Command Palette & Quick Capture
Capture and start tasks from anywhere on your Mac with global shortcuts.
Command palette
The command palette is a Spotlight-style floating panel. Open it from anywhere with ⌃⌘T (configurable), with ⌘N inside the app, or via the floating button.
One text field does it all:
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
Type a title + Return | Create the task |
Type a title + ⌘Return | Create and start it immediately |
| Type an existing task's name | Search your FocusMo and external (Things, Reminders) tasks — ⌘Return starts the match |
30m, 1h 30m, until 5pm | Set the session duration inline |
@project | Assign a Project (Pro) |
noreset | Pin against daily reset |
Shift+Tab | Cycle timer mode |
Tab | Accept autocomplete |
The command palette is unavailable in Zen Mode — that's the point of Zen Mode.
Capture from any app
With text selected in any application:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌃⌘A | Smart Text Capture — turn the selection into task(s) |
| ⌃⌘S | Create a task from the selection and start a session on it |
| ⌃⌘I | Add the selection to the Big Tasks Island |
All three need the macOS Accessibility permission (to read the selection).
Drag Focus (Fn + text selection)
The zero-shortcut way to capture: select text in any app and hold the Fn key for a moment — a small menu pops up at your cursor to turn the selection into a task. It works universally, in every app and browser.
Enable it in Settings → Features → Auto Text Selection Menu (that's Drag Focus's formal name), or via the menu bar. It needs the Accessibility permission to read the selected text. Off by default.
All global shortcuts
Configurable in Settings → Shortcuts:
| Action | Default |
|---|---|
| Toggle command palette | ⌃⌘T |
| Toggle timer (play/pause; opens quick-add if nothing active) | ⌥⌘F |
| Toggle main window | ⇧⌘M |
| Start short break (Pomodoro) | ⇧⌘B |
| Smart text capture | ⌃⌘A |
| Start task from selection | ⌃⌘S |
| Add selection to Big Tasks Island | ⌃⌘I |
Floating button
A small draggable button that floats above all windows and Spaces (on by default). Click opens the command palette (or an inline mini task list — right-click to switch modes).