Mac keyboard shortcuts

By pressing certain key combinations, you can do things that normally need a mouse, trackpad or other input device.

Using keyboard shortcuts

To use a keyboard shortcut, press and hold one or more modifier keys and then press the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use Command-C (copy), press and hold the Command key, then the C key, then release both keys. Mac menus and keyboards often use symbols for certain keys, including modifier keys:

On keyboards made for Windows PCs, use the Alt key instead of Option, and the Ctrl key or Windows logo key instead of Command.

Some keys on some Apple keyboards have special symbols and functions, such as for display brightness, keyboard brightness and more. If these functions aren’t available on your keyboard, you may be able to reproduce some of them by creating your own keyboard shortcuts. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3 or other standard function keys, combine them with the Fn key.

Cut, copy, paste and other common shortcuts

• Command-X: cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.

• Command-C: copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.

• Command-V: paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.

• Command-Z: undo the previous command. You can then press Shift-Command-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands.

• Command-A: Select All items.

• Command-F: find items in a document or open a Find window.

• Command-G: Find Again – find the next occurrence of the item found previously. To find the previous occurrence, press Shift-Command-G.

• Command-H: hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Option-Command-H.

• Command-M: minimise the front window to the Dock. To minimise all windows of the front app, press Option-Command-M.

• Command-O: open the selected item or open a dialogue to select a file to open.

• Command-P: print the current document.

• Command-S: save the current document.

• Command-T: open a new tab.

• Command-W: close the front window. To close all windows of the app, press Option-Command-W.

• Option-Command-Esc: force quit an app.

• Command-Space bar: show or hide the Spotlight search field. To perform a Spotlight search from a Finder window, press Command-Option-Space bar. (If you use multiple input sources to type in different languages, these shortcuts will change input sources instead of showing Spotlight. Find out how to change a conflicting keyboard shortcut.)

• Control-Command-Space bar: show the Character Viewer, from which you can choose emoji and other symbols.

• Control-Command-F: use the app in full screen, if supported by the app.

• Space bar: use Quick Look to preview the selected item.

• Command-Tab: switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.

• Command-Grave accent (`): switch between the windows of the app you’re using. (The character on the second key varies by keyboard. It’s generally the key above the Tab key and to the left of the number 1.)

• Shift-Command-5: in macOS Mojave or later, take a screenshot or make a screen recording. Or use Shift-Command-3 or Shift-Command-4 for screenshots. Find out more about screenshots.

• Shift-Command-N: create a new folder in the Finder.

• Command-Comma (,): open preferences for the front app.

Sleep, log out and shut down shortcuts

You may need to press and hold some of these shortcuts for slightly longer than other shortcuts. This helps you to avoid using them unintentionally.

• Power button: press to turn on your Mac or wake it from sleep mode. Press and hold for 1.5 seconds to put your Mac into sleep mode.* Continue holding to force your Mac to turn off.

• Option-Command-Power button* or Option-Command-Media Eject: put your Mac into sleep mode.

• Control-Shift-Power button* or Control-Shift-Media Eject: put your displays into sleep mode.

• Control-Power button* or Control-Media Eject: display a dialogue asking whether you want to restart, sleep or shut down.

• Control-Command-Power button:* force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents.

• Control-Command-Media Eject: quit all apps, then restart your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.

• Control-Option-Command-Power button* or Control-option-Command-Media Eject: quit all apps, then shut down your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.

• Control-Command-Q: lock your screen immediately.

• Shift-Command-Q: log out of your macOS user account. You will be asked to confirm. To log out immediately without confirming, press Option-Shift-Command-Q.

Finder and system shortcuts

• Command-D: duplicate the selected files.

• Command-E: eject the selected disk or volume.

• Command-F: start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.

• Command-I: show the Get Info window for a selected file.

• Command-R: (1) when an alias is selected in the Finder – show the original file for the selected alias. (2) In some apps, such as Calendar or Safari, refresh or reload the page. (3) In Software Update, check for software updates again.

• Shift-Command-C: open the Computer window.

• Shift-Command-D: open the desktop folder.

• Shift-Command-F: open the Recents window, showing all of the files you have 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-N: create a new folder.

• Shift-Command-O: open the Documents folder.

• Shift-Command-P: show or hide the Preview pane in Finder windows.

• Shift-Command-R: open the AirDrop window.

• Shift-Command-T: show or hide the tab bar in Finder windows.

• 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: show or hide the Dock.

• Control-Command-T: add the selected item to the sidebar (OS X Mavericks or later).

• Option-Command-P: hide or show the path bar in Finder windows.

• Option-Command-S: hide or show the Sidebar in Finder windows.

• Command-Slash (/): hide or show the status bar in Finder windows.

• Command-J: show View Options.

• Command-K: open the Connect to Server window.

• Control-Command-A: make an alias of the selected item.

• Command-N: open a new Finder window.

• Option-Command-N: create a new Smart Folder.

• Command-T: show or hide the tab bar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.

• Option-Command-T: show or hide the toolbar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.

• Option-Command-V: move the 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 only works when in list view.

• Left Arrow: close the selected folder. This only works when in list view.

• Command-Delete: move the selected item to the Bin.

• Shift-Command-Delete: empty the Bin.

• Option-Shift-Command-Delete: empty the Bin without confirmation dialogue.

• 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-Mission Control: open Mission Control preferences.

• Command-Mission Control: show the desktop.

• Control-Down Arrow: show all windows of the front app.

• 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.

• 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 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.

• 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.

• 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 only works when in list view.

• Command-click a window title: see the folders that contain the current folder.

• Find out how to use Command or Shift to select multiple items in the Finder.

• Click the Go menu in the Finder menu bar to see shortcuts for opening many commonly used folders, such as Applications, Documents, Downloads, Utilities and iCloud Drive.

Document shortcuts

The behaviour of these shortcuts may vary, depending on the app you’re using.

• Command-B: boldface the selected text, or turn boldfacing on or off.

• Command-I: italicise the selected text, or turn italics on or off.

• Command-K: add a web link.

• Command-U: underline the selected text or turn underlining on or off.

• Command-T: show or hide the Fonts window.

• Command-D: select the Desktop folder from within an Open dialogue or Save dialogue.

• Control-Command-D: show or hide the definition of the selected word.

• Shift-Command-Colon (:): display the Spelling and Grammar window.

• Command-Semicolon (;): find misspelt words in the document.

• Option-Delete: delete the word to the left of the insertion point.

• Control-H: delete the character to the left of the insertion point. Or use Delete.

• Control-D: delete the character to the right of the insertion point. Or use Fn-Delete.

• Fn-Delete: forward delete on keyboards that don’t have a Forward Delete key. Or use Control-D.

• Control-K: delete the text between the insertion point and the end of the line or paragraph.

• Fn-Up Arrow: Page Up – scroll up one page.

• Fn-Down Arrow: Page Down – scroll down one page.

• Fn-Left Arrow: Home: – scroll to the beginning of a document.

• Fn-Right Arrow: End – scroll to the end of a document.

• Command-Up Arrow: move the insertion point to the beginning of the document.

• Command-Down Arrow: move the insertion point to the end of the document.

• Command-Left Arrow: move the insertion point to the beginning of the current line.

• Command-Right Arrow: move the insertion point to the end of the current line.

• Option-Left Arrow: move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.

• Option-Right Arrow: move the insertion point to the end of the next word.

• Shift-Command-Up Arrow: select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document.

• Shift-Command-Down Arrow: select the text between the insertion point and the end of the document.

• Shift-Command-Left Arrow: select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line.

• Shift-Command-Right Arrow: select the text between the insertion point 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 forwards.

• Control-B: move one character backwards.

• Control-L: centre 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 insertion point.

• Control-T: swap the character behind the insertion point with the character in front of the insertion point.

• Command-Left Curly Bracket ({): left align.

• Command-Right Curly Bracket (}): right align.

• Shift-Command-Vertical bar (|): centre align.

• Option-Command-F: go to the search field.

• Option-Command-T: show or hide a toolbar in the app.

• Option-Command-C: Copy Style – copy the formatting settings of the selected item to the Clipboard.

• Option-Command-V: Paste Style – apply the copied style to the selected item.

• Option-Shift-Command-V: Paste and Match Style – apply the style of the surrounding content to the item pasted within that content.

• Option-Command-I: show or hide the inspector window.

• Shift-Command-P: page setup – display a window for selecting document settings.

• Shift-Command-S: display the Save As dialogue 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. Command-Equals sign (=) performs the same function.

• Shift-Command-Question mark (?): open the Help menu.

Accessibility shortcuts

To use these vision shortcuts, first choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click Keyboard. Click Keyboard Shortcuts, select Accessibility on the left, then select “Invert colours” and “Contrast” on the right.

• Control-Option-Command-8: invert colours.

• Control-Option-Command-Comma (,) and Control-Option-Command-Full stop (.): reduce contrast and increase contrast.

Use these shortcuts to change keyboard focus. To use some of these shortcuts, first choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click Keyboard. Click Keyboard Shortcuts, select Keyboard on the left then select the shortcut’s setting on the right.

• Control-F2 or Fn-Control-F2: move focus to the menu bar. You can then use the arrow keys to navigate the menu, press Return to open a selected menu or choose a selected menu item, or enter the menu item’s name to jump to that item in the selected menu.

• Control-F3 or Fn-Control-F3: move focus to the Dock.

• Control-F4 or Fn-Control-F4: move focus to the active window or next window.

• Control-F5 or Fn-Control-F5: move focus to the window toolbar.

• Control-F6 or Fn-Control-F6: move focus to the floating window.

• Control-Shift-F6: move focus to the previous panel.

• Control-F7 or Fn-Control-F7: change the way Tab moves focus – between navigation of all controls on the screen, or only text boxes and lists.

• Control-F8 or Fn-Control-F8: move focus to the status menu in the menu bar

• Command-Grave accent (`): activate the next open window in the front app.

• Shift-Command-Grave accent (`): activate the previous open window in the front app

• Option-Command-Grave accent (`): move the focus to the window drawer.

• Tab and Shift-Tab: move to next control, move to previous control.

• Control-Tab: move to the next control when a text field is selected.

• Control-Shift-Tab: move to the previous grouping of controls.

• Arrow keys: move to the adjacent item in a list, tab group or menu, or move sliders and adjusters (Up Arrow to increase values, Down Arrow to decrease values)

• Control-Arrow keys: move to a control adjacent to the text field.