Hot Corners are one of the most useful yet most underused features on the Mac. By moving your mouse to a corner of the screen, you can automatically run actions such as opening Mission Control, showing the desktop or creating a quick note. In this article you learn how to set up Hot Corners and which actions are available to speed up your workflow.

What are Hot Corners?

Hot Corners, also called active screen corners, are a macOS feature that lets you link actions to the four corners of your screen. When you move the mouse pointer to a configured corner, the matching action runs automatically. This saves time because you don't have to remember key combinations or navigate through menus.

The feature has existed since the early versions of Mac OS X and is still one of the fastest ways to trigger frequently used functions. Many experienced Mac users can no longer do without these handy screen corner shortcuts.

Setting up Hot Corners on your Mac

Configuring Hot Corners is simple and takes only a few minutes. Follow these steps to set up your active corners.

Step 1: Open System Settings

Click the Apple menu at the top left of your screen and select System Settings. You can also click the gear icon in the Dock if it is there.

Step 2: Go to Hot Corners

In macOS Ventura and later, go to Desktop & Dock. Scroll down until you see the Hot Corners option and click it. In older macOS versions, you find Hot Corners under Mission Control or Desktop & Screen Saver.

Step 3: Choose actions for each corner

You now see a diagram of your screen with four drop-down menus, one for each corner. Click a menu to see the available actions and select the action you want. Repeat this for every corner you want to use.

Step 4: Confirm your choice

Click Done to save your settings. Your Hot Corners are active right away and ready to use.

Available Hot Corner actions

macOS offers several actions you can link to your Hot Corners. Here is an overview of all the options:

Mission Control

This action opens Mission Control, which gives you an overview of all open windows and desktops. Ideal when you want to switch quickly between different tasks or find a specific window.

Application Windows

Shows all windows of the currently active app, similar to App Exposé. Useful when you have several documents open in the same application.

Desktop

Temporarily moves all windows aside so you can see the desktop and reach the files on your desktop. The windows return as soon as you click anywhere or trigger the same corner again.

Notification Center

Opens Notification Center on the right side of your screen with all your notifications and widgets. This is the same action as clicking the date and time in the menu bar.

Launchpad

Opens Launchpad, where you see all your installed apps in a grid. Handy for opening apps quickly without using Spotlight or the Dock.

Quick Note

Instantly opens a new window for a quick note in the Notes app. Perfect for capturing ideas or information without interrupting your current workflow. The note is kept in your Notes app.

Put Display to Sleep

Turns off the display immediately while your Mac stays active. Useful when you step away for a moment and want to turn off the screen to save energy or protect your privacy.

Lock Screen

Locks your Mac immediately, so a password is needed to get access again. This is a quick way to secure your computer when you leave your workspace.

Start Screen Saver

Starts the screen saver immediately. Depending on your settings, this can also lock your screen after a certain amount of time.

Disable Screen Saver

Prevents the screen saver from starting. Useful when you are giving a presentation or watching a video and don't want to be interrupted by the screen saver.

Hot Corners with modifier keys

A common complaint about Hot Corners is that they get triggered by accident. Apple has a solution for this: you can set up Hot Corners so they only work when you hold down a modifier key at the same time.

Adding modifier keys

When you set up a Hot Corner, hold down a modifier key while you select an action from the menu. The available modifier keys are:

  • Command (⌘)
  • Option (⌥)
  • Control (⌃)
  • Shift (⇧)

You can also combine several keys. For example, hold down Command and Shift while you select Mission Control. Now you need to hold down Command + Shift and move your mouse to that corner to trigger Mission Control.

Which configuration works best depends on your personal workflow. Here are some popular setups for inspiration.

Configuration for productivity

  • Bottom left: Mission Control, a quick overview of all windows
  • Bottom right: Desktop, access to the files on your desktop
  • Top left: Quick Note, capture ideas right away
  • Top right: Lock Screen, security when you walk away

Configuration for privacy

  • Bottom left: Lock Screen with the Command modifier
  • Bottom right: Put Display to Sleep
  • Other corners: Turned off to prevent accidental activation

Configuration for presentations

  • Bottom left: Disable Screen Saver
  • Bottom right: Desktop
  • Top left: Mission Control
  • Top right: Application Windows

Tips for using Hot Corners effectively

To get the most out of Hot Corners, here are some practical tips:

Start with one or two corners

If you are new to Hot Corners, start by configuring one or two corners with the actions you use most. Once these become a habit, you can add more corners.

Put related actions in opposite corners. For example, Mission Control at the top left and Application Windows at the bottom right. This helps you remember your configuration.

Avoid corners you often hit by accident

If you notice that you often trigger a corner by accident, consider turning that corner off or adding a modifier key. The top right corner is often hit by accident when closing windows.

Combine with other shortcuts

Hot Corners work best in combination with other macOS features. Use Mission Control through a Hot Corner and then switch quickly between Spaces with trackpad gestures or key combinations.

Hot Corners on multiple monitors

If you use multiple monitors, Hot Corners work on all screens. The corners of every screen can be triggered. This means you need to pay attention to where you position the pointer, especially at the corners where two screens meet.

Some users turn off Hot Corners on their secondary monitor or use modifier keys to prevent accidental activation when the pointer moves from one screen to the other.

Troubleshooting Hot Corners

Sometimes Hot Corners don't work as expected. Here are solutions for common problems:

Hot Corners don't respond

  • Check that the action is not set to a dash (turned off)
  • Restart your Mac to fix any software issues
  • Check that you are holding down the right modifier key if you set one up

Hot Corners trigger too easily

  • Add a modifier key to the Hot Corner
  • Move the action to another corner that you hit by accident less often
  • Consider turning the corner off completely

Hot Corners don't work in certain apps

Some full-screen apps or games can block Hot Corners. This is normal behavior. Exit full-screen mode to use Hot Corners again.

Alternatives to Hot Corners

Although Hot Corners are handy, there are also alternatives for the same actions:

  • Trackpad gestures: Swipe with your fingers for Mission Control, Launchpad and more
  • Key combinations: F3 for Mission Control, F4 for Launchpad
  • Touch Bar: On MacBooks with a Touch Bar you can configure shortcuts
  • Dock: Click app icons and folder icons in the Dock

Conclusion

Hot Corners are a simple but powerful way to boost your productivity on the Mac. By linking frequently used actions to screen corners, you save valuable time every day. Start with one or two corners, experiment with different configurations and find out which setup suits your way of working best. With modifier keys you can prevent accidental activation while still benefiting from this handy feature. Take the time today to set up your Hot Corners and experience the difference yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I find the Hot Corners settings on my Mac?

Go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock and scroll down until you see Hot Corners. In older macOS versions you find it under Mission Control or Desktop & Screen Saver.

How do I prevent Hot Corners from being triggered by accident?

Add a modifier key by holding it down while you select an action in the Hot Corners menu. You can use Command, Option, Control or Shift, or a combination of these.

Which actions can I assign to Hot Corners?

You can choose from Mission Control, Application Windows, Desktop, Notification Center, Launchpad, Quick Note, Lock Screen, Start or Disable Screen Saver, and Put Display to Sleep.

Do Hot Corners work on multiple monitors?

Yes, Hot Corners work on all connected monitors. The corners of every screen can be triggered. Pay attention to the corners where two screens meet to prevent accidental activation.