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Alt key on Mac: functions and special characters

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Meaning and function of the Alt key on Mac
What functions does the Alt key offer on Mac?
The most important keyboard shortcuts with the Alt key on Mac
Alt key functions in macOS
Shortcuts with the [alt] key for the Mac Dock
Quick configuration with the [alt] key on Mac
Other useful keyboard shortcuts
Combinations with the [alt] key in the Mac file manager
Insert special characters with the [alt] key on Mac

Alt key on Mac: functions and special characters

Have you ever pressed the Alt key on the Apple keyboard and wondered why nothing happens? By default, pressing only Alt does not execute any system command. However, in combination with other keys, tertiary key assignments can be accessed and thus a wide variety of frequently used special characters. In addition, on Mac devices, you can directly perform various functions with this key . Here are the keyboard shortcuts and the most important functions of the Alt key on Mac..

Index
  1. Meaning and function of the Alt key on Mac
  2. What functions does the Alt key offer on Mac?
  3. The most important keyboard shortcuts with the Alt key on Mac
    1. Alt key functions in macOS
    2. Shortcuts with the [alt] key for the Mac Dock
    3. Quick configuration with the [alt] key on Mac
    4. Other useful keyboard shortcuts
    5. Combinations with the [alt] key in the Mac file manager
    6. Insert special characters with the [alt] key on Mac

Meaning and function of the Alt key on Mac

The Alt key (also known as the Select or Option key) is recognized on Apple keyboards by the following symbol:?. This icon represents a detour and indicates the function of the key itself: with a keyboard shortcut with Alt, secondary options and alternative key assignments are activated , which allow you to enter different special characters. On some keyboards, the key also has the name? Alt? or, on English keyboards, the word? option ?.

Note

On Windows keyboards, this key is not marked with the offset icon, but rather the Alt label. To learn more about its use and function on Microsoft systems, visit our comprehensive article on the Alt key in Windows..

There are two Alt keys on the Mac keyboard . Both are on the bottom row of the keyboard, one to the left and one to the right of the command key. They have the same function so you can press the one that is most accessible to you to combine it with other keys.

image
The Alt key is located in the bottom row of the Mac keyboard, to the left or right of the command key.

What functions does the Alt key offer on Mac?

In combination with other keys, the Alt key on the Mac keyboard lets you activate a variety of functions that can otherwise only be accessed by navigating menus. The available commands depend on the window or program open: for example, the Alt key executes different options in the Finder and in a text document. If you put the cursor in a text field or in a word processor, with the Alt key you can access the tertiary assignments of the keys, that is, to special characters ..

The most important keyboard shortcuts with the Alt key on Mac

Regardless of whether you are in the Finder, in a program, or in a text field, the Alt key on Mac allows you to take keyboard shortcuts to activate different commands and functions. Here are some useful combinations to help you quickly and conveniently access various features and special characters.

Alt key functions in macOS

If you want to configure the Apple or macOS system, you can use the Alt key to quickly activate different functions . There are also combinations that put the equipment in a state of rest. The following table summarizes the most important keyboard shortcuts:

Key combination Function
[alt] + Time Machine icon Check and search for backups
[alt] + speaker icon Show and configure the input and output device
[alt] + Bluetooth icon Access information about Bluetooth version and visibility
[alt] + volume icon Open sound settings
[alt] + WLAN icon Access additional information about Wi-Fi connections
[alt] + battery icon Access additional battery information
[alt] + message center icon Activate Do Not Disturb mode
[alt] + [cmd] + [Q] Lock screen
[alt] + [cmd] + [eject] Sleep mode
[alt] + [ctrl] + [cmd] + [eject] Quit all programs and shut down Mac

Shortcuts with the [alt] key for the Mac Dock

With the corresponding key combination, you can show and hide the Dock . If you select an application in the Dock with the left mouse button and, at the same time, press the [alt] key, you will execute other functions :

Combination Note Function
[alt] + [cmd] + [D]   Show and hide the Dock
[alt] + click on the active application Press [alt] and then select the active application with a left mouse click Show and hide all windows
[alt] + click on the application not active Start the program with the [alt] key pressed Depends on the program (eg iTunes: select or create Media Library)
[alt] + click on the active application with the right mouse button Press [alt] and then select the active application with a right mouse click Immediately terminate the selected application

Quick configuration with the [alt] key on Mac

With these keyboard shortcuts, different settings are made . Some allow you to set the brightness of the screen and keyboard in subtle gradations . If you need, you can customize other shortcuts in the keyboard settings.

Key combination Function
[alt] + brightness up / down Open monitor settings
[alt] + [shift] + brightness up / down Adjust screen brightness in small gradations
[alt] + keys for keyboard brightness Open keyboard settings
[alt] + [shift] + keys for keyboard brightness Adjust keyboard brightness in small gradations
[alt] + volume up / down Open sound settings

Other useful keyboard shortcuts

With the following [alt] shortcuts, you will execute the usual commands faster , so that you will work more efficiently.

Key combination Command
[alt] + [cmd] + [esc] Exit the selected program
[alt] + [cmd] + [shift] + [esc] Force close a program
[alt] + [cmd] + [L] Open the download folder
[alt] + [cmd] + [N] Create a new folder
[alt] + [cmd] + [V] Move clipboard files to current location
[alt] + [cmd] + [W] Close all windows of a program
[alt] + [cmd] + [H] Hide all inactive windows
[alt] + [cmd] + [shift] + [backspace] Empty the trash without the confirmation box appearing

Combinations with the [alt] key in the Mac file manager

If the Finder application is open in the foreground, you can show or hide additional functions or execute commands for the selected file with the corresponding keyboard shortcut.

Key combination Note Function
[alt] + [cmd] + [I]   Show information about the marked file
[alt] While moving a file Create copy of file
[alt] + [cmd] While moving a file Create link to file
[alt] + [cmd] + [T]   Show and hide the toolbar
[alt] + [cmd] + [Y]   Open the full screen of Quicklook
[alt] + [cmd] + [A] With [cmd] + [A] all elements are selected Deselect all items
[alt] + [cmd] + [M] With [cmd] + [M] the window in the foreground is minimized Minimize all windows
[alt] + [cmd] + [W] With [cmd] + [W] the window is closed in the foreground Close all windows
[alt] + [cmd] + [P]   Show and hide the panel in Finder
[alt] + [cmd] + [S]   Show and hide the sidebar in Finder
[alt] + [cmd] + [T]   Show and hide the toolbar (only works if a single tab is open in Finder)

Insert special characters with the [alt] key on Mac

Many of the frequently used special characters are visible on Windows keyboards. If you press the corresponding key at the same time as [Alt Gr], you access the tertiary assignments . On macOS you get these sub-functions with the [alt] key , although the available special characters are not visible on Apple keyboards. The following summary shows the most important characters and how to enter them:

Key combination Character Explanation
[alt] + [C] ç, Ç C with cedilla
[alt] + [cmd] + [T] ² Superscript two
[alt] + [N] ~ Accent mark
[alt] + [L] @ At symbol
[alt] + [E] ? Euro symbol
[alt] + [R] ® Trademark symbol
[alt] + [G] © Copyright symbol
[alt] + [5] [ Opening bracket
[alt] + [6] ] Closing clasp
[alt] + [7] l Vertical line
[alt] + [8] { Opening key
[alt] + [9] } Stopcock
[alt] + [shift] + [7] \ Backslash
[alt] + [8] ? English opening quotes
[alt] + [shift] + [8] ? English closing quotes
[alt] + [9] ? Opening single quote
[alt] + [shift] + [9] ? Closing single quote
[alt] + [shift] + [?] « Latin opening quotes
[alt] + [shift] + [ç] » Latin closing quotation marks
[alt] + [shift] + [N] ? Single Latin closing quote
[alt] + [shift] + [B] ? Single Latin opening quote
[alt] + [+] ± More less
[alt] + [U] + [vowel] ä, ü, ö Dieresis for vowels
advice

Don't miss our article on the most important AltGr keyboard shortcuts.


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