Command Your Mac: The Shortcut Guide Every Fan Needs
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Table of contents
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First, get familiar with your keys!
The whole power of your Mac may be unlocked by mastering these keyboard keys, much like learning the alphabet as a youngster opens up a universe of words.
Symbol Key Name
⌘ Command (Cmd)
⌃ Control (Ctrl)
⌥ Option (Alt)
⇧ Shift
fn Function
⌫ Delete
⎋ Eject
⏏ Escape (Esc)
↩ Return key
The Shortcuts:
Basic Editing: ✍️
| Shortcut | Usage |
|---------------|--------------------------|
| ⌘ + X | Cut |
| ⌘ + C | Copy |
| ⌘ + V | Paste |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + V | Paste without formatting |
| ⌘ + Z | Undo |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + Z | Redo |
| ⌫ | Delete Forward |
| fn + ⌫ | Delete Backward |
| ⌘ + ⌫ | Delete Line |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + ⌫ | Delete Word |
Selection: ✅
| Shortcut | Usage |
|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| ⌘ + A | Select All |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + Left/Right Arrow | Selecting a word |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + Left/Right Arrow | Selecting a line |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + Up/Down Arrow | Selecting multiple lines |
Finding and Opening: 🔎
| Shortcut | Usage |
|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| ⌘ + F | Find |
| ⌘ + O | Open file in Finder |
| ⌘ + Spacebar | Spotlight search |
| ⌘ + I | Get Info |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + L | Downloads folder |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + O | Documents folder |
Window Management: 🪟
| Shortcut | Usage |
|--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| ⌘ + M | Minimize window |
| ⌘ + H | Hide app |
| ⌘ + W | Close window |
| ⌘ + N | New Finder window |
| ⌘ + ⌥ + M | Minimize all windows of the front app |
| ⌘ + ⌥ + H | Hide the windows of the front app |
| ⌘ + ⌃ + F | Go/Exit fullscreen |
Finder Navigation: 📍
| Shortcut | Usage |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| ⇧ + ⌘ + N | New folder |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + D | Show/hide Dock |
| ⌘ + Delete | Move to Trash |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + Delete | Empty Trash |
| ⌘ + 1, 2, 3, or 4 | View options (as Icons, List, Columns, Gallery) |
Navigation (Applications and Tabs): 🧭
| Shortcut | Usage |
|------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| ⌘ + Tab | Swith between open applications |
| ⌃ + Tab | Tab Switcher within application |
| ⌘ + [ or ] | front and back between pages |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + [ or ] | Change tab |
Screenshots: 📸
| Shortcut | Usage |
|----------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| ⌘ + ⇧ + 3 | Screenshot the entire visible window |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + 4 | Screenshot portion of the screen |
| ⌘ + ⌃ + ⇧ + 4 | Copy a portion of the screen to the clipboard |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + 5 | Screenshot with Tools |
Additional Shortcuts: 🐣
| Shortcut | Usage |
|--------------------------------|------------------------------|
| ⌘ + D | Duplicate |
| ⌘ + E | Eject |
| ⌘ + P | Print |
| ⌘ + S | Save |
| ⌘ + T | New tab |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + T | Reopen closed tabs |
Force Quitting: 🛑
| Shortcut | Usage |
|-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| ⌘ + ⌥ + Esc | Force quit window |
| ⌘ + ⌃ + ⌥ + Esc | Quit all apps |
| ⌘ + ⌃ + ⌥ + Powerbutton | Quit all apps and shutdown (with confirmation)|
| ⌘ + ⌃ + Q | Lock your screen |
From now on say goodbye to mouse clicks and hello to productivity!
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