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[Bug] Cmd+Space opens host Spotlight instead of guest Spotlight in fullscreen macOS VM #24
Description
Description
When using a macOS VM in fullscreen in VMPal, pressing Cmd+Space (⌘ + Space) opens Spotlight on the host Mac instead of inside the VM. I am using a French keyboard layout.
Steps to Reproduce
- Start a macOS VM in VMPal on a Mac.
- Put the VM into fullscreen mode.
- Click inside the guest desktop so the VM has keyboard focus.
- Press Cmd+Space (⌘ + Space) using a French keyboard layout.
Current Behavior
Spotlight opens on the host macOS rather than in the guest macOS VM.
Expected Behavior
When the fullscreen VM has keyboard focus, Cmd+Space should be forwarded to the guest and open Spotlight inside the VM. If forwarding host system shortcuts requires an option, it should be possible to configure it.
Environment
- VMPal version: Unknown
- Mac model / chip: Unknown
- Host macOS version: Unknown
- Guest OS: macOS (version unknown)
- Keyboard layout: French
- Display mode: Fullscreen
Additional Context
A brief duplicate check found no issue mentioning Spotlight. #18 discusses macOS-to-Windows keyboard mapping, which appears related to keyboard handling but does not describe this fullscreen macOS guest issue.
Log
No logs attached.
Activity
nangtrongvuon commentedon Oct 8, 2026
Hi, thanks for the report, we're looking into this issue.
ijpatricio commentedon Oct 18, 2026
Yeah, not only cmd+space, but also cmd+tab, the "fn keys", like the misson control, etc
If the VM window is focused, it should trap all keyboard shortcuts, like the native "Screen sharing" Apple's native app of sophisticated VNC.
As it is, it's hardly usable, having to resort to only mouse to do these basic operations, it's much frustrating.
Much love for the app and vision, this is not bashing in any way, just hope it can be seen as P0/1 and not just a "maybe nice to have" 😄
ijpatricio commentedon Oct 18, 2026
A somewhat simple (as usual lol) toggle in the VM settings: "capture system shortcuts"
iambipinpaul commentedon Oct 19, 2026
Adding a Windows guest use case to the shortcut-capture request here.
When using a Windows VM in fullscreen, I want keyboard and mouse shortcuts to stay inside Windows instead of triggering actions on the host Mac. For example, Alt+Tab should switch between apps inside Windows only. Mouse buttons and button combinations used as shortcuts should also act inside the Windows VM without simultaneously triggering macOS actions.
Building on the settings toggle suggested above, could this support a single option such as "Capture keyboard and mouse shortcuts in fullscreen"?
Desired behavior:
A clearly documented release shortcut would also be useful for deliberately returning control to macOS.
The original report is about a macOS guest, but the broader shortcut-capture behavior discussed in the comments would be useful for Windows guests too.
huyphams commentedon Oct 20, 2026
Hi @apeyroux, thanks, and thanks @ijpatricio and @iambipinpaul for the details.
VMPal 0.90: a macOS VM in full screen now gets ⌘Space, ⌘Tab, Mission Control’s keys and the Spaces’ keys, as Parallels Desktop’s Auto setting does. In a window they stay the Mac’s. To leave full screen, move the pointer to the top of the screen for the menu bar.
Still to do, so we’re keeping this issue open:
apeyroux commentedon Oct 20, 2026
@huyphams Thanks! I’ve just tested it with a macOS VM on a macOS host, and it works perfectly in full screen.
apeyroux commentedon Oct 20, 2026
Would it make sense to close this issue and track the two remaining points in separate issues?