There are numerous Mac keyboard shortcuts that can greatly simplify your computing experience. This is a more advanced resource that should help you speed up your daily tasks by preventing you from making numerous trips to the menu bar, assuming that you are already familiar with the fundamentals like copying and pasting text and leaving an application. ( We advise looking at something simpler to make sure you are fully informed if you would like MacWorld’s excellent beginner’s input device guide.)
Finder Quick Links
To find out more, press Command + I or Command + Option + I.
The Finder’s Get Info box opens up, as a result, displaying information about the file like as its name, type, and size. Selecting several files or folders will open a single Get Info box for all the files if you hit the Option key in addition.
Command + Option + D will reveal or conceal the dock.
Have there ever been times when you simply needed a little bit extra screen space to view something? You may fast toggle between concealing and exposing the Dock using this.
Shift + Command + N to create a new folder
In Finder, using this command will create a new folder in the current directory.
Press Shift + Command + Delete to empty the trash.
It’s a good idea to dump the garbage once in a while; if only real life were this quick.
Component shortcuts
Command + W to close a window
This is helpful if you only want to hide or close one window or tab in an app rather than all of the windows for that program. Verify that the window or tab you are viewing is the one you wish to close.
Command + N will create a new file or window.
This command will produce a blank document or start a new browser tab for you, for example.
Command + O will open a file.
This command will open the Open File dialogue box if you need to open a file.
Use Command + [or] to browse forward or backward.
If you ever need to navigate backward or forwards in Finder or an Internet browser, just write this and it will work just like clicking the arrow buttons in the toolbar.
Spotlight Launch: Command + Space
If you haven’t already, you should start utilizing Spotlight. With this command, you may open the Spotlight window and start typing whatever you want to search for.
Command + Z or Command + Y are the undo or redo actions.
If you accidentally perform an action in the majority of programs, you may undo it by pressing Cmd + Z. Press Cmd + Y to undo something you’ve undone if you get a little carried away.
Changing Apps: Command + Tab
Do you ever discover yourself copying and pasting text between apps frequently? If you have the ability to switch between apps with only a few keystrokes, things can move along much more quickly. You can achieve that with the help of this command.
Command + Tab + H or Q will toggle between hiding and quitting apps.
When you’re done switching between apps, press H to hide the app or Q to end the current one.
Quick Look: Command + Y or Space
Want to view a file’s contents without opening the corresponding app? To open a window that lets you view or listen to a file, use Space or Command + Y. (but not edit it, of course).
Launching a Slideshow Y, Option, Command, and
You can rapidly examine a number of files simultaneously by adding Option to the previous shortcut. Think of it as a slideshow.
Shortcuts for text
Option + Right/Left Arrow: Jump Words
By pressing Option + the arrow pointing in the direction you want to go, you can go through text a little bit faster by moving one word at a time in either direction. (For extra points, press Shift as well; this will select everything in between the cursor and the leap spot.)
Command + Left/Right Arrow to Jump to the Beginning or End of Lines
By pressing Command and the arrow pointing in the desired direction, you can jump to the start or end of a line in order to read information more quickly. (Again, if you simultaneously press Shift, anything between the cursor and the leaping point will be selected.)
Command + Up/Down Arrow will take you to the beginning or end of a section.
Press Command and the corresponding up or down arrow to jump to the beginning or conclusion of a paragraph. (Again, if you simultaneously press Shift, anything between the cursor and the leaping point will be selected.)
Function (Fn) + Delete, or forward-delete
It might occasionally be a little bit simpler to edit your text if you could delete it in the opposite direction from the default backward direction. With this command, you can swiftly remove text that is directed to the right of the cursor.
Option + Drag to choose a rectangular block of text
Even while you might not utilize this method very often, it might utterly blow your mind when you do. Hit Option and drag to highlight your text rectangle if you only want to choose a single section of text rather than multiple consecutive lines.
Shift + Option + Command + V to paste with a target format.
Until you get the hang of it, this command will need you to perform a complicated hand motion that may take you as long to form as selecting the menu item. However, once you do, this can significantly accelerate text processing.
Save Shortcuts for Dialog Box
Default action selection Return
The button that is highlighted in blue—often called Save—is activated as a result.
Command+S to save
This shortcut will start the document’s saving procedure much like the conventional Save option in the File menu.
Command+Delete to prevent saving.
Be careful with this one because it will instantly close the Save dialogue without saving your document, and it will also close the document.
Abort: Getaway
By doing this, the Save dialogue will shut and your document will reopen.
If you want a more thorough explanation of OS X shortcuts, visit Apple’s reference guide, and see more articles from Intego on how to navigate the OS X Finder from the keyboard. You can also see whether you want an app that can provide you with a fast cheat sheet of keyboard shortcuts for OS X and other apps. how BetterTouchTool can help.
Interested in making the most of your brand-new MacBook, iMac, or other Apple computer? There are a few things you should know about your new Mac, including fundamental keyboard shortcuts and how to use the different capabilities macOS has to offer, whether this is your first laptop or you’ve recently switched from Windows. Visit the Intego New Mac User Center to learn more about the capabilities of your Mac machine.: Get started now!