List of 200+ Keyboard Commands for Mac [Guide]

In today’s digital era, efficiency and productivity are paramount. As Mac users, we have a powerful tool at our fingertips that can streamline our workflows and make our computing experience seamless – keyboard commands. By harnessing the power of keyboard shortcuts, Mac users can navigate their systems, applications, and documents with lightning speed, saving valuable time and effort.

In this comprehensive guide, we will dive into a vast array of Mac keyboard commands, unraveling their functionalities and unlocking the potential they hold. Whether you’re a seasoned Mac user looking to enhance your skills or a newcomer eager to learn the ropes, this article will serve as your go-to resource for mastering essential keyboard commands.

We’ll explore a wide range of categories, including general commands for everyday tasks, navigation commands for efficient movement within documents and applications, text editing commands for precise manipulation of text, and specialized commands for various Mac-specific features and applications. Each command will be meticulously explained, empowering you to leverage the full potential of your Mac’s keyboard.

By incorporating these keyboard commands into your workflow, you can bid farewell to tedious mouse movements and menu navigation, and embrace the efficiency and fluidity that comes with mastering the art of Mac shortcuts. So, let’s dive in and unravel the secrets behind these powerful keyboard commands that can transform the way you interact with your Mac!

Remember, practice makes perfect, so take your time to familiarize yourself with these commands and incorporate them into your daily routine. Before long, you’ll find yourself effortlessly maneuvering through your Mac, accomplishing tasks in record time, and becoming a true Mac power user.

So, grab your keyboard and get ready to embark on a journey of Mac mastery. Let’s unlock the full potential of your Mac by harnessing the power of keyboard commands!

Happy exploring and happy computing!

List of keyboard commands for Mac

General Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + A	Selects all items in a document or window.
Command + C	Copies the selected item to the clipboard.
Command + V	Pastes the contents of the clipboard.
Command + X	Cuts the selected item and places it on the clipboard.
Command + Z	Undoes the previous action.
Command + Shift + Z	Redoes the previously undone action.
Command + S	Saves the current document or file.
Command + P	Prints the current document or file.
Command + F	Opens a search box to find text within a document or web page.
Command + G	Finds the next occurrence of the searched text.
Command + Shift + G	Finds the previous occurrence of the searched text.
Command + Tab	Switches between open applications or windows.
Command + `	Switches between open windows within the current application.
Command + H	Hides the active application window.
Command + Q	Quits the active application.
Command + Option + Esc	Opens the Force Quit Applications window.
Command + Space	Opens the Spotlight search bar.

Navigation Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Left Arrow	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line.
Command + Right Arrow	Moves the cursor to the end of the current line.
Option + Left Arrow	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Option + Right Arrow	Moves the cursor to the end of the next word.
Command + Up Arrow	Scrolls up one page.
Command + Down Arrow	Scrolls down one page.
Control + A	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current document.
Control + E	Moves the cursor to the end of the current document.
Control + L	Centers the current line or selection in the visible area.
Command + Home	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current document.
Command + End	Moves the cursor to the end of the current document.
Option + Scroll	Scrolls horizontally in the current document or web page.
Command + Scroll	Zooms in or out of the current document or web page.
Command + Number	Switches to a specific tab in a web browser or application.

Text Editing Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + B	Bolds the selected text or toggles bold formatting.
Command + I	Italicizes the selected text or toggles italic formatting.
Command + U	Underlines the selected text or toggles underline formatting.
Command + D	Duplicates the selected item.
Command + Shift + D	Opens the desktop folder.
Command + T	Opens a new tab in a web browser or application.
Command + W	Closes the active window or tab.
Command + N	Opens a new window or document.
Command + O	Opens a file or document.
Option + Delete	Deletes the word to the left of the cursor.
Control + K	Deletes the text to the right of the cursor.
Control + H	Deletes the character to the left of the cursor.
Control + D	Deletes the character to the right of the cursor.
Control + T	Swaps the character before the cursor with the one after.
Command + ]	Increases the indent level of the selected text.
Command + [	Decreases the indent level of the selected text.
Command + /	Comments out the selected code or removes the comment.

File Management Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Shift + N	Creates a new folder in the Finder.
Command + Shift + Delete	Empties the Trash without confirmation.
Command + Option + Delete	Deletes the selected item immediately without moving it to the Trash.
Command + Drag	Moves the dragged item to a different location.
Option + Drag	Creates an alias (shortcut) of the dragged item.
Command + Option + Drag	Creates a copy of the dragged item in the destination folder.
Command + Control + N	Creates a new Smart Folder in the Finder.
Command + ,	Opens the preferences settings for the current application.
Command + Shift + S	Saves the current document with a different name or location.
Command + Option + S	Saves all open documents in the current application.
Command + Shift + P	Prints the current document using the default settings.
Command + Shift + F	Enters or exits full-screen mode in supported applications.

Screenshot and Display Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Shift + 3	Takes a screenshot of the entire screen and saves it as a file on desktop.
Command + Shift + 4	Allows you to select a portion of the screen to capture as a screenshot.
Command + Shift + 4 + Space	Captures a screenshot of a specific window or menu.
Command + Option + D	Shows or hides the Dock.
Command + Control + F	Enters or exits full-screen mode in supported applications.
Control + Command + Q	Locks the screen, requiring a password to unlock.
Command + Option + Control + Eject	Quits all applications and restarts the Mac.
Command + Control + Power	Puts the Mac to sleep.
Control + Shift + Power	Puts the display to sleep.
Command + Option + Control + Power	Shuts down the Mac immediately.

Finder and System Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Space	Opens or closes Spotlight search.
Option + Command + Space	Opens the “Show Emoji & Symbols” window.
Command + Shift + U	Opens the Utilities folder.
Command + Shift + H	Opens the Home folder.
Command + Shift + A	Opens the Applications folder.
Command + Shift + O	Opens the Documents folder.
Command + Shift + D	Opens the Desktop folder.
Command + Shift + C	Opens the Computer folder.
Command + Shift + I	Opens iCloud Drive.
Option + Command + D	Shows or hides the Dock.
Option + Command + L	Shows or hides the Downloads folder.
Control + Option + Command + Eject	Quits all applications and shuts down the Mac.

Text Formatting and Editing Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Shift + 6	Adds a degree symbol (°) to the text.
Option + Shift + 1	Adds a superscript (¹) to the selected text.
Option + Shift + 2	Adds a subscript (₂) to the selected text.
Option + Shift + 5	Adds a currency symbol (€, £, ¥, etc.) to the text.
Option + Shift + 7	Adds a bullet point (•) to the text.
Option + Command + T	Shows or hides the font panel.
Option + Command + C	Copies the style of the selected text.
Option + Command + V	Applies the copied style to the selected text.
Control + Command + Space	Opens the Character Viewer to insert special characters.
Control + Option + Command + T	Shows or hides the “Typography” panel in supported applications.
Control + Option + Command + B	Displays the “Show Colors” panel.
Control + Option + Command + C	Displays the “Show Colors” panel as a continuous strip.
Control + Option + Command + T	Shows or hides the “Fonts” panel in supported applications.
Control + Option + Command + S	Shows or hides the “Styles” panel in supported applications.

Browser and Webpage Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Option + I	Opens the Developer Tools in the browser.
Command + Option + J	Opens the JavaScript Console in the browser.
Command + Shift + L	Opens the Downloads page in the browser.
Command + Option + C	Copies the URL of the selected link or image in the browser.
Command + Option + V	Pastes and opens the URL from the clipboard in the browser.
Command + Option + R	Reloads the current webpage without using the cache.
Command + Option + L	Highlights the URL in the address bar of the browser.
Command + Option + F	Enters or exits full-screen mode in the browser.
Command + Option + ]	Moves forward through the browser’s history.
Command + Option + [	Moves backward through the browser’s history.
Command + Option + W	Closes the current browser tab.
Command + Option + T	Opens a new browser tab.
Command + Option + N	Opens a new browser window.
Command + Option + P	Opens the Print dialog box in the browser.

Text Navigation and Manipulation Commands

Command	Explanation
Option + Right Arrow	Moves the cursor to the end of the current word.
Option + Left Arrow	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current word.
Option + Shift + Right Arrow	Selects the next word.
Option + Shift + Left Arrow	Selects the previous word.
Command + Shift + Up Arrow	Selects text from the current cursor position to the beginning of the document.
Command + Shift + Down Arrow	Selects text from the current cursor position to the end of the document.
Option + Delete	Deletes the word to the right of the cursor.
Control + Option + D	Displays the definition of the selected word.
Control + Option + Command + W	Look up the selected word in the dictionary.
Control + Option + Command + Y	Displays a quick look preview of the selected file or item.
Control + Option + Command + Space	Opens the Thesaurus panel for the selected word.
Control + Option + Command + L	Shows or hides the word count panel in supported applications.

System Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Option + Control + F	Enters or exits full-screen mode for the active application.
Command + Option + Control + T	Shows or hides the toolbar in the active application.
Command + Option + Control + D	Shows or hides the Dock.
Command + Control + Q	Locks the screen, requiring a password to unlock.
Command + Control + Power	Puts the Mac to sleep.
Command + Control + Media Eject	Quits all applications and restarts the Mac.
Control + Option + Command + Power	Restarts the Mac immediately.
Control + Option + Command + Media Eject	Shuts down the Mac immediately.
Control + Shift + Power	Puts the display to sleep.
Control + Option + Power	Displays a dialog to choose between restarting, sleeping, or shutting down the Mac.
Control + Option + Command + Space	Shows or hides the “Character Viewer” window.
Control + Option + Command + 8	Inverts the colors of the screen.
Control + Option + Command + 3	Takes a screenshot of the entire screen and saves it to the clipboard.
Control + Option + Command + 4	Takes a screenshot of a selected portion of the screen and saves it to the clipboard.
Control + Option + Command + 5	Opens the screenshot and screen recording toolbar.

Spotlight Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Space	Opens or closes Spotlight search.
Command + Option + Space	Opens the Spotlight window in Finder.
Command + B	Shows or hides the Spotlight menu bar icon.
Command + Option + B	Shows or hides the battery percentage in the menu bar.
Command + Option + D	Shows or hides the Date & Time in the menu bar.
Command + Option + Control + D	Shows or hides the Dictionary panel.
Command + Option + F	Shows or hides the Finder toolbar.
Command + Option + G	Shows or hides the path bar in Finder.
Command + Option + H	Shows or hides the hidden files in Finder.
Command + Option + L	Shows or hides the Library folder in Finder.
Command + Option + M	Shows or hides the minimized windows in the Dock.
Command + Option + S	Shows or hides the sidebar in Finder.
Command + Option + T	Shows or hides the tab bar in Finder.
Command + Option + V	Shows or hides the view options in Finder.
Command + Option + W	Shows or hides the toolbar in Finder.
Command + Option + Period (.)	Shows or hides hidden files in the Open/Save dialog boxes.

Screen Zoom Commands

Command	Explanation
Option + Command + =	Zooms in, enlarging the screen content.
Option + Command + –	Zooms out, reducing the screen content.
Option + Command + 8	Toggles on/off the screen zoom feature.
Control + Option + Command + 8	Inverts the colors of the screen zoom.
Control + Option + Command + 5	Shows or hides the zoom options in the Accessibility preferences.
Control + Option + Command + –	Zooms out temporarily while the keys are held down.
Control + Option + Command + =	Zooms in temporarily while the keys are held down.
Control + Option + Command + Shift + –	Adjusts the window size while zoomed in.
Control + Option + Command + Shift + =	Adjusts the window size while zoomed in.

Accessibility Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Option + F5	Opens the Accessibility Options dialog.
Control + Option + Command + F5	Toggles the Accessibility Shortcut on/off.
Command + Option + Control + S	Turns on/off the Screen Reader.
Command + Option + Control + F	Toggles the Invert Colors feature.
Command + Option + Control + T	Toggles the VoiceOver feature on/off.
Command + Option + Control + U	Toggles the Zoom feature on/off.
Command + Option + Control + L	Toggles the Switch Control feature on/off.
Command + Option + Control + Option + Right Arrow	Moves the focus to the next grouping in the Accessibility Options dialog.
Command + Option + Control + Option + Left Arrow	Moves the focus to the previous grouping in the Accessibility Options dialog.
Command + Option + Control + Option + Down Arrow	Opens the selected grouping in the Accessibility Options dialog.
Command + Option + Control + Option + Up Arrow	Closes the selected grouping in the Accessibility Options dialog.
Command + Option + Control + Option + Space	Performs the default action for the selected option in the Accessibility Options dialog.

Audio Commands

Command	Explanation
Option + Shift + Volume Up	Increases the volume in smaller increments.
Option + Shift + Volume Down	Decreases the volume in smaller increments.
Option + Shift + Mute	Mutes or unmutes the volume.
Option + Shift + F10	Decreases the volume using the F10 key on the keyboard.
Option + Shift + F11	Mutes or unmutes the volume using the F11 key on the keyboard.
Option + Shift + F12	Increases the volume using the F12 key on the keyboard.
Option + Shift + F10/F11/F12	Adjusts the volume using the F10/F11/F12 keys on the keyboard.
Option + Shift + Option + F10/F11/F12	Adjusts the volume in smaller increments using the F10/F11/F12 keys on the keyboard.
Option + Shift + Option + Mute	Toggles the volume mute state.
Option + Shift + Option + Control + F10/F11/F12	Adjusts the volume in larger increments using the F10/F11/F12 keys on the keyboard.
Option + Shift + Option + Control + Mute	Toggles the volume mute state for all output devices.

Mission Control Commands

Command	Explanation
Control + Up Arrow	Activates Mission Control.
Control + Down Arrow	Activates the Application Windows view.
Control + Left Arrow	Activates the Desktop view.
Control + Right Arrow	Activates the Dashboard.
Control + Option + Up Arrow	Activates the Space Switcher.
Control + Option + Down Arrow	Shows all windows of the selected application in Mission Control.
Control + Option + Left Arrow	Moves to the left-most space in Mission Control.
Control + Option + Right Arrow	Moves to the right-most space in Mission Control.
Control + Option + Shift + Left Arrow	Moves the current window to the previous space.
Control + Option + Shift + Right Arrow	Moves the current window to the next space.
Control + Option + Shift + Up Arrow	Activates the Mission Control preferences.
Control + Option + Shift + Down Arrow	Hides all windows of the selected application in Mission Control.
Control + Option + Shift + C	Copies the selected text as a quote in Mission Control.
Control + Option + Shift + V	Pastes the copied text as a quote in Mission Control.

Screenshot and Recording Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Shift + 5	Opens the screenshot and screen recording toolbar.
Control + Command + Shift + 3	Takes a screenshot of the entire screen and saves it as a file.
Control + Command + Shift + 4	Takes a screenshot of a selected portion of the screen and saves it as a file.
Control + Command + Shift + 4 + Space	Takes a screenshot of a specific window or menu and saves it as a file.
Control + Command + Shift + 6	Records the screen.
Control + Command + Shift + 6 + Space	Records a specific portion of the screen.
Control + Command + Shift + 6 + Option	Records the screen with the camera on.
Control + Command + Shift + 6 + Option + Space	Records a specific portion of the screen with the camera on.
Control + Command + Shift + 6 + Option + Control	Records the screen with the microphone on.
Control + Command + Shift + 6 + Option + Control + Space	Records a specific portion of the screen with the microphone on.
Control + Command + Shift + 6 + Option + Control + Command	Records the screen with both the camera and microphone on.
Control + Command + Shift + 6 + Option + Control + Command + Space	Records a specific portion of the screen with both the camera and microphone on.

Preview Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + N	Opens a new window in Preview.
Command + O	Opens a file in Preview.
Command + S	Saves the current document in Preview.
Command + P	Prints the current document in Preview.
Command + W	Closes the current window in Preview.
Command + Z	Undoes the previous action in Preview.
Command + Shift + Z	Redoes the previously undone action in Preview.
Command + F	Activates the search bar in Preview.
Command + G	Finds the next occurrence of the searched text in Preview.
Command + Shift + G	Finds the previous occurrence of the searched text in Preview.
Command + B	Activates the annotation toolbar in Preview.
Command + I	Shows the Inspector pane in Preview.
Command + T	Activates the thumbnail sidebar in Preview.
Command + R	Rotates the current page clockwise in Preview.
Command + Shift + R	Rotates the current page counterclockwise in Preview.
Command + =	Zooms in on the document in Preview.
Command + –	Zooms out of the document in Preview.

Calculator Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + Space	Opens or closes Spotlight search.
Type the calculation	Performs a mathematical calculation using Spotlight.
Enter	Displays the result of the calculation in Spotlight.
Escape	Clears the calculation in Spotlight.
Command + C	Copies the result of the calculation in Spotlight.
Command + Shift + C	Copies the full calculation in Spotlight.
Command + L	Clears the Spotlight search bar.

TextEdit Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + N	Opens a new document in TextEdit.
Command + O	Opens an existing document in TextEdit.
Command + S	Saves the current document in TextEdit.
Command + P	Prints the current document in TextEdit.
Command + W	Closes the current document in TextEdit.
Command + Z	Undoes the previous action in TextEdit.
Command + Shift + Z	Redoes the previously undone action in TextEdit.
Command + X	Cuts the selected text in TextEdit.
Command + C	Copies the selected text in TextEdit.
Command + V	Pastes the copied or cut text in TextEdit.
Command + A	Selects all text in TextEdit.
Command + F	Activates the find bar in TextEdit.
Command + G	Finds the next occurrence of the searched text in TextEdit.
Command + Shift + G	Finds the previous occurrence of the searched text in TextEdit.
Command + B	Applies bold formatting to the selected text in TextEdit.
Command + I	Applies italic formatting to the selected text in TextEdit.
Command + U	Applies underline formatting to the selected text in TextEdit.
Command + ]	Increases the indent level of the selected text in TextEdit.
Command + [	Decreases the indent level of the selected text in TextEdit.

Mail Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + N	Composes a new email in Mail.
Command + Shift + N	Creates a new email in a separate window in Mail.
Command + R	Replies to the selected email in Mail.
Command + Shift + R	Replies to the selected email in a separate window in Mail.
Command + L	Focuses the search field in Mail.
Command + K	Activates or deactivates Check Spelling in Mail.
Command + T	Adds the selected email address to the contacts in Mail.
Command + Shift + T	Shows or hides the message thread in Mail.
Command + Shift + U	Marks the selected email as unread in Mail.
Command + Shift + F	Forwards the selected email in Mail.
Command + Shift + J	Redirects the selected email in Mail.
Command + Shift + N	Moves the selected email to a new mailbox in Mail.
Command + Shift + M	Moves the selected email to a specific mailbox in Mail.
Command + Shift + D	Moves the selected email to the Drafts mailbox in Mail.
Command + Option + N	Checks for new mail in all accounts in Mail.
Command + Option + I	Shows or hides the activity viewer in Mail.
Command + Option + S	Sends the selected email in Mail.
Command + Option + R	Replies to the selected email and all its recipients in Mail.
Command + Option + L	Shows or hides the mailbox list in Mail.

Calendar Commands

Command	Explanation
Command + N	Creates a new event in Calendar.
Command + Shift + N	Creates a new event in a separate window in Calendar.
Command + E	Edits the selected event in Calendar.
Command + I	Shows or hides the info pane in Calendar.
Command + Shift + F	Shows or hides the mini calendar in Calendar.
Command + T	Creates a new to-do item in Calendar.
Command + Shift + T	Shows or hides the to-do list in Calendar.
Command + S	Saves the current event or changes in Calendar.
Command + Delete	Deletes the selected event or to-do item in Calendar.
Command + Shift + D	Duplicates the selected event or to-do item in Calendar.
Command + Option + N	Shows or hides the notifications in Calendar.
Command + Option + T	Shows or hides the time zone menu in Calendar.
Command + Option + C	Shows or hides the conference call controls in Calendar.
Command + Option + S	Shows or hides the event invitation status in Calendar.
Command + Option + I	Shows or hides the event inspector in Calendar.
Command + Option + L	Shows or hides the calendar list in Calendar.
Command + Option + P	Shows or hides the print dialog in Calendar.
Command + Option + R	Shows or hides the recurring event editor in Calendar.