# The shortcut key for Negative Lab Pro (Ctrl + N) is not working on Mac - How to add manually? **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting and Bugs\ **Created:** [June 30, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046 "2020-06-30T13:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forums.negativelabpro.com/nate/32/4_2.png) [@nate](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/1 "2020-06-30T13:29:19Z")
For Mac/Apple users, in some circumstances you may find that the shortcut key for Negative Lab Pro (Ctrl + N) either stops working or does not install correctly. You may also find that you want to customize the shortcut key, or add new shortcuts for the other included utilities (like Tiff Prep or Update Vuescan/Silverfast DNG). This is easy to do on Mac using Apple’s built-in keyboard shortcut preferences. ### First, on your mac, go to “System Preferences” and select “Keyboard” ![system-preferences](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/e/e068367ad5fc682197c2769c79f096bbcabcb269.jpeg) ### Inside Keyboard preferences, select “Shortcuts” then “App Shortcuts” then click the “+” button to add a new shortcut ![keyboard-preferences](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/8/8df64af6b20b3e3ec9be70f54dd0b852168c5032.jpeg) ### Set the “Application” to your version of Lightroom (you may need to select “Other” from the dropdown before you see it as an option). ### Then set the menu item to " Negative Lab Pro" (with three blank spaces at the beginning). Then set your shortcut and click “Add” ![adding-shortcut](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/4/4b667f5fea36d2205b27008df445b80b862912bd.png) ### You should see the shortcut added to your list of app shortcuts ![shortcut-added](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/1/1e5fc1430dcce43f989b753337e9157661bc0303.jpeg) ### In Lightroom, the shortcut should now be added. You should be able to see it available when you go to “file \> Plug-in Extras” ![shortcut-seen-in-lightroom](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/0/0d7ba5cba7b68c1fe071a8803072d12de1e3888b.png) You can set the shortcut to something other than “Ctrl + N” if you’d prefer, you just need to make sure that the shortcut does not conflict with any existing Lightroom shortcuts. You can also create shortcuts for the other plug-in utilities. Just be sure to add three blank spaces at the beginning of the menu item name when you add it in your preferences. For instances, if you wanted to create a shortcut for the Tiff Scan Prep utilities, you should add it as " Tiff Scan Prep" (with three blank spaces at the beginning, and no quotations). ---
**Author:** ![BarrettPhoto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BarrettPhoto](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/BarrettPhoto)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 9:51am UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/2 "2020-08-12T09:51:29Z")
Thank you, this worked like a charm. My mysteriously vanished shortcut is once again active. I’m curious about the leading spaces. They seem necessary and a really odd thing. On a tangential note, I have been able to add ⌘⇧H as a shortcut for “Flip Horizontal” (a command I always need after shooting the emulsion side toward my lens) and it works for one LR instance, before vanishing for the next. I’ve reported that in Adobe forums, but no answers at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Arno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Arno](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/Arno)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2020, 12:34pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/3 "2020-11-01T12:34:38Z")
I’m trying to do the same thing but came across another problem. When I add the shortcut it does target the grayed out “Negative Lab Pro” instead of the black one. Any suggestion for fixing this? ![2020-11-01 at 13.33](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/7/7ab4f3f2ae1774a3d8b0f6bd6c28b614cfaabd20.png) ![2020-11-01 at 13.34](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/1/1b12c7770b7daf83a2ca4dbda51077570993fcf2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forums.negativelabpro.com/nate/32/4_2.png) [@nate](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/4 "2020-11-02T15:21:49Z")
> [@Arno](#): > > When I add the shortcut it does target the grayed out “Negative Lab Pro” instead of the black one. Any suggestion for fixing this? Per the instructions, it looks like your problem is that you didn’t **add three blank spaces before “Negative Lab Pro”** when you added it to the keyboard shortcuts. ---
**Author:** ![Arno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Arno](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/Arno)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/5 "2020-11-02T19:01:26Z")
Ohh my bad! This did solve my problem, should had read it better 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![weegee](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forums.negativelabpro.com/weegee/32/1654_2.png) [@weegee](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/weegee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/6 "2021-01-04T19:37:10Z")
That worked for me, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![JDB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@JDB](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/JDB)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 1:19pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/7 "2021-07-18T13:19:09Z")
Does this work with Lightroom CC? I tried this and it doesn’t seem to show in lightroom. ---
**Author:** ![rcbuitron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@rcbuitron](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/rcbuitron)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 3:07am UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/8 "2022-02-09T03:07:41Z")
The shortcut key was working, but now unable to access NLP. I followed the above instruction, including the 3 spaces and unsuccessful. I quit LR Classic and re-launched and still no NLP dialog box appears. ![Screen Shot 2022-02-08 at 9.04.21 PM](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/0/0d1671b39618a924cb63505bde45da61aed685a2.jpeg) Thanks ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forums.negativelabpro.com/nate/32/4_2.png) [@nate](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 7:16pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/9 "2022-02-09T19:16:07Z")
> [@rcbuitron](#): > > The shortcut key was working, but now unable to access NLP. I followed the above instruction, including the 3 spaces and unsuccessful. I quit LR Classic and re-launched and still no NLP dialog box appears. Hi, If you go to “file \> plugin extras” what do you see? It should look like this… ![nlp-menu](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/b/b3654a660c0fe5c0a4dc61b74d8a6587cd2f1d48.jpeg) If “Negative Lab Pro” is greyed out, it means you need to be in the library or develop module, and have an image selected. If “Negative Lab Pro” is there in the menu, but it is missing the “^N” to the right, then something is still wrong with the shortcut key. If everything appears to be correct, but clicking on “Negative Lab Pro” has no effect, then there is a different issue that needs to be addressed. -Nate ---
**Author:** ![rcbuitron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@rcbuitron](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/rcbuitron)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/10 "2022-02-09T21:30:40Z")
Hi, Thanks for the prompt reply. I am in Library or Develop module when I try to access Negative Lab Pro. What’s interesting is when I quit LR and re-launch, I am able to access Negative Lab Pro on an image, but only once. When I try again and try another single image, or a batch, nothing happens, no dialog box. I’ve attached a screen capture of the File menu. Rob ![Screen Shot 2022-02-08 at 9.04.55 PM.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/0/058156c355b0c4d992371eeaa482be0edda148c9.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![iambilllee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@iambilllee](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/iambilllee)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/11 "2022-06-15T16:36:17Z")
Hi, I recently had the same issue pop up. One day out of nowhere the ^N shortcut stopped working. NLP is still accessible using mouse. I uninstalled, re-installed NLP. Shortcut still didn’t work. Tried adding the shortcut via System Preferences—\>keyboard, but when I try to do that it gets rejected (makes a bonk sound and doesn’t allow it to be typed). Tried a different shortcut (option N) which was allowed to be input. Tried the (Opt N) in Lightroom, NLP opened for half a second then closed. Tried again, but now (Opt N) does nothing. Uninstalled, reinstalled NLP again and the shortcut key has been reset to ^N but still doesn’t work. The “View” tab in the menu blinks when I type ^N. Anyone have a similar issue with the ^N key deciding to stop working? MacOS Monterey 12.3.1 Lightroom Classic 11.4 ---
**Author:** ![Eugene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8797f3/32.png) [@Eugene](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/Eugene)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/12 "2023-05-07T17:04:34Z")
Same thing happen to me recently, just use Nate’s instructions, but open notepad/text editor add 3 spaces before “Negative Lab Pro” copy and then paste where you create shortcut. It works 100% ---
**Author:** ![Digitizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@Digitizer](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/u/Digitizer)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 9:55pm UTC](https://forums.negativelabpro.com/t/the-shortcut-key-for-negative-lab-pro-ctrl-n-is-not-working-on-mac-how-to-add-manually/2046/13 "2023-05-07T21:55:11Z")
System settings… ![Bildschirm 2023-05-07 um 23.52.39](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/negativelabpro/original/2X/9/920b90e1157831e67adeec29f6a5d249fe96bc84.jpeg) Note the three spaces. If they were dashes (-), they’d be more visible 😉