Cleat Getting started
Install Cleat on macOS, press Option Space, and learn the three keys that do most of the work, plus which permission each feature asks for and when.
Cleat is a command palette for macOS. It lives in the menu bar, stays out of the way, and opens with one keystroke.
Install
- Download the zip from getcleat.app/download and unzip it.
- Drag Cleat to Applications and open it. macOS asks once whether to open an app downloaded from the internet.
- Cleat appears in the menu bar. Press ⌥ Space.
The first run shows the welcome screen, which explains the one permission most features share. You can skip it and grant it later.
The three keys
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⌥ Space | Open or close the palette |
| ⏎ | Run the selected row: open, paste, copy, convert |
| Esc | Back to the root, then close |
That is enough to use most of Cleat. Type a few letters and the thing you meant is usually the first row.
What the field understands
The field has no modes to switch into. Type an app name and you get the app. Type a sum and you get the answer. Type 12 km to mi, #4C59FA, time in tokyo, define serendipity or uuid and the first row is the result, ready to copy with Return.
A handful of keywords jump into a specific tool when followed by a space: tr for translation, ask for Apple Intelligence, emoji, sc for Shortcuts, menu for menu bar search, cal, rem, ct, notes and layout. Each one has its own page in this wiki.
Permissions
Cleat asks for Accessibility the first time you snap a window or paste from clipboard history. Nothing else needs a permission until you use it: Calendar, Reminders and Contacts each prompt on first use, Notes asks for Automation, dictation asks for the microphone, and screen text capture asks for screen recording. See Requirements and permissions.