Mac Keyboard Shortcut Cheat Sheet ⚡️

Boost your productivity by using keyboard shortcuts instead of reaching for the mouse! This guide is designed for beginners, with simple explanations and examples to help you get started.

Understanding Modifier Keys

Before diving into shortcuts, here’s a quick guide to the keys you’ll see in this cheat sheet:

  • Cmd (⌘): Command key (similar to Ctrl on Windows).
  • Option (⌥): Option key (sometimes called Alt).
  • Shift (⇧): Shift key.
  • Ctrl (⌃): Control key (used in specific apps or the terminal).
  • Fn: Function key (bottom-left on most Mac keyboards).

1. Application & Window Management

These shortcuts help you manage apps and windows efficiently:

  • Cmd + Q: Quit the active application.
    • Example: Close Safari completely when you’re done browsing.
  • Cmd + H: Hide the active application’s windows.
    • Example: Hide Mail while keeping it running in the background.
  • Cmd + Option + H: Hide all other applications except the active one.
    • Example: Focus on a single app like Word by hiding everything else.
  • Cmd + W: Close the active window or tab.
    • Example: Close a browser tab in Safari or Chrome.
  • Cmd + Option + W: Close all windows of the active application.
    • Example: Close all open Finder windows at once.
  • Cmd + M: Minimize the active window to the Dock.
    • Example: Minimize a document you’re working on in Pages.
  • Cmd + Tab: Switch between open applications.
    • Example: Quickly jump from Safari to Notes without using the mouse.
  • Cmd + ~ (Tilde): Switch between windows of the same application.
    • Example: Switch between two open Word documents.
  • Cmd + , (Comma): Open the Preferences/Settings for the active application.
    • Example: Open Safari’s settings to change your homepage.
  • Cmd + N: Open a new window or document.
    • Example: Open a new Finder window or create a new document in Word.
  • Cmd + T: Open a new tab (in apps that support tabs, like browsers or Finder).
    • Example: Open a new tab in Chrome to start a new search.

2. Finder (File Management)

Use these shortcuts to manage files and folders in Finder:

  • Cmd + Shift + N: Create a new folder.
    • Example: Create a folder named "Work Projects" in your Documents.
  • Enter: Rename the selected file or folder.
    • Example: Rename "Untitled Folder" to "Photos 2025."
  • Cmd + I: Get detailed information about a file or folder.
    • Example: Check the size of a video file.
  • Spacebar: Preview the selected file with Quick Look.
    • Example: Quickly view a PDF without opening it in Preview.
  • Cmd + Delete: Move selected items to the Trash.
    • Example: Delete old screenshots from your Downloads folder.
  • Cmd + Shift + Delete: Empty the Trash (asks for confirmation).
  • Cmd + Option + Shift + Delete: Empty the Trash without confirmation (Be careful!).
  • Cmd + D: Duplicate the selected file or folder.
    • Example: Make a copy of a document to create a backup.
  • Cmd + F: Open the search bar to find files.
    • Example: Search for "Invoices" in your Documents folder.
  • Cmd + [: Go back to the previous folder.
  • Cmd + ]: Go forward to the next folder.
  • Cmd + Up Arrow: Go to the parent folder.
    • Example: Move up from "Photos 2025" to the "Pictures" folder.
  • Cmd + Down Arrow: Open the selected folder or file.

3. Text Editing (Works Almost Everywhere!)

These shortcuts work in most text fields, from Word documents to web browsers:

  • Cmd + C: Copy selected text.
  • Cmd + V: Paste copied text.
  • Cmd + X: Cut selected text.
  • Cmd + Z: Undo the last action.
  • Cmd + Shift + Z: Redo the last undone action.
  • Cmd + A: Select all text in the current field or document.
  • Cmd + F: Find specific text in a document or webpage.
    • Example: Search for "budget" in a long report.
  • Cmd + S: Save the current document.
  • Cmd + Left/Right Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line.
  • Option + Left/Right Arrow: Move the cursor one word at a time.
  • Cmd + Up/Down Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the entire document.
  • Add Shift to any of the above shortcuts to select text while moving.
    • Example: Shift + Cmd + Right Arrow selects text from the cursor to the end of the line.
  • Fn + Delete (or Ctrl + D): Forward delete (deletes the character to the right of the cursor).

4. Screenshots 📸

Take screenshots with these shortcuts:

  • Cmd + Shift + 3: Capture the entire screen (saved to Desktop).
  • Cmd + Shift + 4: Capture a selected area (drag crosshairs, saved to Desktop).
  • Cmd + Shift + 4 then Spacebar: Capture a specific window (click the window, saved to Desktop).
  • Cmd + Shift + 5: Open the Screenshot utility (options for area, window, or screen recording).
  • Add Ctrl to any of the above shortcuts to copy the screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving it.
    • Example: Ctrl + Cmd + Shift + 4 lets you paste the screenshot directly into an email.

5. System & Search

These shortcuts help you manage your Mac and find things quickly:

  • Cmd + Space: Open Spotlight search to find files, apps, or even perform calculations.
    • Example: Type "2+2" in Spotlight to get the result instantly.
  • Ctrl + Cmd + Q: Lock your screen immediately.
  • Option + Cmd + Esc: Open the Force Quit Applications window (useful if an app is frozen).

Pro Tip: Discover App-Specific Shortcuts

Install the CheatSheet app (included in your setup). Hold down the Cmd key for a couple of seconds in almost any application, and it will display a list of available shortcuts for that specific app. It’s a great way to learn shortcuts as you go!

By mastering these shortcuts, you’ll save time and work more efficiently on your Mac. Start with a few that seem most useful, and build from there. Happy shortcutting! ⚡️