Mac keyboard shortcuts
On a Mac the Command key (⌘) does the job Ctrl does on Windows, and Option (⌥) plays the role of Alt. Once that mapping clicks, most shortcuts transfer directly: Cmd+C copies, Cmd+Z undoes, and Shift is added to reverse or extend an action.
Most-used Mac shortcuts
- Copy⌘cmdC
- Cut⌘cmdX
- Screenshot the whole screen⇧shift⌘cmd3
- Screenshot a selected area⇧shift⌘cmd4
- Switch between open apps⌘cmd⇥tab
- Switch windows of the current app⌘cmd`
- Spotlight search⌘cmdSpace
- Force Quit Applications⌥option⌘cmdesc
- New Finder window⌘cmdN
- New folder⇧shift⌘cmdN
Practise Mac shortcuts
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Mac shortcut cheat sheet
45 shortcutsTap an action to copy its keys
Editing
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Copy | ⌘cmdC |
| Cut | ⌘cmdX |
| Paste | ⌘cmdV |
| Paste and match style | ⌥option⇧shift⌘cmdV |
| Undo | ⌘cmdZ |
| Redo | ⇧shift⌘cmdZ |
| Select all | ⌘cmdA |
| Find | ⌘cmdF |
| Save | ⌘cmdS |
| ⌘cmdP | |
| Emoji & Symbols viewerOr press the Globe (fn) key on newer keyboards | ⌃control⌘cmdSpace |
Screenshots
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Screenshot the whole screen | ⇧shift⌘cmd3 |
| Screenshot a selected area | ⇧shift⌘cmd4 |
| Screenshot a window | ⇧shift⌘cmd4Space |
| Screenshot app (record screen, options) | ⇧shift⌘cmd5 |
Apps & windows
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Switch between open apps | ⌘cmd⇥tab |
| Switch windows of the current app | ⌘cmd` |
| Quit the app | ⌘cmdQ |
| Close the front window | ⌘cmdW |
| Minimize the front window | ⌘cmdM |
| Hide the front app | ⌘cmdH |
| Hide all other apps | ⌥option⌘cmdH |
| Open app settings | ⌘cmd, |
| Toggle full screenGlobe+F on newer keyboards | ⌃control⌘cmdF |
System
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Spotlight search | ⌘cmdSpace |
| Force Quit Applications | ⌥option⌘cmdesc |
| Lock screen | ⌃control⌘cmdQ |
| Mission Control | ⌃control↑ |
| Show desktopOr F11 depending on keyboard settings | ⌘cmdF3 |
| Move one space left or rightCtrl+Left goes the other way | ⌃control→ |
Finder
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| New Finder window | ⌘cmdN |
| New folder | ⇧shift⌘cmdN |
| Rename selected file | ↩return |
| Quick Look preview | Space |
| Get Info | ⌘cmdI |
| Move to Trash | ⌘cmd⌫delete |
| Empty the Trash | ⇧shift⌘cmd⌫delete |
| Duplicate selected file | ⌘cmdD |
| Go to folder | ⇧shift⌘cmdG |
| Open Downloads folder | ⌥option⌘cmdL |
| Show hidden files | ⇧shift⌘cmd. |
Text
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Jump to start of line | ⌘cmd← |
| Jump to end of line | ⌘cmd→ |
| Move one word left | ⌥option← |
| Delete the word left of the cursor | ⌥option⌫delete |
Source: Apple Support: Mac keyboard shortcuts; Apple Support: Take a screenshot on Mac. Defaults for the current version as documented by Apple; custom keymaps and non-US keyboard layouts can differ.
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Quick answers
Mac shortcut questions
How do I force quit an app on a Mac?
Press Option+Cmd+Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window, pick the frozen app and click Force Quit.
What is the Mac shortcut for screenshots?
Shift+Cmd+3 captures the whole screen, Shift+Cmd+4 lets you drag a selection, Shift+Cmd+4 then Space captures one window, and Shift+Cmd+5 opens the Screenshot app. Add Control to copy to the clipboard instead of saving a file.
How do I redo on a Mac?
Shift+Cmd+Z is the standard redo in macOS apps. Some apps, such as Microsoft Office for Mac, also accept Cmd+Y.
Also practise: Windows