Common macOS Keyboard Shortcuts

Summary

A collection of useful macOS shortcuts.

Body

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.

 

Details

Details

Article ID: 23356
Created
Wed 12/4/24 10:15 AM
Modified
Thu 12/5/24 4:31 PM