Hardwire

Support

Set what every mouse button and key does, in plain words.

Need a hand? Email hi@masonearl.com with your Mac model, macOS version and the mouse or keyboard you're using. You'll usually hear back within two working days.

Getting started

Open Hardwire. Your mice and keyboards appear on the left.
Allow Accessibility when asked: System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility › Hardwire.
Click a button on the 3D model (or press it on your mouse), type what it should do, and press Return.

Things you can type

screenshot · screenshot whole screen · cmd+shift+4 · open Safari · mission control · show desktop · back · next tab · play pause · mute · copy · middle click · nothing · default (puts the button back)

A button doesn't do anything

Check that Hardwire is on in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility. If it is already on, switch it off and on again.
Extra buttons such as the top button on Logitech MX mice also need Input Monitoring (Privacy & Security › Input Monitoring › Hardwire).
Another mouse utility may be grabbing the button first. Quit it and try again.
"Show desktop" and "app windows" use the macOS shortcuts F11 and ⌃↓. If you changed them in System Settings › Keyboard › Keyboard Shortcuts › Mission Control, turn them back on.

A key remap stopped working

Remaps come back by themselves when the keyboard reconnects, as long as Hardwire is running. Turn on Open at login in Hardwire so it's always there.

My paired mouse or keyboard isn't listed

Devices that are switched off show up only if Hardwire has Bluetooth access (Privacy & Security › Bluetooth). Wake the device by clicking a button, and check that it's on the channel for this Mac.

Using Hardwire with an AI app

Hardwire works with AI apps that support the Model Context Protocol (MCP), such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code. Ask things like "Make my mouse's back button take a screenshot" or "Build an accurate 3D model of my mouse".

Open Hardwire › Settings › Connect AI and pick your AI app. When macOS asks, choose the app's settings file. For Claude Code, copy the command shown and paste it in Terminal.
Quit the AI app completely (⌘Q) and open it again.
Keep Hardwire open. Changes take effect, and devices show up, only while it is running.

For any other app, add a server with the command /Applications/Hardwire.app/Contents/MacOS/Hardwire and the argument --mcp.

The AI app can't reach Hardwire

Open Hardwire. If the AI says it isn't running or sees no devices, that is usually why.
Quit and reopen the AI app. Most AI apps read their settings only at launch.
If you moved or renamed Hardwire, run Connect AI again so the path is right.
If changes are saved but nothing happens, Hardwire may be paused or in safe mode, or may need Accessibility again.

The AI can't change left or right click, read what you type, or give itself permissions. Hardwire sends nothing anywhere; your AI app's own privacy policy covers your conversation with it.

Something feels wrong? Start in safe mode

Hold Option (⌥) while you open Hardwire. It starts without changing any button or key, so you can look at your settings and fix them. Quit and open it normally to turn everything back on. You can also pause Hardwire at any time from its menu bar icon, or with ⌥⌘P.

Putting everything back

Type default for any button, or remove a key remap. Quitting Hardwire returns mouse buttons to normal right away. To remove Hardwire, quit it and drag it to the Trash.

Privacy

Hardwire collects nothing and works entirely on your Mac. Read the privacy policy.

Requirements

macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple silicon or Intel Macs. Any USB or Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.