Allow keyboard control on a Mac

macOS does not let any app press keys or type into other apps until you allow it under Accessibility in System Settings. PlexiDesk needs this for some SpeedDeck buttons, and it shows you exactly how to grant it the first time one of those buttons needs it. You only do this once.

Which buttons need it

In a SpeedDeck, a button needs Accessibility permission when it is set to:

• Keyboard shortcut, which sends a hotkey such as ⌘ ⇧ T to the app you are using
• Type text, which types a piece of text at the cursor
• Media control, which plays, pauses or skips tracks, or changes the volume
• Multi-step macro, when one of its steps is any of the above

Buttons that open an app or a website, and Set volume buttons, work without it. If you never use these kinds of button, you never need to grant it.

These button kinds work on a Mac only, so there is nothing to allow on Windows.

When PlexiDesk asks

The first time you press one of these buttons and PlexiDesk does not have permission yet, the button does not run. Instead, PlexiDesk opens a dialog called Allow PlexiDesk to control your keyboard. It offers three ways to grant the permission, labelled A, B and C, and you only need one of them.

To open the dialog yourself at any time, click More options (the three dots at the top of the SpeedDeck), or right-click an empty part of the deck, then choose Accessibility permission….

Grant the permission

A. Try macOS's built-in prompt

1. In the dialog, choose Allow keyboard control.
2. macOS shows its own message asking to let PlexiDesk control your Mac. Choose Open System Settings in that message.
3. Turn PlexiDesk on in the Accessibility list. If macOS asks for your password, enter it.

The macOS message appears only once each time PlexiDesk is opened. If nothing happens when you choose Allow keyboard control, use B or C.

B. Open System Settings yourself

1. In the dialog, choose Open System Settings.
2. Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
3. Click Accessibility.
4. Find PlexiDesk in the list and turn it on. If macOS asks for your password, enter it.

If PlexiDesk is not in the list, click the + button under the list, choose PlexiDesk from your Applications folder, then click Open. Or use C.

C. Show me the app to drag in

1. In the dialog, choose Show me the app. Finder opens with PlexiDesk highlighted.
2. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility, as in B.
3. Drag PlexiDesk from the Finder window into the Accessibility list, then make sure it is turned on.

What you will see

While the dialog is open it checks every 1.5 seconds. As soon as PlexiDesk is turned on in the Accessibility list, the dialog shows Permission granted and closes by itself. Then press your SpeedDeck button again.

Turn it off

You can remove the permission at any time. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and turn PlexiDesk off. Your SpeedDeck buttons stay as they are; the ones listed above ask for the permission again the next time you press them.

Common questions

Does PlexiDesk need any other permissions for SpeedDeck?

No. PlexiDesk does not ask for Input Monitoring or Full Disk Access. Input Monitoring is for apps that read what you type, and SpeedDeck only sends keystrokes. For the microphone, camera and screen recording, which other features use, see Allow microphone, camera and screen recording on a Mac.

I turned PlexiDesk on, but the dialog is still open

Give it a moment: it checks every 1.5 seconds. Make sure the switch you turned on is next to PlexiDesk in the Accessibility list, not in another list such as Input Monitoring. You can also close the dialog with Close and press your button again.

The macOS prompt did not appear

macOS shows its prompt only once each time PlexiDesk is opened. Use Open System Settings or Show me the app in the dialog instead.

Related tasks

• Get started with SpeedDeck
• Build multi-step macros
• Allow microphone, camera and screen recording on a Mac