Intercept F keys

Discussion & Questions
1

Hello!

I'm almost certain that BTT does not work on that level to accomplish what I'll ask, but let me try, maybe there is another workaround.

I used to use Karabiner Elements that work on a lower level and intercepted F keys when running certain apps (e.g., a game).

Normally some of my F keys are bound to perform certain macOS actions (like launch pad, show desktop, notifications, dictation etc.)

Many apps (including games) that work full screen, allow you to bind F keys to perform some actions (especially games), I would like to be able to intercept the native macOS binds of F keys so that they can be sent to the running app as normal F keys and stop propagate to macOS actions.

Is that possible with BTT or my initial concern for the level that BTT works is correct?

Thanks!

UPDATE:
If it is not possible to intercept, I believe a workaround could be to invert the intention, meaning that I could set the F keys to work as normal Function keys in macOS, and set the actions I need via BTT in All Apps, and then remap the F keys for the apps I need them to work as normal function keys, correct? Would the shortcut in All Apps overall with the same shortcut for a specific app?

UPDATE2:
The workaround above works fine, but I would love to know if I could intercept the F keys without having to remove all the shortcuts from macOS settings and then rebind them in BTT.

2

That should work, just record the key you want to override and assign the F key you want to send:

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3

That is what I was trying but it didn't work.

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So, by pressing F4 it launches the launchpad, but for instance, I don't want that behaviour to happen in a specific app, so I added this:

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But, unfortunately, the F4 still launches the launchpad instead of passing F4 (the same happens with all other F buttons).

PS: I'm not using Apple Keyboard, I'm on Das Keyboard Professional 4 for Mac

4

in your case not the launchpad key was recorded as trigger but instead the f4 key. Are you sure the launchpad functionality was active when you created the trigger?

5

I'm sorry maybe I wasn't clear in my wording. I used Launchpad only as an example, my goal is to intercept the F* keys. When for example I bind F4 to open the launchpad from inside the Keyboard Shortcuts settings in macOS, then, I cannot bind F4 for a specific app to perform another action or to work plainly as F4 (same goes for other F* buttons).