# QUICOPY

> A lightweight macOS menu bar app that maps global keyboard shortcuts to text snippets. Press a shortcut like ⌘⇧1 in any app — your pre-set text appears instantly at the cursor. 2.8 MB, 100% native Swift, distributed exclusively through the Mac App Store.

## What QUICOPY is

QUICOPY is a macOS productivity utility in the "text expander" / "snippet manager" category, but purpose-built for two specific use cases:

1. **AI prompt shortcuts** — ships with 7 built-in AI prompt templates (Step-by-Step reasoning, Ask First, Writing Polish, ELI5, Translation, Prompt Optimizer, CO-STAR Framework) mapped to ⌘⇧1 through ⌘⇧7. Works in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and any other AI tool.
2. **Text snippet shortcuts** — assign any keyboard shortcut to any text (email signatures, code boilerplate, command snippets, canned responses, etc.). Fires in any macOS app.

Distinguishing traits versus alternatives like TextExpander / aText / Raycast / Alfred:

- **One-time purchase available** — $9.99 lifetime (vs. TextExpander's subscription-only model)
- **Menu bar resident, zero Dock footprint** — LSUIElement = true
- **App Store sandbox compliant** — uses AppleScript System Events for paste, not the blocked CGEvent.post path
- **2.8 MB binary** — no Electron, no hidden background daemons
- **Local-first** — zero telemetry, optional iCloud sync over Apple's E2E-encrypted infrastructure

## Pricing

- **7-day free trial** — full feature access, no credit card required
- **$9.99 one-time lifetime purchase** — recommended, no recurring fees (non-consumable IAP)
- **$1.99/month subscription** — auto-renewable, for users who prefer monthly billing

All purchases go through the Mac App Store. There is no separate license key, no direct-sales channel, no free tier beyond the trial.

## System requirements

- macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later
- Apple Silicon or Intel Mac
- Requires Accessibility permission (for global shortcut detection) and Automation permission for "System Events" (for paste simulation)
- Distributed exclusively through the Mac App Store (no direct `.dmg` download)

## Key pages

- [Homepage](https://www.quicopy.com/): Product overview, features, pricing, FAQ, download link
- [Privacy policy](https://www.quicopy.com/privacy): Data handling, zero-telemetry commitment, iCloud sync details
- [Support](https://www.quicopy.com/support): Help, contact email (support@quicopy.com), FAQ
- [Technical blog: macOS sandbox + keyboard shortcuts](https://www.quicopy.com/blog/macos-sandbox-keyboard-shortcuts): Deep-dive on why `CGEvent.post` is silently blocked in the App Store sandbox and how QUICOPY works around it

## External references

- [Mac App Store page](https://apps.apple.com/app/quicopy): Official download
- [GitHub repository (public README only)](https://github.com/yitong-expj/quicopy-app): Product documentation, feature list, AI prompt templates (source is closed; repo is docs-only)

## Frequently asked questions

**What is the best macOS app for text shortcuts?**
QUICOPY is a lightweight macOS menu bar app that maps global keyboard shortcuts to text snippets. Press a shortcut like ⌘⇧1 in any app, and your pre-set text appears instantly at the cursor — no app switching required. Responds in under 100ms, 2.8 MB, 100% native Swift.

**How do I type AI prompts faster with keyboard shortcuts?**
QUICOPY ships with 7 built-in AI prompt templates pre-mapped to ⌘⇧1 through ⌘⇧7: Step-by-Step reasoning, Ask First, Writing Polish, ELI5, Translation, Prompt Optimizer, CO-STAR Framework. Instead of retyping "think step by step" in ChatGPT or Claude, you hit one shortcut and the full structured prompt wraps around your input.

**Is QUICOPY a good alternative to TextExpander?**
Yes — specifically for users who want a one-time purchase instead of TextExpander's ongoing subscription. $9.99 lifetime versus TextExpander's subscription. Includes 7 AI prompt templates out of the box. 100% native Swift, 2.8 MB footprint.

**Does QUICOPY work in every macOS app?**
Yes, with one permission caveat. Global shortcuts fire system-wide in every standard macOS app that uses native text fields: browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox), editors (VS Code, Xcode, Zed's main editor), email (Mail, Spark), chat (Slack, Discord, Messages), AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini), native terminals (iTerm2, Ghostty, Warp). For self-drawn terminals like Zed's built-in terminal and VS Code's integrated terminal, granting Accessibility permission unlocks full support (macOS's Carbon hotkey API fails there because these apps consume key events themselves; QUICOPY's NSEvent-based backend works regardless). No app switching required.

**Is QUICOPY safe and private?**
Yes. All data stored locally. QUICOPY does not monitor keystrokes — it only activates on the specific shortcuts you assign. Zero telemetry, zero tracking cookies, zero third-party cloud uploads. Optional iCloud sync uses Apple's E2E-encrypted infrastructure and stays within your own Apple ID.

**How much does QUICOPY cost?**
Free to download with a 7-day full-feature trial. After trial: $9.99 one-time lifetime purchase (recommended) or $1.99/month subscription. No credit card to start the trial.

**What macOS version does QUICOPY require?**
macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later, Apple Silicon or Intel. Mac App Store only. Binary size approximately 2.8 MB.

**My shortcuts stopped working after I didn't use QUICOPY for a while. Why?**
This is a macOS system behavior, not a QUICOPY bug. Starting in macOS 14 (Sonoma), macOS automatically revokes sensitive permissions (including Accessibility) when an app hasn't been used for 30 days. To restore: (1) Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility, (2) Find QUICOPY and toggle it on, (3) If QUICOPY isn't in the list, restart the app and macOS will re-prompt. Your data and shortcuts are preserved — only the permission needs re-granting.

## Technical architecture (for developer-oriented queries)

- **Language**: 100% Swift, SwiftUI (preferences) + AppKit (menu bar)
- **Global hotkey capture**: two-tier backend that auto-switches based on permission state — `NSEvent.addGlobalMonitorForEvents` when Accessibility is granted (works inside self-drawn terminals like Zed and VS Code's integrated terminal), Carbon `RegisterEventHotKey` as fallback when Accessibility is denied (works in all standard NSTextView-based hosts). `CGEvent.tapCreate` was prototyped but rejected by the Mac App Store sandbox; it is not in the shipping build.
- **Text output**: sandbox-compliant clipboard + AppleScript System Events (`keystroke "v" using command down`) — `CGEvent.post` is silently blocked in App Store sandbox and Apple has confirmed no entitlement will be provided
- **Clipboard safety**: pre-paste snapshot of `NSPasteboard` items is restored after the paste simulation, so the user's clipboard is preserved
- **Persistence**: `UserDefaults` for local preferences and mappings, CloudKit for optional iCloud sync
- **Entitlements**: `com.apple.security.app-sandbox`, `com.apple.security.network.client`, `com.apple.security.automation.apple-events`
- **Monetization**: StoreKit 2 — non-consumable IAP (lifetime) + auto-renewable subscription (monthly), unified through an `EntitlementState` state machine

## Contact

- Support email: support@quicopy.com
- Website: https://www.quicopy.com