Mastering macOS keyboard shortcuts can significantly enhance efficiency. This guide provides a detailed list of commonly used shortcuts to help IT professionals and users work smarter.
Basic Navigation and System Control
|
Shortcut
|
Function
|
|
Command (⌘) + C
|
Copy selected item(s).
|
|
Command (⌘) + X
|
Cut selected item(s).
|
|
Command (⌘) + V
|
Paste copied or cut item(s).
|
|
Command (⌘) + Z
|
Undo last action.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Shift + Z
|
Redo the last undone action.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Tab
|
Switch between open apps.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Q
|
Quit the active app.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Option + Esc
|
Open the Force Quit Applications window.
|
|
Control + Command (⌘) + Q
|
Lock your Mac.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Space
|
Open Spotlight Search.
|
Finder and File Management
|
Shortcut
|
Function
|
|
Command (⌘) + N
|
Open a new Finder window.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Shift + N
|
Create a new folder.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Delete
|
Move selected item(s) to the Trash.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Option + Delete
|
Empty the Trash without confirmation.
|
|
Command (⌘) + I
|
Show information about the selected item.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Shift + G
|
Open the “Go to Folder” dialog box.
|
Text Editing
|
Shortcut
|
Function
|
|
Command (⌘) + A
|
Select all text or items.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Left Arrow
|
Move the cursor to the beginning of the current line.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Right Arrow
|
Move the cursor to the end of the current line.
|
|
Option + Left Arrow
|
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
|
|
Option + Right Arrow
|
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Shift + V
|
Paste text without formatting.
|
Safari and Browser Shortcuts
|
Shortcut
|
Function
|
|
Command (⌘) + T
|
Open a new tab.
|
|
Command (⌘) + W
|
Close the current tab.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Shift + T
|
Reopen the last closed tab.
|
|
Command (⌘) + L
|
Highlight the URL bar.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Option + U
|
Open the page source.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Shift + Del
|
Clear browsing history.
|
System Management
|
Shortcut
|
Function
|
|
Command (⌘) + Option + P + R
|
Reset the NVRAM or PRAM (useful for troubleshooting).
|
|
Command (⌘) + Shift + 3
|
Take a screenshot of the entire screen.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Shift + 4
|
Take a screenshot of a selected area.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Option + Esc
|
Force Quit an unresponsive app.
|
|
Control + Command (⌘) + Power
|
Force restart your Mac.
|
Accessibility Shortcuts
|
Shortcut
|
Function
|
|
Command (⌘) + F5
|
Turn VoiceOver on or off.
|
|
Control + Option + Command (⌘) + 8
|
Turn zoom on or off.
|
|
Command (⌘) + Option + F5
|
Open Accessibility Options.
|
Pro Tips for IT Techs
- Command (⌘) + Shift + Period (.): Show hidden files in Finder.
- Command (⌘) + Control + Space: Open the Emoji and Symbol picker (helpful for troubleshooting special characters).
- Command (⌘) + Option + Drag: Move files to a new location without copying them.
- Command (⌘) + R during Startup: Boot into macOS Recovery for advanced troubleshooting.