Apple Macintosh Shortcuts for Keyboard

Here is a list of nearly all shortcuts in Mac OS X. This shortcuts list would be very useful if you switched to the mac or forgotten certain shortcuts.

Mac has many keyboard shortcuts. Knowing them makes using MAC much easier.

Note: We use following convention while refering to diffrent Apple Macintosh keys:

  1. Apple key : Apple Key
  2. Option Key : Option Key
  3. Control Key : Control Key

MAC Shortcuts for MENU COMMANDS

Most common MAC Shortcuts for menu Commands :

  • Shift+Apple+Q : Log out
  • Shift+Option Apple+Q : Log out immediately
  • Shift+Apple+Delete : Empty Trash
  • Apple+H : Hide Active Application Doesn't Work With Adobe Applications.
  • Option+Apple+H : Hide All But The Active Application.
  • Control+Eject : Shut Down, Sleep, or Restart Options.
  • Apple+Control+Eject : Quit all applications and Restart.
  • Apple+ . (period) : Stop a process.
  • Apple+ , (comma) : Open Preferences for Active Application.
  • Option+Apple+D : Show/Hide Dock.
  • Control+Up Arrow : Move up one page.
  • Control+Down Arrow : Move down one page.
  • Option+Apple+Esc : Force Quit.
  • Apple +P : File Menu Print.
  • Apple +Space : Open Spotlight (Mac OS X 10.4 or later).
  • Apple +Alt+Space : Open Spotlight Guide (Mac OS X 10.4 or later).
  • F12 : Opens Dashboard (Mac OS X 10.4 or later).

MAC Shortcuts for File Management

Most common MAC Shortcuts for File Management :

  • Apple+N : New Finder window or New Blank Page in Some Applications.
  • Shift+Apple+N : New Folder Must Be In Finder Window For It to Work.
  • Apple+O : Open Another Existing Document.
  • Apple+S : Save.
  • Shift+Apple+S : Save as.
  • Apple+P : Print.
  • Apple+W : Close Window.
  • Apple+Option+W : Close all Windows.
  • Apple+I : Get Info.
  • Option+Apple+I : Show Attributes Inspector Limited use – varies by application.
  • Apple+D – Duplicate.
  • Apple+Q : Close Application.
  • Apple+L : Make Alias.
  • Apple+R : Show Original.
  • Apple+Delete : Move Highlighted Items to Trash.
  • Apple+E : Eject.
  • Apple+F : Find.

MAC Shortcuts for Editing

Most common MAC Shortcuts for Editing :

  • Apple+Z : Undo
  • Apple+X : Cut
  • Apple+C : Copy
  • Apple+V : Paste
  • Apple+A : Select All
  • Apple+ { : Align Left {Only Works in Some Applications.}
  • Apple+ } : Align Right {Only Works in Some Applications.}
  • Apple+ | (pipe) : Align Center {Only Works in Some Applications.}
  • Apple+ ; (semicolon) : Check Spelling {Only Works in Some Applications.}
  • Shift+Apple+C : Show Colors palette in application {Only Works in Some Applications.}
  • Apple+T : Show Font palette in application {Only Works in Some Applications.}

MAC Shortcuts for View Menu

Most common MAC Shortcuts for View Menu :

  • Apple+1 : View as Icons.
  • Apple+2 : View as List.
  • Apple+3 : View as Columns.
  • Option+Apple+T : Hide Toolbar.
  • Apple+J : Show View Options.

MAC Shortcuts for Moving Around

Most common MAC Shortcuts for Moving Around :

  • Apple+ [ : Back {Must be in Finder Window}.
  • Apple+ ] : Forward {Must be in Finder Window}.
  • Shift+Apple+A : Applications {Must be in Finder Window}.
  • Shift+Apple+F : Favorites {Must be in Finder Window}.
  • Shift+Apple+G : Goto Folder {Must be in Finder Window}.
  • Apple+K : Connect to Server {Must be in Finder Window}.
  • Apple+Tab : Switch to next Application Hold Apple key to enter App. switcher mode.

MAC Shortcuts for Controlling Windows

Most common MAC Shortcuts for Controlling Windows :

  • Apple+N : New Window.
  • Apple+T : New Tab If the Application supports Tabs.
  • Apple+M : Minimize Window.
  • Option+Apple+M : Minimize All Windows.

Getting help :

  • Apple+ ? : Open Mac Help.

MAC Shortcuts for Universal Access

Most common MAC Shortcuts for Universal Access :

  • Option+Apple+ * (asterisk) : Turn on Zoom.
  • Option+Apple+ = : Zoom in.
  • Option+Apple+ - : Zoom out.
  • Control+Option+Apple+ * : Switch to White on Black.

Combine Keyboard With Mouse

  • Option+Drag : Copy to new location.
  • Option+Apple+Drag : Make alias in new location.
  • Apple+Drag : Move to new location without copying.

MAC Shortcuts for Screen Shots

Most common MAC Shortcuts for Screen Shots:

  • Apple+Shift+3 : Take a picture of the screen will leave a .png file on desktop.
  • Apple+Shift+4 : Take a picture of the selection will leave a .png file on desktop.
  • Apple+Shift+4, Control : Take a picture of the selection, place in clipboard.
  • Apple+Shift+4, Spacebar : Take a picture of the selected window will leave a .png file on desktop.

MAC Shortcuts for Startup Commands

Most common MAC Shortcuts for Startup Commands:

  • Hold Mouse button down immediately after powering on : Eject CD on boot.
  • Press Shift during startup : OS X Safe boot.
  • Press T during startup : Start up in FireWire Target Disk mode.
  • Press C during startup : Startup from a CD.
  • Press Apple + Option + Shift+Delete during startup : Bypass primary startup volume and seek a different startup volume (CD, etc.).
  • Press Option during startup : Choose Startup disk before booting.
  • Press Apple+V during startup : Start up in Verbose mode.
  • Press Cmd:S during startup : Start up in Single:User mode (command line).
  • Press R during startup : Force Powerbook screen reset.
  • Press X during startup : Force OS X startup.

MAC Shortcuts for Other remaining Commands

Most common MAC Shortcuts for Other remaining Commands:

  • Apple + Up Arrow : Move up one directory.
  • Apple +Down Arrow : Move down one directory.
  • Page Up or Control+Up Arrow : Move up one page.
  • Page Down or Control+Down Arrow : Move down one page.
  • Apple+C : Show Colors palette in application.
  • Apple+T : Show Font palette in application.