Alex Ruben
How To Supercharge Your Mac with This Essential App
So, if you’ve ever felt like your Mac could just *do more*, but you’re stuck fumbling around the default settings, you’re not alone. Supercharge promises to add a bunch of tweaks and shortcuts that can make your life easier. But, honestly, some of it works better than others, and figuring out what really sticks can be a pain. This rundown walks through the most useful tweaks I’ve tested—what helped, what felt half-baked, and what might be worth your time. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth messing with or just want simple ways to tweak your workflow, keep reading.
How to Tweak macOS with Supercharge
Getting the App Installed — The Quick & Dirty Method
First things first, you need the app itself. Downloading Supercharge is straightforward but not exactly seamless. You go to this link, grab the DMG, and then it’s pretty much standard for Mac apps:
- Open the DMG, usually by double-clicking it from your Downloads folder.
- Look for the app icon, drag it into Applications.
- If it warns you about unidentified developers, go into System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General, and click Open Anyway.
Because of course, Mac has to make it harder than necessary. On some setups, you might need to adjust security settings or give runtime permissions for things to work smoothly, especially for tweaks like unminimize and moving files.
Method 1: Enable Quick App Launch with Keyboard Shortcuts
Supercharge makes launching apps faster, which is a game changer if you hate digging through the Dock. Here’s how:
- Launch Supercharge, then head to the Shortcuts tab.
- Scroll down to add a new shortcut. Assign a Option + U or whatever makes sense for your workflow.
- Choose the app from the list or browse to the executable inside /Applications.
This helps because, honestly, looking for apps can be a productivity killer. Not sure why it works, but on some setups, shortcuts sometimes don’t register immediately, so a reboot or relaunch of Supercharge can fix weird glitches.
Method 2: Make Minimized Windows Reopen with Command-Tab
This is a little trick that felt weird to me at first — macOS doesn’t natively unminimize apps when you press Command + Tab. Supercharge can change that, which is great if you habitually minimize instead of quitting apps. To do this:
- Go to Tweaks in the settings menu.
- Toggle on Unminimize windows when the app becomes active.
Expect that switching back to an app will bring up its window instead of just switching focus. Sometimes it’s not perfect—on one setup it worked immediately, on another, a quick relaunch of the app or reboot might be necessary.
Method 3: Use Cut & Paste for Files — Because macOS Doesn’t Make It Easy
Here’s a weird one — macOS doesn’t really support Command + X for files, only for text. Supercharge adds this missing piece:
- In its settings, enable the Move files with cut and paste tweak.
- Now, when browsing in Finder, you can select files and press Command + X to cut, then go somewhere else and press Command + V to paste.
One thing to keep in mind: on some versions or setups, you might need to restart Finder (or logout/login) for it to kick in. Yet, it’s a small change that feels *kind of* native once set up.
Method 4: Prevent Accidental Quits — Because Q is Too Easy to Hit
Accidentally quitting apps can wipe out work or just confuse the hell out of you. Supercharge can help by letting you set custom shortcuts for quitting apps:
- In Tweaks, turn on options like Quit apps using Command + Shift + Q or even a double-tap sequence (Command + Double Q) if available.
Helps avoid hitting Command + Q by mistake when you just wanted to close a window. This tweak just makes quitting a little more deliberate. Still, weird that macOS doesn’t natively ask for confirmation—so it’s a small but useful fix.
Method 5: Add Useful Items to Finder Context Menu
Supercharge lets you add stuff like “Copy File Path” right-click options, which I swear should be basic but isn’t. To do it:
- Go to Tweaks > Context Menu.
- Add options like Copy File Path, View File Size, or even custom scripts.
It’s a time saver, especially if you work with lots of files or need quick info. Be aware, adding too many can clutter the right-click menu, so pick what’s most useful for your workflow.
Method 6: Quickly Access Passwords via Keyboard Shortcut
If you’re tired of mousing over menus or opening apps for passwords, Supercharge can streamline it:
- In Shortcuts > Menu Bar Items, assign a keyboard combo—Ctrl + P, Cmd + P, whatever.
- When pressed, a window pops up, showing stored passwords or opening your password manager.
This is handy but also makes you a bit casual about security—so don’t assign shortcuts to open passwords in public.
Method 7: Change Keyboard Brightness Without Opening Control Center
Adjusting keyboard backlight can be annoying if you need quick changes during a presentation. With Supercharge:
- Assign shortcuts like Option + Brightness Up to toggle brightness levels.
It’s a minor tweak, but saved me some fumbling in dark conference rooms. Whether it really improves workflow or just feels cool depends on how often you tweak backlighting.
Method 8: Master Mission Control — Control Windows with Shortcuts
Managing multiple apps and desktops gets smoother:
- Enable shortcuts like Command + W to close, Command + Q to quit directly in Mission Control.
- You can also assign shortcuts for switching desktops or moving windows around.
If your workflow involves lots of multitasking, this can save seconds every time. Sometimes, these shortcuts don’t work as expected after a reboot, so keep that in mind.
Method 9: Spot Hidden Apps Faster
If you’ve hidden an app but can’t tell which ones are hidden, this tweak helps:
- Enable Dim icons of hidden apps.
- This makes it easier to identify which apps aren’t fully visible or active.
Honestly, little things like this make it easier to keep track, especially when you’ve got a bunch running in the background.
Extra Tips & Troubleshooting
If things act weird, check for updates within Supercharge — bugs get fixed, sometimes shortcut conflicts pop up. Also, avoid assigning shortcuts already in use by macOS or other apps; that’s a surefire way to get weird behavior. Resetting preferences or toggling specific tweaks can often clear out conflicts, too. Restarting the Mac sometimes fixes lingering glitches, but that’s kind of obvious.
Summary
- Installing apps can be a bit quirky—but mostly straightforward once security tweaks are sorted.
- Keyboard shortcuts save a lot of time, but can be flaky if conflicting with system defaults.
- Adding options like cut files or custom context menu items is simple and useful.
- Preferences might need a restart or re-login to kick in fully.
Wrap-up
Supercharge really packs a punch, but it’s not perfect. The tricks that worked well seem worth the occasional hiccup. Just remember, some tweaks make your Mac feel snappier, while others might be more of a time-saver than essential. On the whole, this thing can be a game-changer if set up thoughtfully. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone, or at least makes your day a little less frustrating.