⌥1–9 PRO

Pinned apps: your favorite apps, one key away

Some apps you open all day. Pin them, and each one gets a number: with the switcher open, press its number and you’re there. If the app isn’t running, Option opens it.

Download Option on the Mac App Store

Free on the Mac App Store · macOS 14 or later · No permissions needed

Pinned apps show their number. Press 2 and Notes comes forward.

Pin an app and use it

  1. Open Option’s Settings.

    Click Option in the menu bar and choose Settings. You can also pin apps during the welcome tour.

  2. Pin an open app.

    Choose Pin an Open App and pick one from the apps that are running. It takes the next free number, up to 9.

  3. Press its number.

    Hold ⌥, tap Tab, then press the app’s number. You go straight to it.

Why you’ll use it

  • One number, always the same app, so it becomes muscle memory.
  • Pinned apps open even when they aren’t running.
  • Pinned apps are also one click away in Option’s menu bar panel.
  • Your pins are kept if you try Pro during setup and buy later.

Keyboard shortcuts

⌥⇥
Open the switcher
1–9
Go to the pinned app with that number
esc
Close without switching

Free or Pro?

This is an Option Pro feature: a one-time purchase, no subscription. Try it free during setup, with your own apps.

Questions and answers

How many apps can I pin?

Up to nine, one for each number key from 1 to 9.

What if a pinned app isn’t running?

Option opens it. In the switcher, apps that aren’t running are shown dimmed, with their number.

Why can I only pin apps that are open?

Choosing any app from your disk would need file access Option otherwise doesn’t ask for. Open the app once, pin it, and it stays pinned.

⌥⇥

How to switch apps on a Mac with the keyboard

Hold ⌥, tap Tab, let go: the whole gesture, step by step, and the keys that make it quicker. Read the guide ⌥⇥

How to Alt‑Tab on a Mac

The Alt key on a Mac is the Option key. Here’s how to make Alt‑Tab work the way your hands remember. Read the guide ⌥A–Z

Type to jump: switch to any app by typing its name

Keep holding ⌥ and type a few letters of an app’s name to go straight to it. Read the guide ⌥⇥

Switch apps on multiple displays

The switcher opens on the display you’re using. With This display only, it lists just that display’s apps. Read the guide ⌥⇧⇥

Option keyboard shortcuts: every key in the switcher

Every key in the switcher, from ⌥⇥ to Esc, plus how to choose your own shortcut. Read the guide

Some things are worth getting back.

Hold ⌥. Tap Tab. You’re there.

Download Option on the Mac App Store