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What Are Local Shortcuts (and Why They’re the Future of App Switching)
Jamie Chen
UX designer and productivity enthusiast focused on optimizing digital workflows.
6 min read
Most keyboard tools use global shortcuts—key combinations that work from anywhere. But global shortcuts are prone to conflicts. Ever press ⌘ + S to switch apps and accidentally save a file? That’s why Assignee uses local shortcuts instead.
What Are Local Shortcuts?
Local shortcuts are triggered after activating a launcher key, so they don’t interfere with app-specific commands.
How It Works in Assignee
- Press Ctrl + Tab (or your custom activation key)
- Then press a second key (like ⌘ + S or just S)
- Assignee switches instantly to your mapped app
Why It Matters
- No conflicts with built-in shortcuts (e.g., ⌘ + S still works in Chrome)
- You can use single-key combos like G, 1, or D
- Faster than typing full app names in Spotlight or Raycast
Assignee Advantage
Assignee’s local shortcut design avoids system-wide interference, giving you total freedom to choose intuitive, memorable key mappings—without breaking any app behaviors.
Final Thoughts
Global shortcuts are limiting. Local shortcuts are the future—and Assignee makes them effortless.
