Command Your Mac: The Shortcut Guide Every Fan Needs
As a developer, I think using shortcuts is an easier way of accomplishing tasks than using graphical user interfaces. Do you agree?
Table of contents
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 |