the OS.


Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions 


This includes AntiVirus, Disk Cleaners, Disk Optimizes, UnInstaller etc.


This will include CleanMyMac , This will include BitDefender


This will included Norton Antivirus , Sophos Av Software


Intego AntiVirus, McAfee, MacKeeper, Avast AntiVirus


Ad Guard, Webroot


The The Built in Security  is all that is required.

Mar 10, 2022 3:29 AM in response to PRP_53

This didn't help. I had checked the keyboard shortcuts, but just to be safe, I restored defaults for all the options in the left sidebar, and this behavior is still there.


I purposely tried to create a shortcut that works as a sequence of keys, and it was not possible. I could only create shortcuts that are simultaneous key presses.


Mar 10, 2022 5:38 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I thought of Spotlight, but it's not open when it happens.


I found out about it when using a Jupyter Notebook in Chrome. m is the key used to create a text cell, and return is used to edit such cell, so every time I try to do this, I end up opening the Mail app.


However, it also works if I'm in the Finder. The same happens if I'm in Chrome without a Jupyter Notebook open, just a regular Google home page or from Preview.


While testing this, I found out that the correct sequence must start with esc. It's then esc, then m, then return.



Mar 10, 2022 6:42 AM in response to aortiza

I use the Esc-m-return sequence all the time in Jupyter, too.


macOS shortcuts are not composed of keys in sequence, but simultaneously.

This has me thinking that maybe you have installed some program that handles such input in a different way, like BetterTouchTool, and that such sequence is activated in such a program as a way to launch Mail.



Why does pressing m then return opens Mail?

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