Basic Operations
|
Keys |
Effect |
|
cmd-x |
Cut selected item and copy it to the clipboard. |
|
cmd-c |
Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder. |
|
cmd-v |
Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder. |
|
cmd-z |
Undo the previous command. You can then press Shift-Command-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands. |
|
cmd-a |
Select All items. |
|
cmd-f |
Find items in a document or open a Find window. |
|
cmd-g |
Find Again: Find the next occurrence of the item previously found. To find the previous occurrence, press Shift-Command-G. |
|
cmd-h |
Hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Option-Command-H. |
|
cmd-m |
Minimize the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the front app, press Option-Command-M. |
|
cmd-o |
Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open. |
|
cmd-p |
Print the current document. |
|
cmd-s |
Save the current document. |
|
cmd-t |
Open a new tab. |
|
cmd-w |
Close the front window. To close all windows of the app, press Option-Command-W. |
|
opt-cmd-esc |
Force quit an app. |
|
cmd-space |
Show or hide the Spotlight search field. To perform a Spotlight search from a Finder window, press Command–Option–Space bar. (If you use multiple input sources to type in different languages, these shortcuts change input sources instead of showing Spotlight. Learn how to change a conflicting keyboard shortcut.) |
|
ctrl-cmd-space |
Show the Character Viewer, from which you can choose emoji and other symbols. |
|
ctrl-cmd-f |
Use the app in full screen, if supported by the app. |
|
space |
Use Quick Look to preview the selected item. |
|
cmd-tab |
Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps. |
|
shift-cmd-3 |
Take a screenshot of the entire screen. Learn more screenshot shortcuts. |
|
shift-cmd-n |
Create a new folder in the Finder. |
|
cmd-comma(,) |
Open preferences for the front app. |
At login window
|
Keys |
Effect |
|
shift |
(10.x only) Disable auto-login, forcing login window |
As Finder Starts
|
Key |
Effect |
|
cmd-opt |
(whenever Classic Finder sees a new disk) Rebuild Desktop |
|
shift |
(Mac OS X) Do not launch startup items. Do not open Finder windows when launching Finder. The windows’ states aren’t changed to closed, as they will be reopened if you reboot again. |
In Finder
|
opt-click close box (or cmd-opt-w) |
Close all open finder windows (except popup windows) |
|
cmd-shift-opt-w |
Close all open finder windows (including popup windows) |
|
cmd-right arrow |
Open folder in list view |
|
cmd-opt-right arrow |
Recursively open folder and nested folders in list view |
|
cmd-left arrow |
Close folder in list view |
|
cmd-opt-left arrow |
Recursively close folder and nested folders in list view |
|
cmd-up arrow |
Open parent folder. On Mac OS X, when nothing is selected and no windows are open, open User directory |
|
cmd-opt-up arrow |
Open parent folder, closing current folder |
|
cmd-opt-shift-up arrow |
Make desktop the active window, select parent volume |
|
cmd-down arrow |
Open selected item. On Mac OS X, when nothing is selected and no windows are open, open the desktop folder |
|
cmd-opt-down arrow |
Open selected item, closing current folder |
|
cmd-opt-o |
Open selected item, closing current folder |
|
opt-double-click |
Open selected item, closing current folder |
|
opt-click |
(In disclosure triangle) expand or collapse all folders within that window |
|
tab |
select next icon alphabetically |
|
shift-tab |
select previous item alphabetically |
|
cmd-delete |
move selection to trash |
|
cmd-shift-delete |
empty trash |
|
space |
while navigating, opens folder under mouse immediately (with spring-loaded folders enabled) |
|
|
|
|
In Finder Window Menu |
|
|
cmd-select |
Close window |
|
cmd-shift-select |
Put away popup window |
|
cmd-opt-select |
Expand selected window and close all others |
|
ctl-select |
Expand selected window and collapse all others |
|
ctl-opt-select |
Activate selected window and expand all others |
In other dialogues
|
Key |
Action |
|
esc |
Cancel |
|
command-. (period) |
Cancel |
|
enter |
Default button |
|
return |
Default button (if there are no text fields that use return |
|
cmd-d |
Don’t save (in save/cancel/don’t save dialog) |
|
cmd-r |
Replace (in “Do you want to replace this file” dialog, Mac OS X only) |
On keyboards with a function key
|
Key Combination |
Effect |
|
fn-backspace |
forward delete |
|
fn-left arrow |
home |
|
fn-right arrow |
end |
|
fn-up arrow |
page up |
|
fn-down arrow |
page down |
Clicks
|
click / modifier |
Effect |
|
option-click in another application |
Switch to that application and hide previous app |
|
cmd-drag (window) |
Drag window without bringing it to front (requires application support to work behind dialogs) |
|
cmd-drag (window background) |
Pan contents of window with hand (Finder) |
|
cmd-opt-drag (window background) |
Option may be needed to pan contents of window with hand (Finder) on 10.3 and later |
|
cmd-drag (Mac OS X) |
Rearrange menu extras |
|
opt-drag (file) |
Copy file |
|
cmd-opt-drag (file) |
Make alias of file |
|
cmd-click window title |
Pop-up menu showing path to current folder/document (in some applications) |
|
option-windowshade |
Windowshade all windows of application (classic only) |
|
option-zoom |
Zoom window to full-screen |
|
option-yellow |
Dock all windows of application (Mac OS X only) |
|
option-green |
Zoom window to fill screen (in some applications) |
|
|
|
|
Mac OS X only – items in dock |
|
|
cmd-click |
Reveal in Finder |
|
cmd-opt-click |
Activate app and hide other apps |
|
ctrl-click (or click and hold) |
contextual menu |
|
cmd-drag into dock |
Freeze current dock items from moving so icon can be dropped onto an app |
|
cmd-opt-drag into dock |
Force application you’re dropping onto to open dropped item |