How to show keystrokes on screen on Mac

The simplest method: SeventyKeys

Install SeventyKeys, click "Show my keystrokes" and grant Accessibility access once: every shortcut you type afterwards appears large, at the bottom (or top) of the screen, in a dark cartouche that fades on its own after one to three seconds. It's exactly what you need for a screencast, a live demo, or a recorded lesson: your audience sees what you're doing on the keyboard without you having to say it out loud.

Download the free SeventyKeys trial (7 days, macOS 13+).

Why not just a screen recording with an overlay added later

• Zero editing: the cartouche is already on screen while you record, picked up by any software (QuickTime, OBS, Zoom), no need to add it afterward.
• Readable in any condition: large text, dark background, adjustable position, stays crisp even in compressed screen shares.
• Nothing to remember: by default only shortcuts (⌘, ⌃, ⌥) are shown, free typing stays private automatically.

Why the Accessibility permission is needed

To know that a key was pressed, macOS offers only one technical path: a CGEvent tap, gated by the Accessibility authorization. SeventyKeys uses it in READ-ONLY mode (.listenOnly): the app cannot modify, block, or replay a keystroke. Nothing is recorded, nothing is written to disk, nothing is sent over the network.

Choosing what shows

In settings, pick the position (bottom or top of screen), the text size (S/M/L), and the display duration. The "shortcuts only" option is checked by default and strongly recommended: unchecked, every key you press is shown, including inside a password field.

Mistakes to avoid

• Turning on "show everything" during normal use: reserve it strictly for demonstrations.
• Forgetting to check the preview before recording: the SeventyKeys window shows live what will appear on screen.
• Confusing it with a screen recorder: SeventyKeys captures nothing, it only displays; you still start your own recording.

Get SeventyKeys: 7-day trial, then a lifetime license.