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Mac keyboard shortcuts: the most important key combinations on Apple computers

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Shortcuts common to each program
How to use Mac keyboard shortcuts
Mac shortcuts explained
General Mac shortcuts
Mac keyboard shortcuts for Finder
Mac shortcuts to suspend, log out, and shutdown
MacOS keyboard shortcuts for documents
Mac keyboard shortcuts for screenshots
Mac keyboard shortcuts for Safari
General Mac shortcuts
Mac keyboard shortcuts for preview

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Mac keyboard shortcuts: the most important key combinations on Apple computers

If you use a Mac every day, you probably want to optimize your routine tasks as much as possible. Navigating to the corresponding buttons with the mouse pointer interrupts the workflow and takes a long time. To make your iMac or MacBook work more efficient, Apple offers a variety of Mac shortcuts or keyboard shortcuts. Learning them by heart is very useful..

Memorizing Mac keyboard shortcuts will benefit you, not only for routine tasks, but will also make working on your computer easier and more efficient. While the trackpad on Apple laptops is great, the commands on the MacBook can make life a lot easier.

Index
  1. Shortcuts common to each program
  2. How to use Mac keyboard shortcuts
  3. Mac shortcuts explained
    1. General Mac shortcuts
    2. Mac keyboard shortcuts for Finder
    3. Mac shortcuts to suspend, log out, and shutdown
    4. MacOS keyboard shortcuts for documents
    5. Mac keyboard shortcuts for screenshots
    6. Mac keyboard shortcuts for Safari
    7. General Mac shortcuts
    8. Mac keyboard shortcuts for preview

Shortcuts common to each program

Because Apple has established guidelines for how its programs work, many Mac keyboard shortcuts work regardless of the application in which they are used . So the Mac shortcuts for documents are the same whether you use them in Word, Pages or Notes..

How to use Mac keyboard shortcuts

To use a keyboard shortcut on Mac, you must hold down at least one of the special keys , and then select the key combination that executes it. In general, Mac Shortcuts always run as follows:

  • hold down the special key;
  • if necessary, press and hold the second or third special key;
  • press and release the last key of the shortcut for the command to run.

Mac shortcuts explained

The following table lists the most useful Mac keyboard shortcuts. As you may already know, Apple uses some special symbols for specific keys on Mac keyboards. These are as follows:

  • Command key (or Cmd key):?
  • Shift key :?
  • Selection key (or Alt key):?
  • Control key (or Ctrl key):?
  • Caps Lock:?
  • Function key: (fn)

General Mac shortcuts

Key combination Action
? + C Copy
? + V Paste
? + A Select all
? + X Cut
? + S save
? + Z Back / Cancel
? + Q Close the program
? + F Search for
fn + back Delete

Mac keyboard shortcuts for Finder

Key combination Action
Intro Rename the selected file
? +? + T Show Finder Toolbar
? + N New window
? + Shift + N New folder
? + O Open a file or folder
? + D Double
? + I Open file information
? + L Create a shortcut
? + 1 Icon view
? + 2 List view
? + 3 Column view
? + 4 View Cover Flow
? + W Close the window
? + M Minimize window

Mac shortcuts to suspend, log out, and shutdown

Key combination Action
? +? + Q Lock the screen immediately
? +? + Q Sign off
? +? + Eject Lay off
? +? + Eject Restart
? +? +? + Eject To turn off
? +? + Eject Screen off

MacOS keyboard shortcuts for documents

Key combination Action
? + Right arrow Jump to the end of the line
? + Left arrow Jump to the beginning of the line
? + Up arrow Jump to the beginning of the document
? + Down arrow Jump to end of document
? + Right arrow One word ahead
? + Left arrow One word back
? + Up arrow A paragraph back
? + Down arrow One paragraph ahead
fn + Up Arrow Skip up one page
fn + Down arrow Skip one page down
fn + Left arrow Jump to the beginning of a document
fn + Right arrow Jump to the end of a document
? + B Make selected text bold
? + U Underline selected text
? + I Italicize selected text

Mac keyboard shortcuts for screenshots

Key combination Action
? +? + 3 Screenshot of full screen content
? +? + 4 Screenshot of a selected area
? +? + 4 and space Screenshot of a selected window

Mac keyboard shortcuts for Safari

Key combination Action
? + T Open a new tab
? + N Open a new window
? + W Close current tab
? +? + Left arrow Jump to the previous tab
? +? + Right arrow Jump to the next tab

General Mac shortcuts

Key combination Action
? + Tab Switch between active apps
? + < Switch between application windows
? + Q Close the program
? +? + Escape Opens the "Exit program immediately" window.
F3 Show all active windows
? + F3 Show desktop
? + Space Search with Spotlight

Mac keyboard shortcuts for preview

Key combination Action
? + L Rotate the document to the left
? + R Rotate the document right
? + + Enlarge document
? + - Reduce document
? + 0 View in original size
? +? + A Show or hide comment tools
advice

How to split the screen on a Mac? Find out how in our article.


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