====== Activate a Specific Application ======

This action switches to, and launches if necessary, the specified application.  It is the equivalent of using the macOS App Switcher, or launching the application by any means.

{{ activate-a-specific-application-action.png?nolink&634x539 | Activate a Specific Application Action }}


===== How To Use =====

  - **Select the App from the "Activate:" Popup**
  - **In the same Popup, choose how to identify the app**: (v9.0+)
     * Match Using Default (first by path, then by Bundle ID if needed)
     * Match Only by Path
     * Match Only by Bundle ID
  - **Check the Options To Use**
    * Check to Show all windows or Unchecked to show only the FrontMost Window
    * Reopen the app's initial window(s)
    * If the application is already at the front, you can choose to
      * leave it there.
      * or switch to the previous application.
      * or bring its windows to the front.
      * or reopen its initial windows.
      * or hide it.
      * or hide other applications.
      * or quit it.

===== Activating an Application by Variable =====

This Action requires that you select the App during Macro design, and you cannot use a Variable for the name.

However, there are several alternatives that will allow you to use a Variable for the App Name:
  - **[[action:Use_Variable|Use Variable]]** to set the Frontmost App.  This will have the same effect as Activating the app.
  - **[Activate Application by Name String -- Custom PlugIn](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/activate-application-by-name-string/1806)** -- A third-party custom PlugIn that will allow you to set the application by its name in a Variable.
  - Use the `open` shell command with the [[action:Execute_a_Shell_Script|Execute a Shell Script]] action.
  - Use the [[action:Open_a_File_Folder_or_Application|Open an Application]] action with a variable path.

===== See Also =====

=== Actions ===

* [[action:Open a File Folder or Application|Open a File Folder or Application]]
* [[:Actions|See all Actions]]

=== Tokens ===

* [[token:Application|%Application%n%]]
* [[token:CurrentApplication|%CurrentApplication%]]
* [[token:LastApplication|%LastApplication%]]
* [[:Tokens|See all Tokens]]

==== Forum ====

- [[https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/search?q=Activate%20Specific%20Application|Keyboard Maestro Forum topics about Activate a Specific Application]]