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Make your pre-Lion keyboard work with Launchpad (Updated)

by Megan Lavey-Heaton Jul 22nd 2011 at 11:30AM

It's not surprising that along with OS X Lion's release that Apple would also update its keyboards that highlight the software's new features. iSpazio posted a couple of images showing the new F3 and F4 buttons that toggle Mission Control and Launchpad respectively along with tweaked icons. These keys were originally earmarked for Exposé and Dashboard. If you have an older Apple keyboard, the F3 button automatically switches to Mission Control once Lion is installed. The F4 key retains the Dashboard toggle.

But, if you want your older keyboard's F4 key to access Launchpad without completely reverting all the F keys back to normal function keys -- the default in System Preferences -- it's doable with a couple of free workarounds.

The first is to download FunctionFlip, which allows you to turn individual F keys into normal function keys. Then use Quicksilver or another remapping software to remap the F4 key to activate Launchpad. Although the latest releases for both programs are for 10.6 (and show the older Exposé and Dashboard settings respectively), they work just fine in Lion. If you already have Quicksilver or you're interested in integrating it to your workflow, this is a good way to go.

The second is one commenter Jess came up with that takes Quicksilver out of the equation. Before installing FunctionFlip, go into System Preferences>Keyboard>Keyboard Shortcuts and select Launchpad and Dock. Make sure "Show Launchpad" is clicked, then click on the blank space to the right, which will allow you to set a keyboard shortcut. Press F4 (or Function key+F4) or whatever key you want to bind.

However, the F4 key defaults to Dashboard even after setting the shortcut, so you still need to install FunctionFlip. Once you've activated it and toggle the F4 key in FunctionFlip, the Launchpad shortcut will work as set.

Update: Post updated to add in second method.



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It's not surprising that along with OS X Lion's release that Apple would also update its keyboards that highlight the software's new...
 

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24 Comments

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mazzmatazz

Second method is perfect. Took me a few seconds and now Dashboard works exactly like it did in 10.6.

What I did - Prefs > Mission Control > turned off "Show Dashboard as a space" and assigned "Show Dashboard" to F4. Installed FunctionFlip, then ticked only the F4 box.

I am now going to go prise the F4 key off my 10.6 keyboard to replace this ugly Launchpad one.

November 12 2011 at 8:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
AndyB

I did what the last part suggested, going into System Preferences and simply made LaunchPad launch when F5 is pressed. In both my BT aluminum and wired aluminum keyboards F5 & F6 appear to do nothing.
Seems simple. We'll see if it keeps working.
AndyB.
BTW These are connected to my Mini. Can't recall if my old MacBook has any free F keys.

October 22 2011 at 11:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matthew

functionflip is working in 10.7? I was having a pretty bad time in 10.6 with my clicks being ignored until I disabled functionflip. is anyone experiencing this?

August 06 2011 at 9:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Daryl

There is a way to do this without using either Function Flip or Quicksilver.

Follow Jess' tip, but follow up on this by clicking the Mission Control Section and uncheck show Dashboard.

I should point out that I have made the function keys by default, so using FN + F4 still takes me to the Dashboard/Widget page, but just clicking F4 activates Launchpad. If you don't have that on by default it's the reverse (ie FN + F4 opens Launch Pad)

July 31 2011 at 12:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Daryl's comment
Daryl

Sure you would've understood but I meant I have the Function Keys performing there alternative by default

July 31 2011 at 1:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cedsoft

Thanks for this tip ! I was wondering how to do it.

I haven't tested QuickSilver yet but it works just fine with FunctionFlip on its own.
After disabling the DashBoard's key in FF, it was possible to remap it (F4) to LaunchPad on my not-that-old MBA (via the standard keyboard settings panel).

July 23 2011 at 7:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jess Hooton

FunctionFlip works like magic in Lion!

Here is what to do to replace that useless Dashboard hot key:

System Preferences / Keyboard / Keyboard Shortcuts / LaunchPad & Dock. Make sure Show LaunchPad is checked. Then on the far right of that text line click the white space that looks like nothing - stupid, right? Simply click the Dashboard F4 key and its logged.

Lastly download the FunctionFlip. It will be on the bottom row of options in System Preferences. Once open simply click the F4 checkable option on the left list and BAM. Its done. Click the F4 for fun. LaunchPad is already waiting.

Apple NEEDS to set up better migration of shortcut keys for older hardware for those of us who'd like to use their new features more readily! Enough said. Enjoy LaunchPad with one click.

July 23 2011 at 2:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jess Hooton's comment
Megan Lavey-Heaton

Thanks, Jess! I'm going to update the post with this one. It's a faster solution than installing Quicksilver.

July 28 2011 at 4:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Carlos

I have an older MacBook (Black Late 2007, 2.2 GHZ Intel C2D, 4GB Ram). I just set F5 as the Show Launchpad command. You can set your own command. Turn On & Log Into your Mac>System Preferences>Keyboard>Keyboard Shortcuts>select Launchpad & Dock>Check the box next to "Show Launchpad" then click the space to the right to enter your command. I entered F5 because F3 & F4 already have familiar functions. Besides I'm still getting used to some of the new new functions that I don't need to add any more confusion.

July 22 2011 at 8:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
andymckay2001

The easy way didn't work at first but this is what I got to work. sys prefs, keyboard, keyboard, enable 'use all F1, F2 etc' switch to shortcuts, click launchpad and dock, double click 'show launchpad' and press F5. Go back to the keyboard tab and turn off 'Use all F1, F2 etc'. This will map F5 to launchpad.
When I tried using F4 it would just revert back to Dashboard. So thought what the hell, lets use F5

July 22 2011 at 7:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
The Graphic Mac

I think all of you need to go back and read the article. The whole point of the FunctionFlip app is to allow you to keep MOST of the standard Fkeys set so that what's printed on the key is actually what it does (brightness, etc.) except for the one or two you want to change.

If you go to Sys Prefs and click the "Use all F1, F2, etc.," button, then you lose ALL those shortcuts because there's no way to adjust brightness or volume, or keyboard backlighting via a menu command. Apple's option is an "all or nothing" option, and it doesn't allow you to configure the Fkeys any way you wish.

July 22 2011 at 6:10 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to The Graphic Mac's comment
Tom Steerforth

I have never heard of FunctionFlip before. Apple's solution is (yet another) all or nothing, unlike this article's, so I frankly don't understand the hate.

But maybe most of them didn't even bother reading beyond the article's title, so...

July 24 2011 at 9:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gtp231

Agreed, changing the keyboard shortcut is great, but you can do it without anything downloaded as mentioned here. go into the keyboard prefs pane and click on launchpad and it seems like nothing is there, but go to the blank space on the right and flick and then put whatever button you want to assign there...works great

July 22 2011 at 2:49 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
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