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User Keyboard Shortcuts (Mac)

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

 

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Updated

March 27th, 2020

Category

  • Apple MacBook Air

Tags

keyboard shortcutsMacBookMacBook AirMacbook keyboardMacbook ProshortcutstechStaff

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