Mac keyboard shortcuts
macOS runs every Mac, so these keys work on the desktop and in most apps you open. They cover copy and undo, switching apps and windows, Mission Control, screenshots, Finder, text editing, and system controls such as locking the screen.
macOS · 109 shortcutsEssentials
Use the clipboard, undo, search, print, and quit controls that work across most Mac apps.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Copy the selected item to the ClipboardAlso copies files in the Finder. | Cmd + C |
| Cut the selected item | Cmd + X |
| Paste the Clipboard contents | Cmd + V |
| Undo the previous command | Cmd + Z |
| Redo, reversing the undo command | Shift + Cmd + Z |
| Select all items | Cmd + A |
| Find items in a document or open a Find window | Cmd + F |
| Find the next occurrence | Cmd + G |
| Find the previous occurrence | Shift + Cmd + G |
| Open the selected item or an Open dialog | Cmd + O |
| Open the print dialog | Cmd + P |
| Save the current document | Cmd + S |
| Open a new tab | Cmd + T |
| Open settings for the front app | Cmd + , |
| Open the Character ViewerFn+E is also documented. | Control + Cmd + Space |
| Create a Quick Note | Fn + Q |
Apps and windows
Switch apps, hide or close windows, move focus, and manage the current application.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Switch to the next most recently used app | Cmd + Tab |
| Switch between windows of the app you are usingUses the key above Tab, left of 1, on most keyboards. | Cmd + ` |
| Quit the current app | Cmd + Q |
| Close the front windowOption-Cmd-W closes all windows of the app. | Cmd + W |
| Minimize the front window to the Dock | Cmd + M |
| Hide the windows of the front appOption-Cmd-H hides all other apps. | Cmd + H |
| Force quit an app | Option + Cmd + Esc |
| Use or stop using the app in full screenIf supported by the app. | Control + Cmd + F |
Mission Control
Open Mission Control, move across spaces, and show or hide the desktop around the current windows.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Open Mission Control | Control + Up |
| Show all windows of the front app | Control + Down |
Screenshots
Capture the full screen, a window, or a selected region and open the screenshot utility.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Screenshot the entire screen | Shift + Cmd + 3 |
| Screenshot a selected area of the screen | Shift + Cmd + 4 |
| Open the Screenshot utility for captures and recordingmacOS Mojave or later. | Shift + Cmd + 5 |
Finder
Open Finder locations, preview files, create folders, and manage items from the keyboard.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Preview the selected item with Quick Look | Space |
| Create a new empty folder | Shift + Cmd + N |
| Move the selected item to the Trash | Cmd + Delete |
| Open a Go to Folder window | Shift + Cmd + G |
| Show the Get Info window for a file | Cmd + I |
| Open a new Finder window | Cmd + N |
| Open the Documents folder | Shift + Cmd + O |
| Open Connect to Server | Cmd + K |
| Go to the previous folder | Cmd + [ |
| Go to the next folder | Cmd + ] |
| Open the folder containing the current folder | Cmd + Up |
| Open the selected item in Finder | Cmd + Down |
| Empty the Trash | Shift + Cmd + Delete |
| View Finder items as icons | Cmd + 1 |
| View Finder items as a list | Cmd + 2 |
| View Finder items in columns | Cmd + 3 |
| View Finder items in a gallery | Cmd + 4 |
| Duplicate the selected Finder item | Cmd + D |
| Eject the selected disk or volume | Cmd + E |
| Open the Computer window | Shift + Cmd + C |
| Open the Desktop folder | Shift + Cmd + D |
| Open the Recents window | Shift + Cmd + F |
| Open the current user's Home folder | Shift + Cmd + H |
| Open iCloud Drive | Shift + Cmd + I |
| Open the Network window | Shift + Cmd + K |
| Open the Downloads folder | Option + Cmd + L |
| Show or hide the Finder Preview pane | Shift + Cmd + P |
| Show or hide the Finder tab bar | Shift + Cmd + T |
| Open the Utilities folder | Shift + Cmd + U |
| Show or hide the Finder path bar | Option + Cmd + P |
| Show or hide the Finder sidebar | Option + Cmd + S |
| Show or hide the Finder status bar | Cmd + / |
| Show Finder View Options | Cmd + J |
| Open a Quick Look slideshow | Option + Cmd + Y |
| Move files from the Clipboard | Option + Cmd + V |
Text editing
Move by character, word, line, or paragraph, then select, delete, and transform text.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Move to the beginning of the line | Cmd + Left |
| Move to the end of the line | Cmd + Right |
| Move to the beginning of the previous word | Option + Left |
| Move to the end of the next word | Option + Right |
| Move to the beginning of the document | Cmd + Up |
| Move to the end of the document | Cmd + Down |
| Scroll up one page | Fn + Up |
| Scroll down one page | Fn + Down |
| Scroll to the beginning of a document | Fn + Left |
| Scroll to the end of a document | Fn + Right |
| Bold the selected text | Cmd + B |
| Italicize the selected text | Cmd + I |
| Underline the selected text | Cmd + U |
| Add a web link | Cmd + K |
| Delete the word to the left of the insertion point | Option + Delete |
| Delete the character to the right of the insertion point | Control + D |
| Show the definition of the selected word | Control + Cmd + D |
| Open the Spelling and Grammar window | Shift + Cmd + : |
| Find misspelled words | Cmd + ; |
| Delete the character to the left | Control + H |
| Delete the character to the rightFn+Delete is also forward delete. | Control + D |
| Cut to the end of the paragraphControl+Y pastes this app-local cut buffer. | Control + K |
| Center the cursor or selection in view | Control + L |
| Move up one line | Control + P |
| Move down one line | Control + N |
| Go to the app's search field | Option + Cmd + F |
| Open Save As or duplicate the document | Shift + Cmd + S |
| Open Page Setup | Shift + Cmd + P |
| Paste and match surrounding style | Option + Shift + Cmd + V |
System
Reach system controls for locking, sleep, display, accessibility, and forced app actions.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Show or hide Spotlight searchCan change input sources instead when multiple input sources are used. | Cmd + Space |
| Lock your screen | Control + Cmd + Q |
| Open the Character Viewer with the function key | Fn + E |
| Show the desktop | Cmd + Mission Control |
| Show or hide the Dock | Fn + A |
| Show or hide Control Center | Fn + C |
| Show or hide Notification Center | Fn + N |
| Put the displays to sleep | Control + Shift + Power |
| Show the restart, sleep, or shut down dialog | Control + Power |
| Open Accessibility Shortcuts | Option + Cmd + F5 |
| Move focus to the menu bar | Control + F2 |
| Move focus to the Dock | Control + F3 |
| Move focus to the active or next window | Control + F4 |
| Move focus to the window toolbar | Control + F5 |
| Move focus to the floating window | Control + F6 |
| Move focus to the previous panel | Control + Shift + F6 |
Source
official Apple shortcut list · Checked
From Apple's Mac keyboard shortcuts article published March 10, 2026, checked again in August 2026. Shortcuts apply to current macOS releases, though individual apps can override common bindings and some keys depend on the keyboard hardware.