ActionPad allows you to create your own custom control panels to remote control applications on your computer.
This app requires the ActionPad Server desktop software to be installed on your computer for full functionality. For more information on this, visit http://actionpad.co/go. Compatible with macOS and Windows.
Panels can contain buttons and other objects, which can be used to simulate keyboard and mouse input, as well as open files and URLs. With grid and dynamic panel types, buttons can be arranged into a grid with customizable rows and columns, or positioned and sized anywhere you would like on your panel for infinite customization possibilities. Customize the appearance of buttons and other panel objects to give them a distinct look. Get ready to make your keyboard and mouse jealous.
With ActionPad, you may implement buttons on your panel that:
-Execute keystrokes, such as Command C or Ctrl V.
-Move your mouse pointer or hold keys as you hold down the button.
-Launch applications and open files on your computer.
-Open websites in your default browser and interact with them.
-Control media and volume on your computer.
-Do all of these things with one press!
You can have buttons send continuous keyboard and mouse input as you hold them down, or you can combine multiple actions to create simple or complex macros that will run with just one tap of the button!
All of this, along with visual elements such as images, text, and containers can all be combined to create unique control panels, each of which with it's own purpose.
Don't feel like creating your own panel, or want to use some pre-created panels for some of your favorite desktop apps? ActionPad features the Community Panels Hub, which allows users to upload and share panels they create. It's very easy to share panels and build upon everyone's creations. Along with sharing through the Community Panels Hub, you can also export your panel and send it via E-mail, AirDrop, or a variety of other mediums. No account needed to download user-made panels, only required if you wish to upload to share with other users.
Whether it be a panel used to quickly access the most commonly used tools in Photoshop, extra shortcuts for DAW power users, controls for your cockpit in a space simulation game, or a remote control for your streaming setup, there is no limit to what you can create and control with ActionPad.
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ActionPad FAQ
Is ActionPad free?
ActionPad is not free (it costs 4.99), however it doesn't contain in-app purchases or subscriptions.
Is ActionPad legit?
🤔 The ActionPad app's quality is mixed. Some users are satisfied, while others report issues. Consider reading individual reviews for more context.
If This Would send MIDI Messages Too, A Huge Market Would Be Captured
Very promising! I’ve lowered my score a bit, because the version loses connection when ActionPad is arranged in the background. Have to reconnect every time I move it back to the foreground. Makes it very tedious to use, as I need to move apps ‘fore and back’ quite a bit.
Also, if you create a layout with many pads, and then decide to increase or decrease the columns in the layout, the pads are not properly redistributed, and many pads can be instantly lost. There is also no duplicate, copy/paste function for pad settings, or ability to edit multiple pads. Strange oversight that I hop is added. If these issues are addressed, I will certainly revise my review )
Also, If This Would send MIDI Messages Too, A Huge Market Would Be Captured. It would be massive for use with DAW’s Pretty Please!
Very handy app
I use this in everything gaming, Sony camera control, photo editing, car road tuning…etc. Just a fantastic app! I would like some more advanced functionality though! Such as more button feedback options and perhaps ways to animate. Even simple things like a countdown timer would be awesome.
Does not work
Doesn't work. Wasted $. And wasted my time.
Major bugs
I spent hours setting up a custom panel for an editing package. Multiple crashes during the creation. Once done the panel scaled and I lost part of it off the screen.
I will have to completely redo this again which is a major disappointment and a waste of time. At this point I am regretting the purchase.
Good, Except Stability
I would love this app, if I could ever get to using it. Trying to make any changes to my panels is the longest, most frustrating process I’ve ever had with an app. There are bugs that will randomly change the text in buttons that you’re not editing, icons disappear randomly, multiple buttons will randomly be created and won’t go away until you quit the app. There seems to be no function to undo, which means each time a bug happens (every 10 seconds), you have to quit the app and go back in to do anything. If you use a pre-made panel, then this app is awesome! If you are like me and want to customize your shortcuts, have fun...
I was a Quadro app user...
Thanks for this. From the bottom of my heart. Seriously. Don’t abandoned this development please. Keep going
It was hard to setup but so cool when it worked
Got this because I got tired of typing chat commands in games. Also I set it up to do dice rolls only in my specific discord channel for rpg games. The photoshop tools are also perfect. It was worth every penny for this graphic designer and nerd.
Super Useful... and Evolving
I’m really impressed with Action Pad, especially since it is an affordable, living, breathing product that continues to evolve and get better. (The addition of Jump Buttons in the latest version which allows you to easily link panels is a fantastic addition).
I use it primarily to send hot keys to my recording apps on my Mac, and the flexibility of Action Pad in creating buttons for different needs is really quite impressive. On the down side, the panel editor could really use undo and redo buttons, and the editor crashes fairly frequently. But since the app saves every action as you make them, you never lose anything beyond your most recent edit. When not in edit mode, Action Pad is very stable interacting with apps on my Mac.
All in all a great app, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.
Great app, with great support
I have used many launchpad and remote app for mac and by far it’s the most customizable app. I wish i can determine the size of buttons by percentage instead of fixed pixels to make it compatible for both my iPad and iPhone. But it’s my go to shortcut app for my adobe products and Anki.
Also the support team of app is amazing and i have got reply within hours.
Great app with great support
I wanted to write a somewhat complex macro for Final Cut Pro X. Initially, ActionPad Server (the Mac component) didn’t perform as expected. I dropped the developer an email. He was back to me in 15 minutes with fix already uploaded on his website. A download, a reinstall and a reboot after granting ActionPad Server access to Accessibility ... it all worked perfectly. Hey, bugs happen. But customer service like this is hard to beat! And for $1.99, it’s a steal!