Command X-V

Cut and paste files in macOS Finder with ⌘X and ⌘V.

---

Cut files with ⌘X, move them with ⌘V — the way it should have always worked. Command X-V plugs the missing shortcut into macOS Finder. No more ⌘C → ⌘⌥V gymnastics.

Requires macOS 13 Ventura or later.

 

Features

• True ⌘X Cut & ⌘V Paste — Cut with ⌘X and paste (move) with ⌘V
• Text Field Awareness — Automatically detects when a text field (rename, search bar) is focused and passes ⌘X through for native text editing — no conflicts
• Settings Window — Dedicated settings panel with sidebar navigation: General preferences, Shortcuts customization, and About info
• Customizable Shortcuts — Reassign Cut, Paste, and Restore Menu Bar shortcuts via an interactive key recorder with conflict detection and one-click reset to defaults
• Menu Bar App — Lives entirely in the menu bar with a minimal dropdown: status indicator, Settings, and exit
• Hide Menu Bar Icon — Option to hide the icon completely; restore it anytime with ⌃⌥⌘M or a Terminal command
• Start at Login — Starts automatically when you log in to your Mac
• Welcome & Onboarding — First-launch flow walks you through granting Accessibility permission with real-time status monitoring
• Auto-Updates — Built-in Sparkle integration for seamless over-the-air updates
• macOS Tahoe Ready — Full support for macOS 26 Tahoe

Quick Start

Get up and running in under a minute:

1. Install

Download the latest Command-X-V.dmg from the Releases page, open it, and drag Command X-V to your Applications folder. The app ships as a universal binary (Apple Silicon + Intel). Every release is code-signed, notarized, and stapled by Apple.

2. Grant Permission

On first launch, Command X-V opens a welcome window asking for Accessibility permission. Click Allow for Accessibility to open System Settings, then add Command X-V to the allowed list. The app detects the permission change automatically.

3. Use It

That's it. Press ⌘X to cut files in Finder, navigate to the destination, and press ⌘V to move them.

Important

Command X-V requires Accessibility permission to function. Without it, the app cannot monitor keyboard events. You can grant this in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.

Hiding the Menu Bar Icon

If you prefer a completely invisible experience:

1. Open Settings → Shortcuts.
2. Enable Hide Menu Bar Icon.
3. A dialog shows you how to restore it later.
4. Click Hide the icon to confirm.

To restore:

• Shortcut: Press Control (⌃) + Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + M from anywhere
• Terminal: Run defaults write com.writronic.commandxv ShowMenuBarIcon -bool true and restart the app

Development

Build from Source

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/writronic/Command-X-V.git
   cd Command-X-V

2. Open Command-X-V.xcodeproj in Xcode 16+.
3. Build and run the Command X-V scheme.

Note

Command X-V uses Sparkle via Swift Package Manager. Xcode resolves the dependency automatically on first open.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please read CONTRIBUTING.md before getting started.

Bug Reports & Feature Requests

Search existing issues before opening a new one. Provide clear reproduction steps for bugs and a concise rationale for feature requests.

Code

Fork the repository, create a feature branch, and open a pull request. Keep changes focused and include relevant tests.

License

Command X-V is available under the GPL-3.0 license.

---

Made with ❤️ by Writronic