What It Does
Browser Commander adds consistent keyboard navigation to any web browser on macOS. Press backspace to go back, shiftbackspace to go forward, and a hotkey to open a searchable list of every link on the page. The same keyboard shortcuts apply to every browser, allowing that muscle memory to kick in.
It works via the macOS Accessibility API — no browser extensions, no JavaScript injection, no per-browser configuration. If it’s a browser, Commander can drive it.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| backspace | Go back |
| shiftbackspace | Go forward |
| controloptionshiftcommandL | Open Link Navigator |
All shortcuts are fully configurable in Settings, and each can be cleared as well as changed. Clearing one turns that feature off: nothing is bound, so nothing is intercepted.
A shortcut you record must include command, control or option, unless it is a function key: F1 to F20 can be recorded on their own.
Link Navigator
The Link Navigator is a floating HUD that scrapes every link from the current page via the Accessibility API. Type to filter by title or URL, navigate with arrow keys, and press Return to go.
- Up to 1,000 links per page, deduplicated by URL
- Real-time filtering as you type
- Shows link title and shortened URL for each result
- Centres itself on your browser window
Features
- Smart suppression — shortcuts don’t fire when you’re typing in a text field, search bar, or overlay panel
- Any browser — works with Safari, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Arc, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, and more
- Configurable shortcuts — remap Go Back, Go Forward, and Link Navigator to whatever you like
- Enable/Disable toggle — quickly pause interception from the menu bar
- No extensions — pure Accessibility API, no browser plugins needed
- Companion app — pairs with Browser Notes for page annotations — both apps coexist without conflicts
Settings
Right-click the globe icon in the menu bar and choose Settings… to configure:
- Go Back shortcut — customise the go back hotkey
(default: backspace) - Go Forward shortcut — customise the go forward hotkey
(default: shiftbackspace) - Link Navigator shortcut — customise the link navigator hotkey
(default: controloptionshiftcommandL) - Accessibility permission — status display and grant button
- Show icon in menu bar — hide the globe status icon while Browser Commander keeps running (still reachable via its keyboard shortcut); the choice persists across launches, including login auto-start. Shown only on macOS 14–15; on macOS 26 (Tahoe) and later, use System Settings → Menu Bar, which provides this natively.
- Menu bar icon pill — optional grey background for stronger contrast on busy or wallpaper-tinted menu bars (off by default)
- Launch at Login — start automatically when you log in
If you’ve hidden the status icon and want it back, just re-open Browser Commander from your Applications folder — it reappears immediately.
Auto-updates are handled by Sparkle. Use the “Check for Updates…” menu item to check on demand; Sparkle’s prompt offers an “Automatically download and install updates in the future” checkbox the first time an update is available. BrowserCommander checks for new versions automatically once a day in the background.
Installation
Two formats on every release — both signed and notarised, pick whichever suits:
- Installer (
.pkg) — recommended for first-time installs. Double-click to run; macOS Installer places the app in/Applicationswithout quarantine or App Translocation. - Download (
.zip) — unzip and dragBrowserCommander.appto your Applications folder.
Or install it with Homebrew: brew install --cask perpetualbeta/jorvik/browsercommander
On first launch, grant Accessibility permission when prompted.
Building from Source
Browser Commander uses Swift Package Manager. No Xcode project is required.
- Clone the repo:
git clone https://github.com/PerpetualBeta/BrowserCommander.git - Run
gmake build - Launch with
open .build/BrowserCommander.app
Requirements
macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. Universal binary (Apple Silicon and Intel).