The Most Useful Mac Shortcuts

Some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts for Mac users.

Alby Andersen

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.).

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