Here’s a curated list of essential macOS keyboard shortcuts to boost your productivity, organized by category:
General System Shortcuts
- ⌘ + C / ⌘ + V: Copy / Paste.
- ⌘ + X: Cut (works in text fields or Finder with files).
- ⌘ + Z: Undo. Add ⇧ (Shift) to Redo (⌘ + ⇧ + Z).
- ⌘ + Space: Open Spotlight Search (quickly find files, apps, or search the web).
- ⌘ + Tab: Switch between open apps. Add ⇧ to reverse direction.
- ⌘ + Q: Quit the current app.
- ⌘ + W: Close the current window/tab.
- ⌘ + H: Hide the current app. Use ⌘ + Option + H to hide all other apps.
- ⌘ + , (comma): Open preferences for the active app.
- Control + ⌘ + Q: Lock your Mac instantly.
Window Management
- ⌘ + M: Minimize the current window to the Dock.
- ⌘ + Option + M: Minimize all windows of the current app.
- ⌘ + F: Open Find (search within a document or page).
- ⌘ + Control + F: Enter/exit full-screen mode (for supported apps).
- ⌘ + ` (backtick): Cycle through windows of the same app.
Finder Shortcuts
- ⌘ + N: Open a new Finder window.
- ⌘ + Shift + N: Create a new folder.
- ⌘ + Delete: Move selected file(s) to Trash.
- ⌘ + Shift + Delete: Empty Trash (add Option to skip confirmation).
- ⌘ + Up Arrow: Go to the parent folder.
- ⌘ + Down Arrow: Open the selected file/folder.
- ⌘ + Shift + G: Open “Go to Folder” dialog.
- ⌘ + L: Highlight the address bar (to copy or edit the folder path).
- ⌘ + Option + D: Toggle Dock autohide.
Text Editing
- ⌘ + B / I / U: Bold, Italic, Underline (in supported apps).
- ⌘ + A: Select all text or items.
- ⌘ + Left/Right Arrow: Jump to the start/end of a line.
- Option + Left/Right Arrow: Move cursor by word.
- ⌘ + Option + Esc: Force quit an unresponsive app.
- Fn + Delete: Forward delete (delete text to the right of the cursor).
Screenshots & Screen Recording
- ⇧ + ⌘ + 3: Capture the entire screen.
- ⇧ + ⌘ + 4: Select a portion of the screen to capture. Press Space to capture a specific window.
- ⇧ + ⌘ + 5: Open the screenshot toolbar (includes screen recording).
- Control + ⇧ + ⌘ + 3/4/5: Save screenshot to clipboard instead of desktop.
Mission Control & Spaces
- Control + Up Arrow: Open Mission Control (view all open windows).
- Control + Left/Right Arrow: Switch between desktop spaces.
- ⌘ + Mission Control: Add a new desktop space (drag a window to the top-right corner).
Dock Tricks
- ⌘ + Option + Click a Dock icon: Hide all other apps and focus on the clicked app.
- ⌘ + Click a Dock icon: Reveal the app’s location in Finder.
Quick Actions
- ⌘ + Option + D: Toggle Dock visibility.
- Control + ⌘ + Space: Open the Emoji & Symbols picker.
- ⌘ + Option + Esc: Open the Force Quit menu.
Shut Down & Restart
- Control + ⌘ + Power Button: Restart your Mac.
- Control + ⌘ + Media Eject (⏏): Quit all apps and restart.
- Control + Power Button: Open the shutdown/sleep/restart dialog.
Bonus: Accessibility
- ⌘ + Option + 5: Turn VoiceOver on/off.
- ⌘ + Option + +/-: Zoom in/out.
These shortcuts work across most macOS versions (Ventura, Monterey, etc.).