ActionClip supports a complete keyboard workflow. You can decide whether keyboard selection opens the widget automatically, enter navigation with a double-modifier shortcut, or bypass the widget with a shortcut assigned to one action.

Choose when the widget opens

  1. Open ActionClip → Settings.
  2. Find Widget Opening.
  3. Set Mouse selection and Keyboard selection independently to Auto or Shortcut only.

Keyboard selection includes Shift-arrow selection and Select All. Auto opens the widget after that selection. Shortcut only waits until you use the Keyboard navigation shortcut.

Start keyboard navigation

Under Widget Opening → Keyboard navigation, choose the modifier to double-press. The default is Option. Double-press it while text is selected to open the widget with the first available control highlighted. If the widget opened automatically in pointer mode, double-press the same key to begin keyboard navigation.

  • Left/Right: move across the main widget and wrap at the ends.
  • Down: enter the highlighted group or More menu.
  • Up: move to the previous menu row; from the first row, return to the parent chip.
  • Return: run the highlighted action.
  • Escape: close the current keyboard surface.

Highlighting a group opens its menu immediately. While you are inside a group, Left or Right leaves the group and moves to the neighboring main-widget action. Moving away closes the previous group.

Highlighting More opens it and focuses the search field. Start typing to filter all enabled actions, including actions already visible in the main widget and actions inside groups. Use Up and Down to choose a result and Return to run it. Left or Right leaves More and returns to the neighboring main-widget chip.

Run an action directly

  1. Open Settings → Action Shortcuts.
  2. Choose Configure shortcuts.
  3. Search for an enabled action and record a two- or three-key shortcut.

These shortcuts work globally on the current text selection. They are useful for actions you run frequently without opening the widget.

Troubleshooting

  • The widget opens but nothing is highlighted: double-press the configured Keyboard navigation modifier.
  • A shortcut does not run: confirm the action is enabled and resolve any conflict shown beside it.
  • Typing closes the widget: enter More first; its search field accepts normal typing. Other typing is forwarded to the source app.
  • The wrong modifier is used: return to Widget Opening and choose a different modifier for Keyboard navigation.
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