# Install and first run

> Install Capslock, grant Accessibility, finish the four-step onboarding, and check that Home reports a healthy keyboard.

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LLMS index: [llms.txt](/llms.txt)

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> [!NOTE] Release status
> There is no public download yet; see [Download](/download/). This page
> describes the signed release.

## Requirements {#requirements}

- macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple silicon or Intel.
- The Accessibility permission. Capslock never asks for Input Monitoring.
- Caps Lock not already remapped by another tool. If you use
  Karabiner-Elements, read [Coexisting with Karabiner-Elements](/docs/start/karabiner/) first.

## Install {#install}

Open `Capslock.dmg` and drag **Capslock** into Applications. Then open it from
Applications or Spotlight.

Capslock runs as an ordinary app with a window, a Dock icon, and a menu-bar
icon. Closing the window keeps it running in the menu bar.

## Onboarding {#onboarding}

On the first launch Capslock takes over nothing. The keyboard keeps working
as before until you finish onboarding.

1. **Welcome to Capslock.** Click **Continue**.
2. **Choose a Hyper mode.** **Classic**, the default, also holds ⌃⌥⇧⌘ while
   Caps Lock is down, so Hyper shortcuts in apps such as Alfred and Raycast keep
   working. **Native** keeps Caps Lock chords inside Capslock. You can change
   this later; see [Hyper mode](/docs/guide/hyper-mode/).
3. **Before you start.** The **Keyboard access** card shows whether Capslock
   may read Caps chords and send keystrokes. Click **Open System Settings**.
   macOS opens Privacy & Security › Accessibility; turn on **Capslock** and
   confirm with your password. Back in Capslock, click **Start Capslock**.
   The **Conflicts** card below lists anything else that uses Caps Lock. To
   finish without starting, click **Skip for Now**.
4. **Explore your keyboard.** Click **Open Keyboard**. The Keyboard page shows
   the layout, and you can browse and edit it even while Capslock is paused.
{.steps}

## Check that it works {#check}

Home shows **Running** and "Caps Lock is your Hyper key." Its status card
should read:

| Row | Healthy value |
| --- | --- |
| Keyboard access | Granted |
| Hyper key | Caps Lock is ready |
| Conflicts | None |
| Recovery | None needed |

Then try the four gestures from **First steps** on Home:

- Tap Caps Lock: Escape.
- Hold Caps Lock and press H, J, K or L: the cursor moves left, down, up or
  right, in any app.
- Hold Caps Lock and press Space: the input source changes, if you have more
  than one and the ⌃Space shortcut is on.
- Hold Caps Lock and wait: the whole current plane appears on screen.

If a row is not healthy, its link opens [Diagnostics](/docs/reference/diagnostics/),
where every check has numbered steps and buttons that fix it.

## Everyday controls {#controls}

- **Pause** on Home, in Settings, or in the menu-bar menu gives Caps Lock back
  to macOS until you click **Resume**.
- **Open at login** is in Settings › General and is off by default.
- **Hide Dock icon** in the same section leaves only the menu-bar icon.
- Quitting Capslock restores Caps Lock before the app exits.

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Backlinks:

- [Docs](/docs/)
- [Download](/download/)