MacOS keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts for macOS: modifier keys, common editing and system shortcuts, sleep/log out/shut down, Finder and display shortcuts, and text/document editing. Based on Apple’s published “Mac keyboard shortcuts” list. Shortcuts were not tested on a Mac for this sheet; entries marked “version-dependent” differ between macOS releases or could not be verified. Letters in key combinations are lowercase, so ⌘ + c is Command + C.
Table of contents #
Mac Keyboard Modifier keys #
| key | description |
|---|---|
| ⌘ | Command (Cmd) |
| ⌃ | Control (Ctrl) |
| ⌥ | Option (Alt) |
| ⇧ | Shift |
| ⇪ | Caps Lock |
| Fn | Function key |
- On Windows keyboards use the Alt key instead of ⌥ and the Windows logo key instead of ⌘.
Cut, copy, paste, and other common shortcuts #
| keys | description |
|---|---|
| ⌘ + q | Quit the front app |
| ⌘ + ` | Switch between the windows of the front app (the key above Tab on a US keyboard; varies by layout) |
| ⌘ + x | Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard |
| ⌘ + c | Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder |
| ⌘ + v | Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder |
| ⌘ + z | Undo the previous command |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + z | Redo, reversing the undo command |
| ⌘ + a | Select All items |
| ⌘ + f | Find items in a document or open a Find window |
| ⌘ + g | Find Again: Find the next occurrence of the item previously found |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + g | Find the previous occurrence |
| ⌘ + h | Hide the windows of the front app |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + h | View the front app but hide all other apps |
| ⌘ + m | Minimize the front window to the Dock |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + m | Minimize all windows of the front app |
| ⌘ + o | Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open |
| ⌘ + p | Print the current document |
| ⌘ + s | Save the current document |
| ⌘ + t | Open a new tab |
| ⌘ + w | Close the front window |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + w | Close all windows of the app |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + Esc | Force quit an app |
| ⌘ + Space | Show or hide the Spotlight search field |
| ⌘ + ⌥ + Space | Perform a Spotlight search from a Finder window |
| ⌃ + ⌘ + Space | Show the Character Viewer, from which you can choose emoji and other symbols |
| ⌃ + ⌘ + f | Use the app in full screen, if supported by the app |
| Space | Use Quick Look to preview the selected item |
| ⌘ + Tab | Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + 5 | Open the screenshot and screen recording toolbar (macOS Mojave 10.14 or later) |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + 3 | Take a screenshot of the whole screen |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + 4 | Take a screenshot of a selected area (press Space to capture a window instead) |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + n | Create a new folder in the Finder |
| ⌘ + , | Open Settings (called Preferences before macOS Ventura 13) for the front app |
Sleep, log out, and shut down shortcuts #
* You might need to press and hold some of these shortcuts for slightly longer than other shortcuts. This helps you to avoid using them unintentionally.
| keys | description |
|---|---|
| Power button | Press to turn on your Mac or wake it from sleep |
| Power button | Press and hold for 1.5 seconds to put your Mac to sleep (older macOS; newer versions and Apple silicon Macs differ, not verified) |
| Power button | Press and continue holding to force your Mac to turn off |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + Power | Put your Mac to sleep |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + Eject | Put your Mac to sleep |
| ⌃ + ⇧ + Power | Put your displays to sleep |
| ⌃ + ⇧ + Eject | Put your displays to sleep |
| ⌃ + Power | Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down |
| ⌃ + Eject | Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down |
| ⌃ + ⌘ + Power | Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents |
| ⌃ + ⌘ + Eject | Quit all apps, then restart your Mac |
| ⌃ + ⌥ + ⌘ + Power | Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac |
| ⌃ + ⌥ + ⌘ + Eject | Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac |
| ⌃ + ⌘ + q | Immediately lock your screen |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + q | Log out of your macOS user account. You will be asked to confirm |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + q | Log out immediately without confirming |
Finder and system shortcuts #
| keys | description |
|---|---|
| ⌘ + d | Duplicate the selected files |
| ⌘ + e | Eject the selected disk or volume |
| ⌘ + f | Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window |
| ⌘ + i | Show the Get Info window for a selected file |
| ⌘ + r | (1) When an alias is selected in the Finder: show the original file for the selected alias |
| ⌘ + r | (2) In some apps, such as Calendar or Safari, refresh or reload the page |
| ⌘ + r | (3) In Software Update preferences, check for software updates again |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + c | Open the Computer window |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + d | Open the desktop folder |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + f | Open the Recents window, showing all of the files you viewed or changed recently |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + g | Open a Go to Folder window |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + h | Open the Home folder of the current macOS user account |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + i | Open iCloud Drive |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + k | Open the Network window |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + l | Open the Downloads folder |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + n | Create a new folder |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + o | Open the Documents folder |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + p | Show or hide the Preview pane in Finder windows |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + r | Open the AirDrop window |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + t | Show or hide the tab bar in Finder windows |
| ⌃ + ⇧ + ⌘ + t | Add selected Finder item to the Dock (OS X Mavericks or later) |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + u | Open the Utilities folder |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + d | Show or hide the Dock |
| ⌃ + ⌘ + t | Add the selected item to the sidebar (OS X Mavericks or later) |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + p | Hide or show the path bar in Finder windows |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + s | Hide or show the Sidebar in Finder windows |
| ⌘ + / | Hide or show the status bar in Finder windows |
| ⌘ + j | Show View Options |
| ⌘ + k | Open the Connect to Server window |
| ⌃ + ⌘ + a | Make an alias of the selected item |
| ⌘ + n | Open a new Finder window |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + n | Create a new Smart Folder |
| ⌘ + t | Show or hide the tab bar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + t | Show or hide the toolbar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + v | Move the files in the Clipboard from their original location to the current location |
| ⌘ + y | Use Quick Look to preview the selected files |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + y | View a Quick Look slideshow of the selected files |
| ⌘ + 1 | View the items in the Finder window as icons |
| ⌘ + 2 | View the items in a Finder window as a list |
| ⌘ + 3 | View the items in a Finder window in columns |
| ⌘ + 4 | View the items in a Finder window in a gallery |
| ⌘ + [ | Go to the previous folder |
| ⌘ + ] | Go to the next folder |
| ⌘ + ↑ | Open the folder that contains the current folder |
| ⌃ + ⌘ + ↑ | Open the folder that contains the current folder in a new window |
| ⌘ + ↓ | Open the selected item |
| → | Open the selected folder. This works only when in list view |
| ← | Close the selected folder. This works only when in list view |
| ⌘ + Delete | Move the selected item to the Trash |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + Delete | Empty the Trash |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + Delete | Empty the Trash without confirmation dialog |
| ⌘ + Brightness Down | Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display |
| ⌥ + Brightness Up | Open Displays preferences. This works with either Brightness key |
| ⌃ + Brightness Up/Down | Adjust brightness of your external display, if supported by your display |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + Brightness Up/Down | Adjust display brightness in smaller steps |
| ⌃ + ⌥ + ⇧ + Brightness Up/Down | Adjust external display brightness in smaller steps, if supported by display |
| ⌥ + Mission Control | Open Mission Control preferences (version-dependent; not verified) |
| ⌃ + Mission Control | Show the desktop (version-dependent; not verified) |
| ⌃ + ↓ | Show all windows of the front app |
| ⌥ + Volume Up | Open Sound preferences. This works with any of the volume keys |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + Volume up/Down | Adjust the sound volume in smaller steps |
| ⌥ + Keyboard Brightness Up | Open Keyboard preferences. This works with either Keyboard Brightness key |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + Keyboard Brightness Up/Down | Adjust the keyboard brightness in smaller steps |
| ⌥ + double-clicking | Open the item in a separate window, then close the original window |
| ⌘ + double-clicking | Open a folder in a separate tab or window |
| ⌘ + dragging to another volume | Move the dragged item to the other volume, instead of copying it |
| ⌥ + dragging | Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + dragging | Make an alias of the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item |
| ⌥ + click a disclosure triangle | Open all folders within the selected folder. This works only when in list view |
| ⌘ + click a window title | See the folders that contain the current folder |
Document shortcuts #
*The behavior of these shortcuts may vary with the app you’re using
| keys | description |
|---|---|
| ⌘ + b | Boldface the selected text, or turn boldfacing on or off |
| ⌘ + i | Italicize the selected text, or turn italics on or off |
| ⌘ + k | Add a web link |
| ⌘ + u | Underline the selected text, or turn underlining on or off |
| ⌘ + t | Show or hide the Fonts window |
| ⌘ + d | Select the Desktop folder from within an Open dialog or Save dialog |
| ⌃ + ⌘ + d | Show or hide the definition of the selected word |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + : | Display the Spelling and Grammar window |
| ⌘ + ; | Find misspelled words in the document |
| ⌥ + Delete | Delete the word to the left of the insertion point |
| ⌃ + h | Delete the character to the left of the insertion point. Or use Delete |
| ⌃ + d | Delete the character to the right of the insertion point |
| Fn + Delete | Forward delete on keyboards that don’t have a Forward Delete key |
| ⌃ + k | Delete the text between the insertion point and the end of the line or paragraph |
| Fn + ↑ | Page Up: Scroll up one page |
| Fn + ↓ | Page Down: Scroll down one page. |
| Fn + ← | Home: Scroll to the beginning of a document. |
| Fn + → | End: Scroll to the end of a document. |
| ⌘ + ↑ | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the document |
| ⌘ + ↓ | Move the insertion point to the end of the document. |
| ⌘ + ← | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current line. |
| ⌘ + → | Move the insertion point to the end of the current line. |
| ⌥ + ← | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word |
| ⌥ + → | Move the insertion point to the end of the next word |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + ↑ | Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + ↓ | Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the document |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + ← | Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + → | Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the current line |
| ⇧ + ↑ | Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line above |
| ⇧ + ↓ | Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line below |
| ⇧ + ← | Extend text selection one character to the left |
| ⇧ + → | Extend text selection one character to the right |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + ↑ | Extend text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then to the beginning of the following paragraph if pressed again |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + ↓ | Extend text selection to the end of the current paragraph, then to the end of the following paragraph if pressed again |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + ← | Extend text selection to the beginning of the current word, then to the beginning of the following word if pressed again |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + → | Extend text selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of the following word if pressed again |
| ⌃ + a | Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph |
| ⌃ + e | Move to the end of a line or paragraph |
| ⌃ + f | Move one character forward |
| ⌃ + b | Move one character backward |
| ⌃ + l | Center the cursor or selection in the visible area |
| ⌃ + p | Move up one line |
| ⌃ + n | Move down one line |
| ⌃ + o | Insert a new line after the insertion point |
| ⌃ + t | Swap the character behind the insertion point with the character in front of the insertion point |
| ⌘ + { | Left align |
| ⌘ + } | Right align |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + | | Center align |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + f | Go to the search field |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + t | Show or hide a toolbar in the app |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + c | Copy Style: Copy the formatting settings of the selected item to the Clipboard |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + v | Paste Style: Apply the copied style to the selected item |
| ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + v | Paste and Match Style: Apply the style of the surrounding content to the item pasted within that content |
| ⌥ + ⌘ + i | Show or hide the inspector window |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + p | Page setup: Display a window for selecting document settings |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + s | Display the Save As dialog, or duplicate the current document |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + (-) | Decrease the size of the selected item |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + (+) | Increase the size of the selected item |
| ⌘ + = | Same as ⇧ + ⌘ + (+): increase the size of the selected item |
| ⇧ + ⌘ + ? | Open the Help menu |