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Comprehensive Guide to macOS Keyboard Shortcuts

As of October 2025, macOS offers a wide array of keyboard shortcuts to boost productivity, navigate the system, and perform tasks efficiently. This article compiles all the standard keyboard shortcuts from Apple’s official support documentation. These are organized by category for easy reference. Note that some shortcuts may vary slightly based on your macOS version, keyboard layout, or app context. Shortcuts use symbols like Command (⌘), Shift (⇧), Option (⌥), Control (⌃), and Fn.

You can customize many shortcuts in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts. For apps like Safari or Finder, additional app-specific shortcuts exist, but this focuses on system-wide ones.

Cut, Copy, Paste, and Other Common Shortcuts

These work across most apps and the Finder.

  • ⌘-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
  • ⌘-C: Copy the selected item to the Clipboard (also works for files in Finder).
  • ⌘-V: Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app (also works for files in Finder).
  • ⌘-Z: Undo the previous command; press ⇧-⌘-Z to Redo.
  • ⌘-A: Select all items.
  • ⌘-F: Find items in a document or open a Find window.
  • ⌘-G: Find the next occurrence; ⇧-⌘-G for previous.
  • ⌘-H: Hide the front app’s windows; ⌥-⌘-H to hide others.
  • ⌘-M: Minimize the front window to the Dock; ⌥-⌘-M for all windows.
  • ⌘-O: Open the selected item or file dialog.
  • ⌘-P: Print the current document.
  • ⌘-Q: Quit the app.
  • ⌘-S: Save the current document.
  • ⌘-T: Open a new tab.
  • ⌘-W: Close the front window; ⌥-⌘-W for all.
  • ⌥-⌘-Esc: Force quit an app.
  • ⌘–Space bar: Show/hide Spotlight; ⌥–⌘–Space for Finder Spotlight.
  • ⌃–⌘–Space or Fn-E: Show Character Viewer for emoji/symbols.
  • ⌃-⌘-F: Toggle full screen (if supported).
  • Space bar: Quick Look preview.
  • ⌘-Tab: Switch apps.
  • ⌘-` (grave accent): Switch windows in the front app.
  • ⇧-⌘-5: Screenshot/screen recording (macOS Mojave+); alternatives: ⇧-⌘-3 or ⇧-⌘-4.
  • ⇧-⌘-N: New folder in Finder.
  • ⌃-⌘-N: New folder with selected items.
  • ⌘-, (comma): Open app preferences.
  • Fn-Q: Create a Quick Note.

Sleep, Log Out, and Shut Down Shortcuts

Manage power and sessions.

  • Power button: Wake/turn on; hold to force off; on Touch ID: lock screen; hold 1.5s to sleep (non-Touch ID).
  • ⌥–⌘–Power: Sleep (non-Touch ID).
  • ⌃–⇧–Power: Sleep displays (non-Touch ID).
  • ⌃–Power: Restart/sleep/shut down dialog (non-Touch ID).
  • ⌃–⌘–Power: Force restart (non-Touch ID).
  • ⌃–⌥–⌘–Power: Quit apps and shut down (non-Touch ID).
  • ⌃-⌘-Q: Lock screen.
  • ⇧-⌘-Q: Log out (confirm); ⌥-⇧-⌘-Q immediate.
  • ⌥ while selecting Log out/Shut down/Restart: No confirmation dialog.

Finder and System Shortcuts

For file management and system navigation.

  • ⌘-D: Duplicate files.
  • ⌘-E: Eject disk/volume.
  • ⌘-F: Spotlight in Finder.
  • ⌘-I: Get Info.
  • ⌘-R: Show original (alias); reload in apps; check updates.
  • ⇧-⌘-C: Open Computer window.
  • ⇧-⌘-D: Open Desktop.
  • ⇧-⌘-F: Open Recents.
  • ⇧-⌘-G: Go to Folder.
  • ⇧-⌘-H: Open Home.
  • ⇧-⌘-I: Open iCloud Drive.
  • ⇧-⌘-K: Open Network.
  • ⌥-⌘-L: Open Downloads.
  • ⇧-⌘-O: Open Documents.
  • ⇧-⌘-P: Toggle Preview pane.
  • ⇧-⌘-R: Open AirDrop.
  • ⇧-⌘-T: Toggle tab bar.
  • ⌃-⇧-⌘-T: Add to Dock.
  • ⇧-⌘-U: Open Utilities.
  • ⌥-⌘-D: Toggle Dock.
  • ⌃-⌘-T: Add to sidebar.
  • ⌥-⌘-P: Toggle path bar.
  • ⌥-⌘-S: Toggle Sidebar.
  • ⌘-/: Toggle status bar.
  • ⌘-J: View Options.
  • ⌘-K: Connect to Server.
  • ⌃-⌘-A: Make alias.
  • ⌘-N: New Finder window.
  • ⌥-⌘-N: New Smart Folder.
  • ⌘-T: Toggle tab bar (single tab).
  • ⌥-⌘-T: Toggle toolbar.
  • ⌥-⌘-V: Move Clipboard files.
  • ⌘-Y: Quick Look.
  • ⌥-⌘-Y: Quick Look slideshow.
  • ⌘-1: Icon view.
  • ⌘-2: List view.
  • ⌘-3: Column view.
  • ⌘-4: Gallery view.
  • ⌘-[: Previous folder.
  • ⌘-]: Next folder.
  • ⌘-Up Arrow: Parent folder.
  • ⌃-⌘-Up Arrow: Parent in new window.
  • ⌘-Down Arrow: Open item.
  • Right Arrow: Open folder (list view).
  • Left Arrow: Close folder (list view).
  • ⌘-Delete: Trash item.
  • ⇧-⌘-Delete: Empty Trash.
  • ⌥-⇧-⌘-Delete: Empty without confirm.
  • ⌘–Brightness Down: Toggle video mirroring.
  • ⌥–Brightness Up: Displays settings.
  • ⌃–Brightness Up/Down: External display brightness.
  • ⌥–⇧–Brightness Up/Down: Fine brightness adjust.
  • ⌥–Mission Control: Mission Control settings.
  • ⌘–Mission Control or Fn-F11: Show desktop.
  • ⌃–Up Arrow: Mission Control.
  • ⌃–Down Arrow: App windows.
  • ⌥–Volume Up: Sound settings.
  • ⌥–⇧–Volume Up/Down: Fine volume adjust.
  • ⌥–Keyboard Brightness Up: Keyboard settings.

Accessibility Shortcuts

Enable in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Accessibility.

Vision

  • ⌃-⌥-⌘-8: Invert colors.
  • ⌃-⌥-⌘-,/.: Decrease/increase contrast.

Keyboard Focus

  • ⌃-F2 (or Fn-⌃-F2): Focus menu bar.
  • ⌃-F3: Focus Dock.
  • ⌃-F4: Focus active window.
  • ⌃-F5: Focus toolbar.
  • ⌃-F6: Focus floating window.
  • ⌃-⇧-F6: Previous panel.
  • ⌃-F7: Toggle Tab focus mode.
  • ⌃-F8: Focus status menu.
  • ⌘-`: Next window in app.
  • ⇧-⌘-`: Previous window.
  • ⌥-⌘-`: Focus window drawer.
  • Tab/⇧-Tab: Next/previous control.
  • ⌃-Tab: Next control (text field).
  • ⌃-⇧-Tab: Previous group.
  • Arrow keys: Navigate lists/menus/sliders.

Other Notes

  • For text editing in documents: Use standard like Option-Delete (delete word) or others in app menus.
  • Learn more or customize at Apple’s support page: Mac keyboard shortcuts.
  • If using multiple languages, some shortcuts may switch inputs.

This covers all system-wide shortcuts; practice them to master your Mac!