MAC OS X keyboard shortcuts

Summary

Learn about common OS X keyboard shortcuts. A keyboard shortcut is a way to invoke a function in OS X by pressing a combination of keys on your keyboard.

Products Affected

Mac OS X 10.2, Mac OS X 10.3, Mac OS X 10.4, Mac OS X 10.5, Mac OS X 10.6, OS X Lion, OS X Mountain Lion

To use a keyboard shortcut, or key combination, you press a modifier key with a character key. For example, pressing the Command key (the key that has a symbol) and the “c” key at the same time copies whatever is currently selected (text, graphics, and so forth) into the Clipboard. This is also known as the Command-C key combination (or keyboard shortcut).

A modifier key is a part of many key combinations. A modifier key alters the way other keystrokes or mouse/trackpad clicks are interpreted by OS X. Modifier keys include: Command, Shift, Option, Control, Caps Lock, and the Fn key. If your keyboard has an Fn key, you may need to use it in some of the key combinations listed below. For example, if the keyboard shortcut is Control-F2, press Fn-Control-F2.

Here are the modifier key symbols you may see in OS X menus:

(Command key) – On some Apple keyboards, this key also has an Apple ( ) logo
 (Control key)
 (Option key) – “Alt” may also appear on this key
 (Shift key)
(Caps Lock) – Toggles Caps Lock on or off
Fn (Function key) 

Startup shortcuts

Press the key or key combination until the expected function occurs/appears (for example, hold Option during startup until Startup Manager appears, or Shift until “Safe Boot” appears). Tip: If a startup function doesn’t work and you use a third-party keyboard, try again with an Apple keyboard.

Key or key combinationWhat it does
OptionDisplay all bootable volumes (Startup Manager)
ShiftPerform a Safe Boot (start up in Safe Mode)
Left ShiftPrevent automatic login
CStart from bootable media (DVD, CD, USB thumb drive, and so forth)
TStart in FireWire target disk mode
NStart from NetBoot server
XForce Mac OS X startup (if non-Mac OS X startup volumes are present)
DUse Apple Hardware Test
Command-RUse Recovery (OS X Lion or later)
Command-VStart in Verbose Mode
Command-SStart in Single User Mode
Command-Option-P-RReset NVRAM / parameter RAM
Hold down the Media Eject (⏏) key or F12 key, or mouse or trackpad buttonEject removable discs

See also: Startup key combinations for Intel-based Macs.


Sleep and shut down shortcuts

Key or key combinationWhat it does
Power buttonTurn off your Mac or put it to sleep
Hold down the power buttonForce your Mac to shut down
Command-Control-power buttonForce your Mac to restart
Control-Media Eject (⏏)Show restart/sleep/shutdown dialog
Command-Option-Media Eject (⏏)Put the computer to sleep
Command-Control-Media Eject (⏏)Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then restart the computer
Command-Option-Control-Media Eject (⏏)Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then shut down the computer
Shift-Control-Media Eject (⏏)Put all displays to sleep

 
Finder keyboard shortcuts

Key combinationWhat it does
Command-ASelect all items in the front Finder window (or desktop if no window is open)
Command-Option-ADeselect all items
Command-Shift-AOpen the Applications folder
Command-CCopy selected item/text to the Clipboard
Command-Shift-COpen the Computer window
Command-DDuplicate selected item
Command-Shift-DOpen desktop folder
Command-EEject
Command-FFind any matching Spotlight attribute
Command-Shift-FFind Spotlight file name matches
Command-Option-FNavigate to the search field in an already-open Spotlight window
Command-Shift-GGo to Folder
Command-Shift-HOpen the Home folder of the currently logged-in user account
Command-IGet Info
Command-Option-IShow Inspector
Command-Control-IGet Summary Info
Command-Shift-IOpen iDisk
Command-JShow View Options
Command-KConnect to Server
Command-Shift-KOpen Network window
Command-LMake alias of the selected item
Command-MMinimize window
Command-Option-MMinimize all windows
Command-NNew Finder window
Command-Shift-NNew folder
Command-Option-NNew Smart Folder
Command-OOpen selected item
Command-Shift-QLog Out
Command-Shift-Option-QLog Out immediately
Command-RShow original (of alias)
Command-TAdd to Sidebar
Command-Shift-TAdd to Favorites
Command-Option-THide Toolbar / Show Toolbar in Finder windows
Command-Shift-UOpen Utilities folder
Command-VPaste
Command-WClose window
Command-Option-WClose all windows
Command-XCut
Command-Option-YSlideshow (Mac OS X v10.5 or later)
Command-ZUndo / Redo
Command-1View as Icon
Command-2View as List
Command-3View as Columns
Command-4View as Cover Flow (Mac OS X v10.5 or later)
Command-Comma (,)Open Finder preferences
Command-Accent (`) (the Accent key above Tab key on a US English keyboard layout)Cycle through open Finder windows
Command-Shift-Question Mark (?)Open Mac Help
Command-Left Bracket ([)Go to the previous folder
Command-Right Bracket (])Go to the next folder
Command-Up ArrowOpen the folder that contains the current folder
Command-Control-Up ArrowOpen the folder that contains the current folder in a new window
Command-Down ArrowOpen highlighted item
Command-Shift-Up ArrowMake the desktop active
Right Arrow (in List view)Open the selected folder
Left Arrow (in List view)Close the selected folder
Option-click the disclosure triangle (in List view)Open all folders within the selected folder
Option–double-clickOpen a folder in a separate window, closing the current window
Command–double-clickOpen a folder in a separate window
Command-click the window titleSee the folders that contain the current window
Command-TabSwitch application–cycle forward
Command-Shift-TabSwitch application–cycle backward
Command-DeleteMove to Trash
Command-Shift-DeleteEmpty Trash
Command-Shift-Option-DeleteEmpty Trash without confirmation dialog
Space bar (or Command-Y)Quick Look (Mac OS X v10.5 or later)
Command key while draggingMove dragged item to other volume/location (pointer icon changes while key is held–see this article)
Option key while draggingCopy dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held–see this article)
Command-Option key combination while draggingMake alias of dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held–see this article)


Application and other OS X shortcuts

Note: Some applications may not support all of the following application key combinations.

Key combinationWhat it does
Command-Space barShow or hide the Spotlight search field (if multiple languages are installed, may rotate through enabled script systems)
Control-AMove to beginning of line/paragraph
Control-BMove one character backward
Control-DDelete the character in front of the cursor
Control-EMove to end of line/paragraph
Control-FMove one character forward
Control-HDelete the character behind the cursor
Control-KDelete from the character in front of the cursor to the end of the line/paragraph
Control-LCenter the cursor/selection in the visible area
Control-NMove down one line
Control-OInsert a new line after the cursor
Control-PMove up one line
Control-TTranspose the character behind the cursor and the character in front of the cursor
Control-VMove down one page
Option-DeleteDelete the word that is left of the cursor, as well as any spaces or punctuation after the word
Command-Option-Space barShow the Spotlight search results window (if multiple languages are installed, may rotate through keyboard layouts and input methods within a script)
Command-TabMove forward to the next most recently used application in a list of open applications
Command-Shift-TabMove backward through a list of open applications (sorted by recent use)
Shift-TabNavigate through controls in a reverse direction
Control-TabMove focus to the next grouping of controls in a dialog or the next table (when Tab moves to the next cell)
Shift-Control-TabMove focus to the previous grouping of controls
Command-escOpen Front Row (if installed)
Option-Media Eject (⏏)Eject from secondary optical media drive (if one is installed)
Fn-DeleteForward Delete (on a portable Mac’s built-in keyboard)
Control-F1Toggle full keyboard access on or off
Control-F2Move focus to the menu bar
Control-F3Move focus to the Dock
Control-F4Move focus to the active (or next) window
Shift-Control-F4Move focus to the previously active window
Control-F5Move focus to the toolbar.
Control-F6Move focus to the first (or next) panel
Shift-Control-F6Move focus to the previous panel
Control-F7Temporarily override the current keyboard access mode in windows and dialogs
Control-F8Move to the status menus in the menu bar
F9Tile or untile all open windows
F10Tile or untile all open windows in the currently active application
F11Hide or show all open windows
F12Hide or display Dashboard
Command-Accent (`)Activate the next open window in the frontmost application
Command-Shift-Accent (`)Activate the previous open window in the frontmost application
Command-Option-Accent (`)Move focus to the window drawer
Command-Minus (–)Decrease the size of the selected item
Command-{Left-align a selection
Command-}Right-align a selection
Command-|Center-align a selection
Command-Colon (:)Display the Spelling window
Command-Semicolon (;)Find misspelled words in the document
Command-Comma (,)Open the front application’s preferences window (if it supports this keyboard shortcut)
Command-Option-Control-Comma (,)Decrease screen contrast
Command-Option-Control-Period (.)Increase screen contrast
Command-Question Mark (?)Open the application’s help in Help Viewer
Command-Option-/Turn font smoothing on or off
Command-Shift-=Increase the size of the selected item
Command-Shift-3Capture the screen to a file
Command-Shift-Control-3Capture the screen to the Clipboard
Command-Shift-4Capture a selection to a file
Command-Shift-Control-4Capture a selection to the Clipboard
Command-AHighlight every item in a document or window, or all characters in a text field
Command-BBoldface the selected text or toggle boldfaced text on and off
Command-CCopy the selected data to the Clipboard
Command-Shift-CDisplay the Colors window
Command-Option-CCopy the style of the selected text
Command-Control-CCopy the formatting settings of the selected item and store on the Clipboard
Command-Option-DShow or hide the Dock
Command-Control-DDisplay the definition of the selected word in the Dictionary application
Command-DSelects the Desktop folder in Open and Save dialogs
or
Selects “Don’t Save” in dialogs that contain a Don’t Save button, in Mac OS X v10.6.8 and earlier
Command-DeleteSelects “Don’t Save” in dialogs that contain a Don’t Save button, in OS X Lion and Mountain Lion
Command-EUse the selection for a find
Command-FOpen a Find window
Command-Option-FMove to the search field control
Command-GFind the next occurrence of the selection
Command-Shift-GFind the previous occurrence of the selection
Command-HHide the windows of the currently running application
Command-Option-HHide the windows of all other running applications
Command-IItalicize the selected text or toggle italic text on or off
Command-Option-IDisplay an inspector window
Command-JScroll to a selection
Command-MMinimize the active window to the Dock
Command-Option-MMinimize all windows of the active application to the Dock
Command-NCreate a new document in the frontmost application
Command-ODisplay a dialog for choosing a document to open in the frontmost application
Command-PDisplay the Print dialog
Command-Shift-PDisplay a dialog for specifying printing parameters (Page Setup)
Command-QQuit the frontmost application
Command-SSave the active document
Command-Shift-SDisplay the Save As dialog
Command-TDisplay the Fonts window
Command-Option-TShow or hide a toolbar
Command-UUnderline the selected text or turn underlining on or off
Command-VPaste the Clipboard contents at the insertion point
Command-Option-VApply the style of one object to the selected object (Paste Style)
Command-Shift-Option-VApply the style of the surrounding text to the inserted object (Paste and Match Style)
Command-Control-VApply formatting settings to the selected object (Paste Ruler Command)
Command-WClose the frontmost window
Command-Shift-WClose a file and its associated windows
Command-Option-WClose all windows in the application without quitting it
Command-XRemove the selection and store in the Clipboard
Command-ZUndo previous command (some applications allow for multiple Undos)
Command-Shift-ZRedo previous command (some applications allow for multiple Redos)
Control-Right ArrowMove focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table
Control-Left ArrowMove focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table
Control-Down ArrowMove focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table
Control-Up ArrowMove focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table
Command-Right ArrowMove the text insertion point to the end of the current line
Command-Left ArrowMove the text insertion point to the beginning of the current line
Command-Down ArrowMove the text insertion point to the end of the document
Command-Up ArrowMove the text insertion point to the beginning of the document
Option-Right ArrowMove the text insertion point to the end of the next word
Option-Left ArrowMove the text insertion point to the beginning of the previous word
Command-Shift-Right ArrowSelect text between the insertion point and the end of the current line (*)
Command-Shift-Left ArrowSelect text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line (*)
Shift-Right ArrowExtend text selection one character to the right (*)
Shift-Left ArrowExtend text selection one character to the left (*)
Command-Shift-Up ArrowSelect text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document (*)
Command-Shift-Down ArrowSelect text between the insertion point and the end of the document (*)
Shift-Up ArrowExtend text selection to the line above, to the nearest character boundary at the same horizontal location (*)
Shift-Down ArrowExtend text selection to the line below, to the nearest character boundary at the same horizontal location (*)
Shift-Option-Right ArrowExtend text selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of the following word if pressed again (*)
Shift-Option-Left ArrowExtend text selection to the beginning of the current word, then to the beginning of the following word if pressed again (*)
Shift-Option-Down ArrowExtend text selection to the end of the current paragraph, then to the end of the following paragraph if pressed again (*)
Shift-Option-Up ArrowExtend text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then to the beginning of the following paragraph if pressed again (*)
Control-Space barToggle between the current and previous input sources
Option-Control-Space barToggle through all enabled input sources
Command-Option-escForce Quit
Command-Shift-Option-Esc (hold for three seconds)Force Quit the front-most application (Mac OS X v10.5 or later)
Command-Left Bracket ([)Previous browser webpage
Command-Right Bracket (])Next browser webpage

*Note: If no text is selected, the extension begins at the insertion point. If text is selected by dragging, then the extension begins at the selection boundary. Reversing the direction of the selection deselects the appropriate unit.


Universal Access –
VoiceOver keyboard commands

For information about VoiceOver key combination differences in Mac OS X v10.6, see this article.

Key combinationWhat it does
Command-F5 or Fn-Command-F5Turn VoiceOver on or off
Option-Control-F8 or Fn-Option-Control-F8Open VoiceOver Utility (if VoiceOver is on)
Option-Control-F7 or Fn-Option-Control-F7Display VoiceOver menu (if VoiceOver is on)
Option-Control-Semicolon (;)Enable/disable VoiceOver Control Option-lock
Command-Option-8Turn Zoom on or off
Command-Option-Plus (+)Zoom In
Command-Option-Minus (–)Zoom Out
Command-Option-Control-8Invert/revert the screen colors (OS X Lion or earlier)
Command-Option-Control-Comma (,)Reduce contrast (OS X Lion or earlier)
Command-Option-Control-Period (.)Increase contrast (OS X Lion or earlier)

Note: You may need to enable “Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard keys” in Keyboard preferences for the VoiceOver menu and utility to work.


Full keyboard access

Full keyboard access lets you use your keyboard to navigate and interact with items on the screen. Use these shortcuts to select and adjust controls such as text fields and sliders.

Key combinationWhat it does
TabMove to the next control
Shift-TabMove to the previous control
Control-TabMove to the next control when a text field is selected
Arrow keysMove to the adjacent item in a list, tab group, or menu
or
Move sliders and adjusters (vertical up and down arrows used to increase and decrease values)
Control-Arrow keysMove to a control adjacent to the text field
Space barSelect the highlighted menu item
Return or EnterClick the default button or perform the default action
EscClick the Cancel button
or
Close a menu without choosing an item

You can navigate the menus in the menu bar without using a mouse or trackpad. To put the focus in the menu bar, press Control-F2 (Fn-Control-F2 on portable keyboards). Then use the key combinations listed below.

Key combinationWhat it does
Left Arrow and Right ArrowMove from menu to menu
ReturnOpen a selected menu
Up Arrow and Down ArrowMove to menu items in the selected menu
Type the menu item’s nameJump to a menu item in the selected menu
ReturnSelect a menu item


Universal Access – Mouse Keys

When Mouse Keys is turned on in Universal Access preferences, you can use the keyboard or numeric keypad keys to move the mouse pointer. If your computer doesn’t have a numeric keypad, use the Fn (function) key.

Key combinationWhat it does
8Move Up
2Move Down
4Move Left
6Move Right
1Move Diagonally Bottom Left
3Move Diagonally Bottom Right
7Move Diagonally Top Left
9Move Diagonally Top Right
5Press Mouse Button
0Hold Mouse Button
. (Period on number pad)Release Hold Mouse Button

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to top