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Open App Action

Launch any macOS application instantly.

What It Does

The Open App action launches applications without searching through your dock or Applications folder. It's the fastest way to open the apps you use regularly.

Configuration

Choose Application — Select any app installed on your Mac from the dropdown menu or search for it by name.

Examples

Single App Launch

1. Open App → Safari

Sequential Launch

1. Open App → Visual Studio Code
2. Delay → 2 seconds
3. Open App → Terminal
4. Delay → 1 second
5. Open App → Slack

Launch with Follow-up Action

1. Open App → Mail
2. Delay → 2 seconds
3. Simulate Keyboard Shortcut → New Message (⌘N)

Use Cases

Morning Setup — Launch all work apps in sequence

1. Open App → Safari
2. Delay → 0.5 seconds
3. Open App → Mail
2. Delay → 0.5 seconds
5. Open App → Calendar

Development Environment — Open your coding setup

1. Open App → Visual Studio Code
2. Delay → 0.5 seconds
3. Open App → Terminal
4. Delay → 0.5 second
5. Open App → Xcode

Design Workflow — Launch creative apps

1. Open App → Photoshop
2. Delay → 0.5 seconds
3. Open App → Illustrator

Tips

Add delays — Delays are always recommended after opening applications to give them time to finish opening.

App switching — If the app is already open, this action brings it to the foreground.

Hidden apps — You can open apps even if they're hidden or not visible in your dock.

Common Apps to Automate

  • Web browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox)
  • Email clients (Mail, Outlook)
  • Communication tools (Slack, Teams, Discord)
  • Development tools (VS Code, Xcode, Terminal)
  • Creative apps (Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma)
  • Productivity apps (Calendar, Notes, Reminders)

Next Steps