Capswitch
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USER GUIDE

How to use Capswitch

Set up Capswitch from download to your first mode switch, one step at a time.

For Capswitch 1.xUpdated: 2026-08-01
DownloadSet up in 5 minutesTroubleshooting
01

Get started

Start using Caps Lock as a switch in six steps.

  1. 01

    Download

    Get the latest DMG

  2. 02

    Move to Applications

    Drag Capswitch from the DMG

  3. 03

    Launch

    Open Capswitch from Applications

  4. 04

    Allow access

    Enable Capswitch in Accessibility

  5. 05

    Choose a mode

    Pick one role in Mode settings

  6. 06

    Test it

    Press Caps Lock and check the state

02

Install

Add Capswitch to Applications from the distribution DMG. Do not keep using it directly from Downloads.

  1. 01

    Open the DMG

  2. 02

    Drag Capswitch to Applications

  3. 03

    Launch Capswitch from Applications

  4. 04

    Open Settings from the menu bar icon

Multiple copies can receive different macOS permissions. Keep and use only the copy in Applications.

Capswitch menu bar menu
Open Settings from the menu bar icon
03

Allow access

Accessibility access is required to detect Caps Lock. Input Monitoring is not required.

RequiredAccessibility

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility

  1. 01

    Open Input in Capswitch Settings

  2. 02

    Select Request permission

  3. 03

    Enable Capswitch in macOS Accessibility settings

  4. 04

    Return to Capswitch and select Check again

  5. 05

    Confirm the status is Running

Mode-specific setup

  • Light / Dark: allow Automation
  • Microphone: choose the input device to control
  • Shortcut: assign macOS Shortcuts
04

Basic controls

A single press normally switches state. Volume, timer, and shortcut modes also use repeated taps or press-and-hold.

Press

Switch the state

Move the selected mode to its next state

LED

Check at the keyboard

On, off, and blinking follow the current state

HUD

Check on screen

Turn the switch overlay on or off in Settings

Multi-tap

Keep native Caps Lock

Choose three, four, or five taps in Input settings

05

Choose a mode

Choose one of ten roles based on the repetitive action you most want to remove.

Capswitch Mode settings
Open a mode to see its controls and state flow.
01Function key switching2 states

Switch F1–F12 between media and function keys

Control
Tap
States
Media controls → Function keys
02Microphone mute2 states

Mute or unmute the microphone

Control
Tap
States
Live → Muted
03Appearance2 states

Switch between Light and Dark

Control
Tap
States
Light → Dark
04Prevent sleep2 states

Start or stop sleep prevention

Control
Tap
States
System setting → Stay awake
05Speaker mute2 states

Mute or unmute audio output

Control
Tap
States
Playing → Muted
06Volume controllerContinuous

Repeated taps raise volume; hold lowers it

Control
Repeat
States
Current volume → +5%

Hold to lower by 5% steps

07Audio outputMultiple

Cycle through selected output devices

Control
Tap / Tap
States
Output 1 → Output 2 → Next output
08Input sourceMultiple

Switch between selected input sources

Control
Tap / Tap
States
Input 1 → Input 2 → Next input
09TimerTime

Start, pause, and adjust a countdown

Control
Tap / Tap / Time up
States
Stopped → Running → Paused → Done

While stopped: repeat +1 min / hold −1 min

10ShortcutCustom

Assign actions to each press pattern

Control
Tap / repeat / hold
States
Detect press → Run action

Hold can run once or continuously

06

HUD and LED

The HUD and physical LED show the current state of the selected mode.

  • HUD visibility, position, edge distance, and duration
  • Keyboard used for LED feedback
  • Which function state lights the LED
  • Detect again, sync, and blink test
07

License and updates

Try every feature for 14 days. After purchase, activate the license key in the app.

  1. 01

    Open the purchase page from License

  2. 02

    Copy the key on the purchase-complete page

  3. 03

    Enter it in the app and select Verify license

  4. 04

    Configure automatic or manual updates in About

08

Troubleshooting

Start with the item closest to the status you see.

The app says Stopped

Open Input, check Accessibility and Pause monitoring, then select Check again.

It does not work after allowing access

Keep only the Applications copy, toggle Accessibility off and on, then restart Capswitch.

Permission cannot be requested after removal

If access was removed while running, select Restart Capswitch and request it after relaunch.

Caps Lock does nothing

Check pause, license, and selected mode, then review Recent events in Diagnostics.

Native Caps Lock still changes

Confirm monitoring is Running. Quit duplicate copies and launch only the Applications copy.

The LED or HUD does not change

Enable the HUD, detect the keyboard again, then run Sync or Blink test in Display.

The microphone cannot be selected

Select Microphone mode and detect inputs again. Some USB and virtual devices do not support mute.

Stopped by license

Open License, enter the purchased key, and verify it online.

09

Diagnostics and support

If the problem remains, review Diagnostics and contact us through GitHub Issues.

  1. 01

    Open Diagnostics in Settings

  2. 02

    Check mode, feature state, and app state

  3. 03

    Add recent events and reproduction steps to the Issue

Do not post license keys, purchase details, or personal information in a public Issue.

Open GitHub IssuesDownload the latest version