If you’re new to the Mac operating system, you’ll be pleased to know life gets easier with the help of Mac keyboard shortcuts. It goes without saying that getting oneself familiar with them is critical to accomplishing more on any MacOS.
Learn these useful shortcuts to get any job done fast as well as save precious time while working on your Mac.
TIP: In case you’re a Windows switcher and connecting a PC keyboard to your MacBook, use the Windows logo key in place of Command and the Alt key for Option.
Mac Shortcuts for Power States
Remember these shortcuts to restart, shut down, or log out your Mac in no time. In most cases, you’ll be asked whether you want to save any unsaved changes in open documents when you toggle these commands.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
| Power button | Tapping once wakes your Mac from sleep or turns it on. |
| Hold it for 1.5 seconds while your Mac is awake and you’ll be shown a dialog asking if you want to restart, sleep, or shut down. If you don’t want to wait, press the keys Control + Power button or Control + Media Eject . | |
| Hold for 5 seconds to force your Mac to turn off. | |
| Shift + Command + Q | Logs you out of your MacOS user account |
| Option + Shift + Command + Q | Logs you out of your MacOS user account immediately without confirmation |
| Control + Command + Media Eject | Quits all apps and restarts your Mac |
| Control + Option + Command + Power button or Media Eject | Quits all apps then shuts down your Mac |
| Control + Command + Power button | Forces your Mac to restart. |
| Control + Shift + Power button or Media Eject | Puts your display to sleep |
Common Mac Shortcuts
Many of these shortcuts apply on various platforms, but a few of them works exclusively on the Mac. Learn these and you’ll be cruising through Mac OS like a pro.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
| Command + A | Selects all items within a document, web browser, or Finder |
| Command + C | Copies the selected item to the Clipboard. You may also use this shortcut for copying files in the Finder. |
| Command + V | Pastes the Clipboard content/s into a document or app. Use this shortcut for moving files in the Finder. |
| Command + Z | This will undo the previous command. You can press Command + Shift + Z to reverse the undo command. |
| Command + X | Removes or cuts the selected item and copies it to the Clipboard |
| Command + F | Finds an item or text in a document or opens a Find window |
| Command + G | Finds the next occurrence of the item found previously. To go back to the previous occurrence, press the keys Command + Shift + G. |
| Command + H | Hides the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all the others, press the keys Command + Option + H. |
| Command + M | Minimizes the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the current, active app, press the keys Command + Option + M. |
| Command + N | Opens a new document or window |
| Command + O | Opens the item selected or opens a dialog so you can select a file to open |
| Command + P | Prints the current document |
| Command + Q | Quits the current app |
| Command + S | Saves the current document |
| Command + W | Closes the front window. If you want to close all windows of the app, press the keys Command + Option + W. |
| Option + Command + Esc | Chooses an app to force quit. You may also press and hold the keys Command + Shift + Option + Esc for 3 seconds to force just the front app to quit. |
| Command + Spacebar | Shows/hides the Spotlight search. To perform Spotlight search from a Finder window, press the keys Command + Option + Spacebar. |
| Spacebar | Uses the Quick Look feature to preview a selected item |
| Command + tab | Switches to the next most recently used app among the apps you’ve opened |
| Shift + Command + Tilde (~) | Switches to the next most recently used window of the current app you’re on |
| Shift + Command + 3 | Takes a screenshot of the entire screen |
| Command + Comma | Opens the preferences for the current app |
Keyboard Shortcuts for Finder
As you’re busy digging your files on Finder, have these shortcuts ready. They’ll surely make quick work of anything that you’re trying to do.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
| Command + 1 | Views items in Finder as icons |
| Command + 2 | Views items in Finder as a list |
| Command + 3 | Views items Finder in columns |
| Command + 4 | Views items in Finder with Cover Flow |
| Command + Up arrow | Opens the folder that contains the currently accessed folder |
| Command + Control + Up arrow | Opens the folder that contains the current folder in a separate window |
| Command + Down arrow | Opens the currently selected item |
| Command + D | Creates a duplicate of the selected file/s |
| Command + E | Ejects the selected disk or drive |
| Command + F | Starts a Spotlight search in Finder |
| Command + I | Shows the Get Info window for a selected file |
| Command + J | Shows View Options |
| Command + K | Opens the Connect to Server window |
| Command + L | Makes an alias of the selected item |
| Command + N | Opens a new Finder window |
| Command + R | Shows the original file for a selected alias |
| Command + T | Shows/hides the tab bar when a single tab is open in the Finder window |
| Command + Y | Uses Quick Look to preview selected file/s |
| Command + Left Bracket ([) | Gets you back to the previous folder |
| Command + Right Bracket (]) | Takes you to the next folder |
| Shift + Command + C | Opens the Computer window |
| Shift + Command + D | Opens the desktop folder |
| Shift + Command + F | Opens the All My Files window |
| Shift + Command + G | Opens a Go to Folder window |
| Shift + Command + H | Opens the Home folder of the current MacOS user account |
| Shift + Command + I | Opens iCloud Drive |
| Shift + Command + K | Opens the Network window |
| Shift + Command + O | Opens the Documents folder |
| Shift + Command + R | Opens the AirDrop window. |
| Shift + Command + T | Adds selected Finder item to the Dock (Tip: works in OS X Mountain Lion or earlier) |
| Shift + Command + U | Opens the Utilities folder |
| Shift + Command + T | Shows/hides a Finder tab |
| Option + Command + L | Opens the Downloads folder. |
| Option + Command + D | Shows/hides the Dock (Tip: This works even when you’re not in the Finder) |
| Control + Command + T | Adds the selected item to the sidebar (Tip: works in OS X Mavericks or later). |
| Option + Command + P | Hides/shows the path bar in Finder |
| Option + Command + S | Hides/shows the Sidebar in Finder |
| Shift + Command + N | Creates a new folder |
| Option + Command + N | Creates a new Smart Folder |
| Option + Command + T | Shows/hides the toolbar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window |
| Option + Command + V | Moves the files in the clipboard to the current location |
| Option + Command + Y | Views a Quick Look slideshow of the selected files |
| Right Arrow | Opens the selected folder when in list view |
| Left Arrow | Closes the selected folder when in list view |
| Option + double-click | Opens a folder in a separate window and closes the current window |
| Command + double-click | Opens a folder in a separate tab or window |
| Command + Delete | Moves selected item/s to the Trash |
| Shift + Command + Delete | Empties the Trash content |
| Option + Shift + Command + Delete | Empties the Trash without confirmation dialog |
| Control + Shift + Command + T | Adds selected Finder item to the Dock (Tip: works only in OS X Mavericks or later) |
| Command + Slash (/) | Hides/shows the status bar in Finder |
| Command + Mission Control | Takes you to the desktop |
| Command + Brightness Up | Turns Target Display Mode on or off |
| Command + Brightness Down | Turns display mirroring on/off when your Mac is connected to another display |
| Option + Brightness Up | Opens Displays preferences. (Tip: works just fine with either Brightness key) |
| Option + Mission Control | Opens Mission Control preferences |
| Option + Volume Up | Opens Sound preferences (Tip: works with any volume keys) |
| Pressing Command while dragging | Moves the dragged item to another volume or location |
| Pressing Option key while dragging | Copies the dragged item |
| Pressing Option + Command while dragging | Makes an alias of the dragged item |
| Pressing Option + click a disclosure triangle | Opens all folders within the selected folder when in list view |
| Pressing Command + click on a window title | Shows the folder that contains the current folder |
Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac Documents
Breeze through any work that has to be done in Mac’s productivity suite with these shortcuts. Keep in mind, though, that many of these shortcuts aren’t exclusive to the MacOS.
| Keyboard Shortcuts | Action |
| Command + Up arrow | Moves the text cursor to the start of the document |
| Command + Down arrow | Moves the text cursor to the end of the document |
| Command + Left arrow | Moves the text cursor to the beginning of the current line |
| Command + Right arrow | Moves the insertion point to the end of the current line |
| Command + B | Turns boldfacing on/off or turns the selected text into bold |
| Command + I | Turns italics on/off or italicizes the selected text |
| Command + U | Turns underlining on/off or underlines the selected text |
| Command + T | Shows/ hides the Fonts window |
| Command + D | Selects the Desktop folder from within an Open dialog or Save dialog |
| Shift + Command +Colon (:) | Displays the Spelling and Grammar window |
| Command + Semicolon (;) | Finds misspelled words within a document |
| Control + H or Delete | Deletes the character on the left of the text cursor |
| Control + D or Fn + Delete | Deletes the character on the right of the insertion point |
| Control + K | Deletes the text between the text cursor and the end of the line/paragraph |
| Control + Command + D | Shows/hides the definition of the selected word |
| Fn + Up arrow | Scrolls the view up one page at a time (Pg Up) |
| Fn + Down arrow | Scrolls the view down one page (Pg Dn) |
| Fn + Left arrow | Scrolls cursor back to the beginning of a document |
| Fn + Right arrow | Scrolls cursor to the end of the document |
| Option + Left arrow | Moves the text cursor to the beginning of the previous word |
| Option + Right arrow | Moves the text cursor to the end of the next word |
| Shift + Command + Up arrow | Selects the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document |
| Shift + Command + Down arrow | Selects the text between the text cursor and the end of the document |
| Shift + Command + Left arrow | Selects the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line |
| Shift + Command + Right arrow | Selects the text between the text cursor and the end of the current line |
| Shift + Up arrow | Extends the text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location one line above |
| Shift + Down arrow | Extends text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location found one line below |
| Shift + Left arrow | Extends text selection one character to the left |
| Shift + Right arrow | Extends text selection one character to the right |
| Control + A | Moves the cursor to the beginning of the line or paragraph |
| Control + E | Moves the cursor to the end of a line or paragraph |
| Control + F | Moves one character forward |
| Control + B | Moves one character backward |
| Control + L | Centers the cursor or selection in the visible area |
| Control + P | Move up one line |
| Control + N | Move down one line |
| Control + O | Inserts a new line after the text cursor |
| Control + T | Swaps the character behind the insertion point with the character in front of it |
| Option + Delete | Deletes the word to the left of the text cursor |
| Fn + Delete / Control + D | Forward-deletes on keyboards that don’t have a Forward Delete key |
| Command + Delete | Selects Delete or Don’t Save in a dialog that contains a Delete or Don’t Save button. |
| Option + Shift + Up arrow | Extends the text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then to the beginning of subsequent paragraphs if pressed again |
| Option + Shift + Down arrow | Extends text selection to the end of the current paragraph, then to the end of the following paragraph when pressed again |
| Option + Shift + Left arrow | Extends text selection to the beginning of the current word, then to the beginning of the following word if pressed once more |
| Option + Shift + Right arrow | Extends the text selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of the following word if pressed again |
| Command + Left Curly Bracket ({) | Left aligns |
| Command + Right Curly Bracket (}) | Right aligns |
| Shift + Command + Vertical bar (|) | Center aligns |
| Shift + Command + Minus sign (-) | Decreases the size of the selected item |
| Shift + Command + Plus sign (+) / Command + Equal sign (=) | Increases the size of the selected item |
| Shift + Command + Question mark (?) | Opens the Help menu |
| Option + Command + F | Takes you to the search field. |
| Option + Command + T | Shows/hides a toolbar in the app |
| Option + Command + C | Copies the formatting settings of the selected item to the Clipboard |
| Option + Command + V | Applies the copied style to the selected item |
| Option + Shift + Command + V | Applies the style of the surrounding content to the item pasted within that content |
| Option + Command + I | Shows/hides the inspector window |
| Shift + Command + P | Displays a window for selecting document settings |
| Shift + Command + S | Displays the Save As dialog or creates a duplicate of the current document |
Do you want to learn even more shortcuts? In that case, just check the menus of the app you’re using. Remember that every app has its own shortcuts and those that work in one application aren’t guaranteed to work in another app.
You might also be interested to know that you can create your own keyboard shortcuts for menu commands in any OS X app. You may want to explore this option when a global shortcut is in conflict with a specific app’s shortcut. To do this navigate to the appropriate window to do this, navigate to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts.
If the reason why you’re learning about Mac keyboard shortcuts is that you’ve made the switch from the Windows OS recently, feel free to read our guide on switching from the PC to Mac.