Your Mac is an incredibly powerful tool, and most of us do not take advantage of it. Not even remotely. Sorry. But you can fix that, and save loads of time, by using your Mac’s default keyboard shortcuts. The most popular macOS key combinations include shortcuts for completing common tasks, typing symbols and taking screenshots. More advanced Mac keyboard shortcuts can even streamline your writing (for you storytellers out there), system navigation, computer maintenance and troubleshooting.
How to Use This List
This is the most comprehensive list of shortcuts possible, gathered from across the internet. Bookmark it for future reference and share it if you like it. This list will be updated and improved as time goes on.
In each shortcut listed, a “+” indicates pressing two keys simultaneously. Let’s look at an example.
The Mac shortcut to copy text or a file is the “Command + C” combination. This shortcut indicates you should press and hold the Command key, and with the Command key still held, press the C key.
If a shortcut requires pressing the actual plus key on the keyboard, it will be shown as: “Plus Sign (+)“. Therefore, the shortcut for zooming in looks like “Command + Plus Sign (+)“. Remember to hold the Command key, and while holding, press the Plus Sign (+) key.
Looking for a specific shortcut?
To find a specific shortcut in this list, use the “Command + F” key combination to display a page search in your browser. Typing into this page-specific search field will show you each instance of the searched word (or words) within a web page like this one.
Without further adieu, your absurdly thorough list of Mac keyboard shortcuts…
A Short Cut to Your Mac Shortcuts
Here is a group of commonly handy shortcuts available on macOS.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for Selection, Copy and Paste
Command + X : Cut the selection and copy it.
Command + C : Copy the selection. This works on text characters, and files in your Finder.
Command + V : Paste the most recent thing you cut or copied. This works on everything from text characters to files in your Finder.
You can also use Command and Shift to select multiple files in the Finder.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for Screenshots
When you save a screenshot, and it appears in the corner of the screen, you can click on it to edit. Otherwise, it will save directly to your desktop.
Shift + Command + 3 : Take an immediate screenshot of all active screens. If multiple monitors are connected, each will save into their own screenshot.
Shift + Command + 4 : Make a screenshot of a specific area of the screen by turning your mouse cursor into a crosshair. Click, drag and release to create your screenshot.
- Or, after releasing “Shift + Command + 4” press the Space Bar to make a screenshot of a specific application window. This will turn your mouse cursor into a camera icon selector. Use it to click on the desired window to create your screenshot. The whole window will be captured, even when parts of it are obscured by other windows.
Shift + Command + 5 : Make a screen recording (For macOS Mojave and later). Find out which macOS your Mac is using.
More information is available about Mac shortcuts for screenshots on Apple Support.
Common Finder Shortcuts
Space bar : Use Quick Look to preview the selected item.
Command + N : Open a new document or new Finder window
Shift + Command + N : Create a new folder in the Finder.
Command + I : View detailed information (“Get Info” window) for a selected file.
Command + Delete : Move the selected item(s) to the Trash.
Shift + Command + Delete : Empty the Trash.
Option + Shift + Command + Delete : Empty the Trash without being bothered to confirm the action in a pop up window.
Command key |while dragging to another volume| : Move the dragged item to the other volume, instead of copying it.
Option key |while dragging| : Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item. This also works many art and design apps like Sketch, InVision Studio, and many Adobe products.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Other Common Actions
Some app-specific shortcuts may vary slightly for the app you’re using. However, these have all become fairly universal on Macs.
Command + Z : Undo the previous action.
Shift + Command + Z : Reverse the most recent undo command (redo). In many apps, you can undo and redo multiple actions.
Command + A : Select All items. This works great when selecting files in the Finder.
Command + F : Open a search field to find items in a document or application. This works in the Finder, and in popular web browsers and word processors, to name a few.
Command + P : Print the current document or window.
Command + S : Save the current document or window.
Command + T : Open a new tab. This works on many apps, including the Finder and on popular web browsers.
Command + Tab : Switch to the last open app you used.
- Continue holding the Command key and switch between all open apps by repeatedly hitting Tab. You can also use the arrow keys or selecting with the mouse cursor.
Command + B : Toggle a bold font treatment on the selected text.
Command + I : Toggle an italic font treatment on the selected text.
Command + U : Toggle an underline font treatment on the selected text.
Command + K : Insert a web link on the selected text.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Common Troubleshooting Shortcuts
Option + Command + Esc : Launch the Force Quit window. When an app becomes unresponsive, launch the Force Quit window and select the unresponsive app.
Shift + Command + Question mark (?) : Open the Help menu.
Startup Key Combinations
Note: if using a firmware password, some startup key combinations will simply not work_. Others will require you to enter the password._ The Recovery system will install different versions of macOS, depending on the startup command you use while starting up.
Command + R : Start up from the macOS Recovery system built in to the hard drive of your computer (Apple’s recommended method).
Option + Command + R : Use macOS Recovery over the internet. Start up and upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
Shift + Option + Command + R : Use macOS Recovery over the internet. Start up and reinstall the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
Option (⌥) or Alt : Start up directly to the Startup Manager. This allows you to choose other available startup disks or volumes, if available. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you’ll be prompted to enter it.
Option + Command + P + R : Reset NVRAM or PRAM. If your Mac is using a firmware password, it will ignore this key combination or start up from macOS Recovery.
Shift (⇧) : Start up in safe mode. This is disabled when using a firmware password.
D : Start up from the built-in Apple Diagnostics utility. If your Mac is older than June 2013, Apple Hardware Test will launch instead. Alternatively, “Option + D” will start up from this utility over the internet. Disabled when using a firmware password.
N : Start up from a NetBoot server, if your Mac supports network startup volumes (mostly older Macs). To use the default boot image on the server, hold down Option-N instead. Disabled when using a firmware password.
Command + S : Start up in Single-User Mode. This is disabled in macOS Mojave or later, or when using a firmware password.
T : Start up in Target Disk Mode.
Command-V: Start up in Verbose Mode.
Eject (⏏) or F12 or Mousebutton or Trackpad : Eject removable media, such as an optical disc. Disabled when using a firmware password.
Learn more about startup key combinations on Lifehacker.
Useful Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for Typing
Diacriticals (Accents, Tildes, Umlauts)
Option + E |release keys| [Vowel Key] : Create acute accents like Áá Éé Íí Óó Úú. To capitalize your output, hold the Shift key while you press your desired vowel key.
Option + N |release keys| [Vowel Key] : Create tildes like Ãã Ññ Õõ. To capitalize your output, hold the Shift key while you press your desired vowel key.
Option + U |release keys| [Vowel Key] : Create umlauts like Ää Ëë Ïï Öö Üü Ÿÿ. To capitalize your output, hold the Shift key while you press your desired vowel key.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for Symbols
| Key | [Key] + Option | [Key] + Shift + Option |
|---|---|---|
| A | å | Å |
| B | ∫ | ı |
| C | ç | Ç |
| D | ∂ | Î |
| E | [acute shortcut] | ´ |
| F | ƒ | Ï |
| G | © | ˝ |
| H | ˙ | Ó |
| I | [circumflex shortcut] | ˆ |
| J | ∆ | Ô |
| K | ˚ | |
| L | ¬ | Ò |
| M | µ | Â |
| N | [tilde shortcut] | ˜ |
| O | ø | Ø |
| P | π | ∏ |
| Q | œ | Œ |
| R | ® | ‰ |
| S | ß | Í |
| T | † | ˇ |
| U | [umlaut shortcut] | ¨ |
| V | √ | ◊ |
| W | ∑ | „ |
| X | ≈ | ˛ |
| Y | ¥ | Á |
| Z | Ω | ¸ |
| 1 | ¡ | ⁄ |
| 2 | ™ | € |
| 3 | £ | ‹ |
| 4 | ¢ | › |
| 5 | ∞ | fi |
| 6 | § | fl |
| 7 | ¶ | ‡ |
| 8 | • | ° |
| 9 | ª | · |
| 0 | º | ‚ |
| – | – | — |
| = | ≠ | ± |
| , | ≤ | ¯ |
| . | ≥ | ˘ |
| / | ÷ | ¿ |
| \ | « | » |
| ; | … | Ú |
| ‘ | æ | Æ |
| [ | “ | ” |
| ] | ‘ | ’ |
Shortcuts for Word Processing Super Users
Some app-specific shortcuts may vary for the app you’re using. It’s safe to say these shortcuts should all work with Apple Pages.
Command + T : Display the Fonts window (or hide it).
Control + Command + D : View a definition of the selected word.
Shift + Command + Colon (:) : Display the Spelling and Grammar window (or hide it).
Command + Semicolon (;) : Run a check for misspelled words in the document.
Option + Delete : Delete the word immediately to the left of the blinking text cursor.
Control + H : Delete the character immediately to the left of the blinking text cursor. This shortcut duplicates the function of the Delete key.
Control + D : Delete the character immediately to the right of the blinking text cursor (forward delete). This shortcut duplicates the function of the “Fn + Delete” shortcut.
- Fn + Delete : Delete the character immediately to the right of the blinking text cursor (forward delete). This shortcut duplicates the function of the “Control + D” shortcut.
Control + K : Delete all text between the blinking text cursor and the end of the line or paragraph.
Fn + Up Arrow : Scroll up one page (page up).
Fn + Down Arrow : Scroll down one page (page down).
Fn + Left Arrow : Scroll to the beginning of a document.
Fn + Right Arrow : Scroll to the end of a document.
Command + Up Arrow : Move the blinking text cursor (the insertion point) to the very beginning of the document.
Command + Down Arrow : Move the blinking text cursor (the insertion point) to the very end of the document.
Command + Left Arrow : Move the blinking text cursor (the insertion point) to the beginning of the current line.
Command + Right Arrow : Move the blinking text cursor (the insertion point) to the end of the current line.
Option + Left Arrow : Move the blinking text cursor (the insertion point) to the beginning of the previous word.
Option + Right Arrow : Move the blinking text cursor (the insertion point) to the end of the next word.
Shift + Command + Up Arrow : Select all text between the blinking text cursor and the beginning of the document.
Shift + Command + Down Arrow : Select all text between the blinking text cursor and the end of the document.
Shift + Command + Left Arrow : Select all text between the blinking text cursor and the beginning of the current line.
Shift + Command + Right Arrow : Select all text between the blinking text cursor and the end of the current line.
Shift + Up Arrow : Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line above.
Shift + Down Arrow : Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line below.
Shift + Left Arrow : Extend text selection one character to the left.
Shift + Right Arrow : Extend text selection one character to the right.
Option + Shift + Up Arrow : Extend text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph. Then to the beginning of the following paragraph if pressed again.
Option + Shift + Down Arrow : Extend text selection to the end of the current paragraph. Then to the end of the following paragraph if pressed again.
Option + Shift + Left Arrow : Extend text selection to the beginning of the current word. Then to the beginning of the following word if pressed again.
Option + Shift + Right Arrow : Extend text selection to the end of the current word. Then to the end of the following word if pressed again.
Control + A : Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
Control + E : Move to the end of a line or paragraph.
Control + F : Move one character forward.
Control + B : Move one character backward.
Control + L : Center the cursor or selection in the visible area.
Control + P : Move up one line.
Control + N : Move down one line.
Control + O : Insert a new line after the blinking text cursor (insertion point).
Control + T : Swap the character behind the blinking text cursor with the character in front of the blinking text cursor.
Command + Left Curly Bracket ({) : Left align.
Command + Right Curly Bracket (}) : Right align.
Shift + Command + Vertical bar (|) : Center align.
Option + Command + F : Go to the search field.
Command + G : Find the next occurrence of the item previously found (Find Again). Works on most word processors and browsers.
Shift + Command + G : Find the previous occurrence of the item found. Works on most word processors and browsers.
Option + Command + T : Display the toolbar in the app (or hide it).
Option + Command + C : Copy the formatting settings of the selected item (Copy Style).
Option + Command + V : Apply the copied style to the selected item (Paste Style).
Option + Shift + Command + V : Apply the style of the surrounding content to the item pasted within that content (Paste and Match Style).
Option + Command + I : Display the inspector window (or hide it).
Shift-Command-P : Display the Page Setup window for selecting document settings.
Shift + Command + S : Display the Save As dialog, or duplicate the current document.
Shift + Command + Minus sign (-) : Decrease the size of the selected item.
Shift + Command + Plus sign (+) : Increase the size of the selected item.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for… Everything Else
The Not-so-Common Shortcuts in Finder
Click the Go menu in the Finder menu bar to see shortcuts for opening many commonly used folders like Applications, Documents and Downloads.
Command + O : Open the selected item. If no item is selected, open a dialog to select a file to open.
Command + D : Duplicate the selected files.
Command + E : Eject the selected disk or volume.
Command + R : When an alias is selected the Finder, show the original file for the selected alias.
- In some apps, such as Calendar or Safari, refresh or reload the page.
- In Software Update preferences, check for software updates again.
Shift + Command + C : Open the Computer directory.
Shift + Command + D : Open the Desktop folder.
- In Open or Save dialogs, navigates to the Desktop folder.
Shift + Command + F : Open the Recents window, showing all of the files you viewed or changed recently.
Shift + Command + G : Open a Go to Folder window.
Shift + Command + H : Open the Home folder of the current macOS user account.
Shift + Command + I : Open iCloud Drive.
Shift + Command + K : Open the Network window.
Option + Command + L : Open the Downloads folder.
Shift + Command + O : Open the Documents folder.
Shift + Command + P : Display the Preview pane in Finder windows (or hide it).
Shift + Command + R : Open the AirDrop window.
Shift + Command + T : Display the tab bar in Finder windows (or hide it).
Control + Shift + Command + T : Add selected Finder item to the Dock (OS X Mavericks or later).
Shift + Command + U : Open the Utilities folder.
Option + Command + D : Display the Dock (or hide it).
Control + Command + T : Add the selected item to the sidebar (OS X Mavericks or later).
Option + Command + P : Display the path bar in Finder windows (or hide it).
Option + Command + S : Display the Sidebar in Finder windows (or hide it).
Command + Slash (/) : Display the status bar in Finder windows (or hide it).
Command + J : Display View Options.
Command + K : Open the Connect to Server window.
Command + L : Make an alias of the selected item.
Option + Command + N : Create a new Smart Folder.
Command + T : Display the tab bar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window (or hide it).
Option + Command + T : Display the toolbar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window (or hide it).
Option + Command + V : Move copied files (files in the Clipboard) from their original location to the current location.
Command + Y : Use Quick Look to preview the selected files.
Option + Command + Y : View a Quick Look slideshow of the selected files.
Command + 1 : View the items in the Finder window as icons.
Command + 2 : View the items in a Finder window as a list.
Command + 3 : View the items in a Finder window in columns.
Command + 4 : View the items in a Finder window in a gallery.
Command + Left Bracket ([) : Go to the previous folder.
Command + Right Bracket (]) : Go to the next folder.
Command + Up Arrow : Open the folder that contains the current folder.
Command + Control + Up Arrow : Open the folder that contains the current folder in a new window.
Command + Down Arrow : Open the selected item.
Right Arrow : Open the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
Left Arrow : Close the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
Option key |while double-clicking| : Open the item in a separate window, then close the original window.
Command key |while double-clicking| : Open a folder in a separate tab or window.
Option + Command |while dragging| : Make an alias of the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
Option + |click a disclosure triangle| : Open all folders within the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
Command + |click a window title| : See the folders that contain the current folder.
Learn how to use Command or Shift to select multiple items in the Finder.
Even More macOS System Shortcuts
Some app-specific shortcuts may vary, especially non-Apple apps.
Control + Down Arrow : Show all windows of the active app.
Command + H : Hide all windows of the active app.
Option + Command + H : View the active app and hide all other apps.
Command + M : Minimize the active window.
Option + Command + M : Minimize all windows of the active app.
Command + W : Close the active window.
Option + Command + W : Close all windows of the active app.
Command + Space bar : * Display the Spotlight search field.
Command + Option + Space bar : * Perform a Spotlight search from a Finder window.
* 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.
Control + Command + Space bar : Show the Character Viewer, from which you can choose emoji and other symbols.
Option + Mission Control : Open Mission Control preferences.
Command + Mission Control : Show the desktop.
Control + Command + F : Use the app in full screen (if supported by the app).
Command + Comma (,) : Open preferences for the active app.
Command + Brightness Up : Turn target display mode on or off.
Command + Brightness Down : Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.
Option + Brightness Up : Open Displays preferences. This works with either Brightness key.
Control + Brightness Up or Control + Brightness Down : Change the brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.
Option + Shift + Brightness Up or Option + Shift + Brightness Down : Adjust the display brightness in smaller steps. Add the Control key to this shortcut to make the adjustment on your external display, if supported by your display.
Option + Keyboard Brightness Up : Open Keyboard preferences. This works with either Keyboard Brightness key.
Option + Shift + Keyboard Brightness Up or Option + Shift + Keyboard Brightness Down : Adjust the keyboard brightness in smaller steps.
Option + Volume Up : Open Sound preferences. This works with any of the volume keys.
Option + Shift + Volume Up or Option + Shift + Volume Down : Adjust the sound volume in smaller steps.
Did you find this Guide to Mac Keyboard Shortcuts helpful?
What do you think of the list? If you’ve spotted something that’s missed or have a suggestion for improvement, let me know in the comments below.
Last updated March 2020 for the current release of macOS Catalina.