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Hotkey shortcuts manager.

4.7
Based on 53 user ratesRead reviews & comments
Free
Absolutely Free

Spark overview

Spark is a powerful and easy shortcuts manager. With Spark you can create Hot Keys to launch applications and documents, execute AppleScripts, command iTunes, and more...

You can also export and import your Hot Keys library, or save it in HTML format to print it.

Spark is free, so use it without moderation!

What’s new in version 3.3.2

Updated on Jan 29 2021

Version 3.3.2:
  • Minor bug fixes
View older Spark updates

Information

License

Free

Size

5.9 MB

Downloads

81266

App requirements

  • Intel 64
  • OS X 10.12 or later
Try our new feature and write a detailed review about Spark. All reviews will be posted soon.

What customer like

Performance
Stability
Value

What needs improvements

Regular updates

Spark qualities

Value
5.0
Ease of use
5.0
Features
5.0
Reliability
5.0
Customer support
5.0

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0.0

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  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Bento de Espinosa
Bento de Espinosa
Mar 18 2024
3.3.2
5.0
Mar 18 2024
5.0
Version: 3.3.2
I have been using Spark for 20 years. I tried the new Shortcuts app by Apple, and guess what: Spark is WAY SUPERIOR!!! It's amazing how good this program is and that it still works. Thank you so much for this!
Iliketrash
Iliketrash
Dec 13 2022
3.3.2
5.0
Dec 13 2022
5.0
Version: 3.3.2
This app is the bomb. (That's a good thing!) I've used it for years. I don't have to open it very often, just to add or change a keystroke. When I started, it was the only app of its kind to let you bring forward only the frontmost window when switching to another app using a keystroke--all the others brought forth all the app's windows which is extremely annoying. Sometimes it doesn't not find its own document and you get a blank window, as if starting a new set-up. But if you close Spark and open it again it usually works--just keep trying. Was super glad to see a recent update. Working fine on Monterey macOS 12.5.
homerr
homerr
Jan 13 2022
3.3.2
0.0
Jan 13 2022
0.0
Version: 3.3.2
Love this app. One thing I've been running into lately: I have a shortcut set to paste the date. It works fine everywhere except in "save as..." dialog windows. It won't work in the file name field, nor when creating a new folder in that flow. I tried toggling the daemon off and on, app is updated to the latest version, I removed it and re-added it to the accessibility allow list, etc. Any other ideas?
tonyreay
tonyreay
Nov 11 2021
3.3.2
0.0
Nov 11 2021
0.0
Version: 3.3.2
arggghhhh... does anyone have a way to make this precious app work in Big Sur or Monterey yet??? I sure do miss it's functionality. It was working just fine in Catalina.
adriansandqvist-1
adriansandqvist-1
Sep 24 2021
3.3.2
0.0
Sep 24 2021
0.0
Version: 3.3.2
Can't start spark agent either. Big Sur 11.4
ploy-poltue
ploy-poltue
Jul 2 2021
3.3.2
0.0
Jul 2 2021
0.0
Version: 3.3.2
I'm having a problem with my mac mini M1 Big Sur 11.4 I cant Start Spark Agent. It doesn't work for me. Is there any way to fix this?
Joe H.
Joe H.
Jan 30 2021
3.3.2
5.0
Jan 30 2021
5.0
Version: 3.3.2
Incredible, <br/> Spark seems to be ported to Apple Silicon! <br/> I’m currently running version 3.3.2 on my M1 Mac mini running Big Sur 11.1. without Rosetta. I couldn’t be happier
Beesharp
Beesharp
Aug 16 2020
3.2.1
0.0
Aug 16 2020
0.0
Version: 3.2.1
This app is AWESOME!!! Simple. Powerful. Elegant. And now runs on Catalina. I don't have to go looking for a replacement. As C-3PO would say, "Thank The Maker." In this case, Shadowlab! Truly great stuff. Thanks Joe H. and Gerrykai for the heads up!
Gerrykai
Gerrykai
Jul 7 2020
3.2.1
5.0
Jul 7 2020
5.0
Version: 3.2.1
I've been using and loving Spark on a Mac for many years. When I recently I updated to Catalina, the Text/Keyboard feature stopped working. I looked around for an alternate app but couldn't find one with a feature equivalent to Spark's Text/Keyboard, including the similar native feature in Catalina. Finally I found the review of Spark by Joe H. on this page, which solved the problem completely. In case you can't find it, here's a quote of the relevant parts: "Make sure to use the latest version of Spark (which is currently 3.2.1 : see (my) other comments below). The only place where you can see the correct version number is when you open the app and choose "About Spark" from the menu. To make all features function: go to your System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility and remove the Spark app, and add it again. You might have to repeat this step, and even try a reboot. Also: in between creating or altering shortcuts it can help to stop & start the Spark Daemon. You also might have to start the Daemon manually after every boot/login." Happy Sparking!
Diefis
Diefis
Jul 6 2020
3.2.1
5.0
Jul 6 2020
5.0
Version: 3.2.1
An application that cannot miss ...
fleur2metaline-1
fleur2metaline-1
May 8 2020
3.2.1
5.0
May 8 2020
5.0
Version: 3.2.1
The more lightweight shortcut app i ever tryed
Compuglobal
Compuglobal
Feb 18 2020
3.1b2
5.0
Feb 18 2020
5.0
Version: 3.1b2
Great app! The workaround in Automator, Keyboard, Shortcuts etc. is a horrilble and absolutely not Apple-like solution that finally does not work. So, Spark is a very useful great app! Thanks!
Joe H.
Joe H.
Feb 4 2020
3.1b2
5.0
Feb 4 2020
5.0
Version: 3.1b2
A note on compatibility with Catalina: it works! Make sure to use the latest version of Spark (which is currently 3.2.1 : see (my) other comments below). The only place where you can see the correct version number is when you open the app and choose "About Spark" from the menu. To make all features function: go to your System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility and remove the Spark app, and add it again. You might have to repeat this step, and even try a reboot. Also: in between creating or altering shortcuts it can help to stop & start the Spark Daemon. You also might have to start the Daemon manually after every boot/login. For me this resulted in my 50+ Spark shortcuts working like a charm again :-)
creatureasd
creatureasd
Dec 21 2019
3.1b2
5.0
Dec 21 2019
5.0
Version: 3.1b2
Omg, i thought this app was discontiued for OSX 10.15,..what a time and life saver this is!!
Adriano-Borgobello
Adriano-Borgobello
Mar 10 2019
3.1b2
4.0
Mar 10 2019
4.0
Version: 3.1b2
Solved! After so much tries, I found that removing manually the preference, made Spark work again. I didn’t remove manually the preferences before, because I thought AppCleaner did it while uninstalling Spark, but probably il left something behind.
Adriano-Borgobello
Adriano-Borgobello
Mar 8 2019
3.1b2
4.0
Mar 8 2019
4.0
Version: 3.1b2
I write here because I hope someone can help me to solve a issue which prevents Spark demon to work. After a support session for a issue with another software, in which the technician has given this command: "/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user". After the command I restarted the Mac, and Spark didn't work anymore. I found that demon starts and hangs a couple of minutes after which it closes. The same happens if I try to start demon from config application. I tried to remove (with AppCleaner) and reinstall Spark, remove boot cache starting Mac in safe mode, clean all the rest with Onyx, etc... and really don't know what other to try. All this on Mojave 10.14.2 with Spark 3.1b2 (I tried 3.0b11 too).
Iliketrash
Iliketrash
Jan 13 2019
3.1b2
5.0
Jan 13 2019
5.0
Version: 3.1b2
This review is for version 3.0b11 which I have used for many years. This is the best app-switcher/launcher I found and I love it. It has one essential feature that _many_ or all of the other lack: the ability to have only the front window of the switched-to app come forward instead of all of the windows. This is the most common way to use an app switcher and it's just weird that the others do not allow this option. If you switch and then want all the windows to come forward, just use System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts to set a key combination for Bring All to Front to say Shift-Option-Command-up_arrow: all Mac apps have this menu item under the Windows menu. Thanks for a great app!
Cowicide
Cowicide
Nov 28 2018
3.1b2
4.0
Nov 28 2018
4.0
Version: 3.1b2
3.1.b2 stopped working properly for me on a 10.12.6 machine, so I reverted back to an old Spark version 3.0b11 (470) I luckily found on a backup and all is well again. The 3.1.b2 version didn't respond when I clicked "Start Spark Demon" and many shortcuts I made stopped working including this custom one for Textedit to quickly change colors of sections of text I have selected:

I had it run this with shift-command-B:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

tell application "TextEdit"
end tell
tell application "System Events" to tell text area 1 of scroll area 1 of window 1 of process "TextEdit" to if exists then
set {x, y} to value of attribute "AXSelectedTextRange"
if x ≤ y then tell application "TextEdit" to set color of document 1's characters x thru y to {0, 0, 65535}
end if

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Nothing happens when I did the shortcut with 3.1.b2, but works perfectly with 3.0b11 (470). I guess I should just stick with the old version that works for now.

I should also mention the interface was jacked up with the "All Application's Hot Keys", etc. button riding up to where the top vertical half of the button was missing.
Bryan-de08cef4
Bryan-de08cef4
Oct 29 2018
3.1b2
5.0
Oct 29 2018
5.0
Version: 3.1b2
Great to see an update! Seems to work fine on Mojave, though I wasn't having any issues with the older version, other than warnings that it needed updating. I found the https://www.shadowlab.org/softwares/spark.php site won't load in Safari, but works fine in Chrome. Maybe a background rendering in the foreground?
Joe H.
Joe H.
Oct 24 2018
3.1b2
5.0
Oct 24 2018
5.0
Version: 3.1b2
Great to see version 3.1b2 is official now :-)

Don't forget to donate via PayPal to show your appreciation:

https://www.shadowlab.org/donate.php?reason=Spark%203%20Bêta%20X

Bento de Espinosa
Bento de Espinosa
Mar 18 2024
3.3.2
5.0
Mar 18 2024
5.0
Version: 3.3.2
Joe H.
Joe H.
Jan 30 2021
5.0
Jan 30 2021
5.0
Version: null
Gerrykai
Gerrykai
Jul 7 2020
5.0
Jul 7 2020
5.0
Version: null
Diefis
Diefis
Jul 6 2020
5.0
Jul 6 2020
5.0
Version: null
Compuglobal
Compuglobal
Feb 18 2020
5.0
Feb 18 2020
5.0
Version: null
creatureasd
creatureasd
Dec 21 2019
5.0
Dec 21 2019
5.0
Version: null
Adriano-Borgobello
Adriano-Borgobello
Mar 8 2019
4.0
Mar 8 2019
4.0
Version: null
Iliketrash
Iliketrash
Jan 13 2019
5.0
Jan 13 2019
5.0
Version: null
Bryan-de08cef4
Bryan-de08cef4
Oct 29 2018
5.0
Oct 29 2018
5.0
Version: null
Hal-Itosis
Hal-Itosis
Oct 24 2018
5.0
Oct 24 2018
5.0
Version: null
f2920381
f2920381
Apr 3 2018
5.0
Apr 3 2018
5.0
Version: null
hnghiakhoi3
hnghiakhoi3
May 16 2017
5.0
May 16 2017
5.0
Version: null
acaruso1
acaruso1
Sep 24 2015
5.0
Sep 24 2015
5.0
Version: null
Joinerm
Joinerm
Aug 23 2015
5.0
Aug 23 2015
5.0
Version: null
Edeerly
Edeerly
Jan 17 2015
4.5
Jan 17 2015
4.5
Version: null
psroy
psroy
Aug 29 2014
5.0
Aug 29 2014
5.0
Version: null
Claude-Demierre
Claude-Demierre
Jan 14 2014
5.0
Jan 14 2014
5.0
Version: null
lemon-kun
lemon-kun
Nov 27 2013
5.0
Nov 27 2013
5.0
Version: null
Cowicide
Cowicide
Jul 12 2013
4.0
Jul 12 2013
4.0
Version: null
ribaszv0
ribaszv0
Apr 22 2013
5.0
Apr 22 2013
5.0
Version: null
Olle
Olle
Nov 25 2012
1.5
Nov 25 2012
1.5
Version: null
GBukalders
GBukalders
Jul 25 2012
4.0
Jul 25 2012
4.0
Version: null
Pmason
Pmason
Mar 17 2012
5.0
Mar 17 2012
5.0
Version: null
Frankmac
Frankmac
Oct 23 2011
3.5
Oct 23 2011
3.5
Version: null
Mlhk
Mlhk
Apr 19 2011
5.0
Apr 19 2011
5.0
Version: null
jugaor
jugaor
Mar 13 2011
5.0
Mar 13 2011
5.0
Version: null
duncanpinderpuss
duncanpinderpuss
Mar 9 2011
5.0
Mar 9 2011
5.0
Version: null
aattallah
aattallah
Feb 28 2011
2.5
Feb 28 2011
2.5
Version: null
Px9-855
Px9-855
Feb 6 2011
5.0
Feb 6 2011
5.0
Version: null
Poikkeus
Poikkeus
Dec 16 2010
5.0
Dec 16 2010
5.0
Version: null
Uncoy
Uncoy
Jul 5 2010
3.0
Jul 5 2010
3.0
Version: null
Blixi
Blixi
May 27 2010
5.0
May 27 2010
5.0
Version: null
anonymous-moose
anonymous-moose
Sep 23 2009
5.0
Sep 23 2009
5.0
Version: null
Thecause
Thecause
Feb 17 2009
5.0
Feb 17 2009
5.0
Version: null
Jmax
Jmax
Jan 5 2009
5.0
Jan 5 2009
5.0
Version: null
Dana-Sutton
Dana-Sutton
Dec 21 2008
5.0
Dec 21 2008
5.0
Version: null
Pjot
Pjot
Sep 3 2008
5.0
Sep 3 2008
5.0
Version: null
Angelplasma
Angelplasma
Jul 26 2008
5.0
Jul 26 2008
5.0
Version: null
anonymous-heron-1581
May 7 2008
5.0
Version: null
Gordon142
Gordon142
May 6 2008
5.0
May 6 2008
5.0
Version: null
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