macOS Keyboard Shortcuts
Mac
macOS is known for its clean design and intuitive user interface, but many users don’t take full advantage of the built-in keyboard shortcuts. From managing windows and launching apps to controlling system settings, macOS shortcuts help you work faster and more efficiently. This guide walks you through the most helpful macOS shortcuts every user should learn.
Common Shortcuts
Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
⌘ + X | Cut the selected item |
⌘ + C | Copy the selected item |
⌘ + V | Paste clipboard contents |
⌘ + Z | Undo previous command |
⇧ + ⌘ + Z | Redo last undone action |
⌘ + A | Select all items |
⌘ + F | Find in document or open Find window |
⌘ + G | Find next occurrence |
⇧ + ⌘ + G | Find previous occurrence |
⌘ + H | Hide front app |
⌥ + ⌘ + H | Hide all other apps |
⌘ + M | Minimize front window |
⌥ + ⌘ + M | Minimize all windows |
⌘ + O | Open selected item or dialog |
⌘ + P | Open print dialog |
⌘ + Q | Quit current app |
⌘ + S | Save current document |
⌘ + T | Open a new tab |
⌘ + W | Close front window |
⌥ + ⌘ + W | Close all windows of app |
⌥ + ⌘ + Esc | Force quit an app |
⌘ + Space | Show/hide Spotlight |
⌘ + ⌥ + Space | Spotlight from Finder |
^ + ⌘ + Space or Fn + E | Show emoji & symbol viewer |
^ + ⌘ + F | Toggle full screen mode |
Space bar | Quick Look preview |
⌘ + Tab | Switch between open apps |
⌘ + ` | Switch between windows in app |
Sleep, Log Out, and Shut Down Shortcuts
Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Power button | Turn on / Wake from sleep |
Press & hold Power (1.5s) | Put Mac to sleep |
⌥ + ⌘ + Power or ⌥ + ⌘ + Eject | Put Mac to sleep |
^ + ⇧ + Power or ^ + ⇧ + Eject | Put display to sleep |
^ + Power or ^ + Eject | Show restart/sleep/shutdown dialog |
^ + ⌘ + Power | Force restart |
^ + ⌘ + Eject | Quit all apps then restart |
^ + ⌥ + ⌘ + Power or Eject | Quit all apps then shut down |
^ + ⌘ + Q | Lock screen immediately |
⇧ + ⌘ + Q | Log out (with confirmation) |
⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + Q | Log out immediately |
⌥ while selecting Log Out/Shut Down | Skip confirmation dialog |
Finder and System Shortcuts
Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
⌘ + D | Duplicate selected files |
⌘ + E | Eject disk or volume |
⌘ + F | Spotlight search in Finder |
⌘ + I | Show Get Info |
⌘ + R | Show original / Reload / Refresh / Check Updates |
⇧ + ⌘ + C | Open Computer folder |
⇧ + ⌘ + D | Open Desktop folder |
⇧ + ⌘ + F | Open Recents |
⇧ + ⌘ + G | Go to Folder |
⇧ + ⌘ + H | Open Home folder |
⇧ + ⌘ + I | Open iCloud Drive |
⇧ + ⌘ + K | Open Network |
⌥ + ⌘ + L | Open Downloads folder |
⇧ + ⌘ + N | Create new folder |
⇧ + ⌘ + O | Open Documents folder |
⇧ + ⌘ + P | Toggle Preview pane |
⇧ + ⌘ + R | Open AirDrop |
⇧ + ⌘ + T | Toggle tab bar |
^ + ⇧ + ⌘ + T | Add item to Dock |
^ + ⇧ (hold) | Toggle Dock magnification |
⇧ + ⌘ + U | Open Utilities folder |
⌥ + ⌘ + D | Toggle Dock |
^ + ⌘ + T | Add to Finder sidebar |
⌥ + ⌘ + P | Toggle Path Bar |
⌥ + ⌘ + S | Toggle Sidebar |
⌘ + / | Toggle Status Bar |
⌘ + J | Show View Options |
⌘ + K | Connect to Server |
^ + ⌘ + A | Make Alias |
⌘ + N | New Finder window |
⌥ + ⌘ + N | New Smart Folder |
⌘ + T | Toggle Finder tab bar |
⌥ + ⌘ + T | Toggle Toolbar |
⌥ + ⌘ + V | Move Clipboard files |
⌘ + Y | Quick Look |
⌥ + ⌘ + Y | Quick Look Slideshow |
⌘ + 1 | View as Icons |
⌘ + 2 | View as List |
⌘ + 3 | View as Columns |
⌘ + 4 | View as Gallery |
⌘ + [ | Go to previous folder |
⌘ + ] | Go to next folder |
⌘ + ↑ | Open containing folder |
^ + ⌘ + ↑ | Open containing folder in new window |
⌘ + ↓ | Open selected item |
→ (List view) | Open folder |
← (List view) | Close folder |
⌘ + Delete | Move to Trash |
⇧ + ⌘ + Delete | Empty Trash |
⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + Delete | Empty Trash w/o confirmation |
Display, Audio, and Keyboard Settings
Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
⌘ + Brightness Down | Toggle video mirroring |
⌥ + Brightness Up | Open Display settings |
^ + Brightness (↑/↓) | Adjust external display brightness |
⌥ + ⇧ + Brightness (↑/↓) | Fine-tune brightness |
⌃ + ⌥ + ⇧ + Brightness (↑/↓) | Fine-tune external brightness |
⌥ + Mission Control | Open Mission Control settings |
⌘ + Mission Control / Fn + H / Fn + F11 | Show Desktop |
^ + ↑ | Open Mission Control |
^ + ↓ | Show all windows of current app |
⌥ + Volume Up | Open Sound settings |
⌥ + ⇧ + Volume (↑/↓) | Fine-tune volume |
⌥ + Keyboard Brightness Up | Open Keyboard settings |
⌥ + ⇧ + Keyboard Brightness (↑/↓) | Fine-tune keyboard brightness |
Mouse, Click & Window Behavior
Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
⌥ + Double-click | Open in new window + close original |
⌘ + Double-click | Open folder in new tab/window |
⌘ + Drag to another volume | Move file (instead of copy) |
⌥ + Drag | Copy file |
⌥ + ⌘ + Drag | Make Alias |
⌥ + Click disclosure triangle | Expand all folders in list view |
⌘ + Click window title | Show folder hierarchy |
⌘ or ⇧ while selecting | Multi-select in Finder |
Function Key Shortcuts (Fn key)
Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Fn + A | Toggle Dock |
Fn + C | Toggle Control Center |
Fn + D | Start/Stop Dictation |
Fn + N | Toggle Notification Center |
Fn + ⇧ + A | Toggle Launchpad |
Fn + Fn | Open Character Viewer |
Others
Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
⌘ + ⌘ (press twice) | Open/close Type to Siri |
^ + Space or ^ + ⌥ + Space | Change input source |
Spotlight Search | Command + Space |
Force Quit | Command + Option + Esc |
Take screenshot | Command + Shift + 4 |
Lock screen | Control + Command + Q |
Open Finder | Command + Option + Space |
Minimize window | Command + M |
Show/hide Dock | Command + Option + D |
Switch between open apps | Command + Tab |
Cycle through windows in current app | Command + ` (backtick) |
Open Mission Control | Control + Up Arrow |
Move window to another display | Control + Option + Command + Arrow |
Show emoji picker | Control + Command + Space |