The Ultimate Guide to Apple Keyboard Shortcuts

Apple Keyboard shortcuts are more than just neat tricks—they’re a way to boost your productivity, reduce reliance on the mouse, and make your workflow smoother. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned user, knowing these Apple Mac keyboard shortcuts will help you navigate macOS faster and more efficiently.

1. Getting Started: Why Keyboard Shortcuts Matter

Using shortcuts allows you to perform common tasks in seconds rather than minutes. From copying and pasting text to switching between apps, these combinations save time and reduce repetitive strain. Plus, once you commit a few to memory, you’ll find yourself using them automatically.

Basic System-Wide Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action	Description
⌘ + C	Copy	Copies the selected item to the clipboard.
⌘ + V	Paste	Pastes the copied or cut item from the clipboard.
⌘ + X	Cut	Cuts the selected item (removes it and copies it).
⌘ + Z	Undo	Reverses the last action.
⌘ + Shift + Z	Redo	Reapplies the last undone action.
⌘ + A	Select All	Selects all items in the current window or document.
⌘ + S	Save	Saves the current document or file.
⌘ + P	Print	Opens the print dialog for the current document.
⌘ + F	Find	Opens the search/find dialog.
⌘ + Q	Quit App	Closes the active application.
⌘ + Option + Esc	Force Quit	Opens the Force Quit window for unresponsive apps.

Finder Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action	Description
⌘ + N	New Finder Window	Opens a new Finder window.
⌘ + T	New Finder Tab	Opens a new tab within the current Finder window.
⌘ + Shift + N	New Folder	Creates a new folder in the current directory.
⌘ + I	Get Info	Opens the Get Info window for the selected file or folder.
⌘ + Delete	Move to Trash	Moves the selected item to the Trash.
⌥ + ⌘ + S	Toggle Sidebar	Shows or hides the Finder sidebar.

App and Window Navigation

Shortcut	Action	Description
⌘ + Tab	Switch Between Apps	Cycles through all open applications.
⌘ + ` (backtick)	Cycle Through Windows	Switches between windows in the active app.
⌘ + H	Hide App	Hides the current application.
⌥ + ⌘ + H	Hide Others	Hides all other open applications except the active one.

Screenshots and Screen Recording

Shortcut	Action	Description
⌘ + Shift + 3	Capture Entire Screen	Takes a screenshot of the entire screen and saves it to your desktop.
⌘ + Shift + 4	Capture Selected Portion	Turns the cursor into a crosshair to select an area to capture.
⌘ + Shift + 4, then Space	Capture Specific Window	After pressing ⌘+Shift+4, press Space to capture a specific window.
⌘ + Shift + 5	Open Screenshot Toolbar	Opens a toolbar with options for screen capture and recording (macOS Mojave+).

Mission Control and Window Management

Shortcut	Action	Description
Control + Up Arrow	Open Mission Control	Shows all open windows and desktop spaces.
F3 or Fn + F11	Show Desktop	Clears all windows to reveal the desktop (may vary by model).
Control + Left/Right Arrow	Switch Desktop Spaces	Navigates between desktop spaces or full-screen apps.

Accessibility and Special Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action	Description
⌥ + ⌘ + 8	Toggle Zoom	Turns the zoom accessibility feature on or off.
⌥ + ⌘ + = or –	Zoom In/Out	Adjusts the screen zoom level incrementally.
⌘ + F5	Toggle VoiceOver	Activates or deactivates VoiceOver, the built-in screen reader.
Fn (pressed twice)	Start Dictation	Initiates dictation mode (if enabled in System Preferences).

Customizing Your Keyboard Shortcuts

While the above tables cover the built-in shortcuts, you can also customize and create your own:

1. Open System Settings/Preferences:
   • Click on the Apple menu and choose System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).
2. Navigate to Keyboard > Shortcuts:
   • Here, you’ll find a list of categories where you can modify existing shortcuts or add new ones.
3. Add a New Shortcut:
   • In the desired category (for example, App Shortcuts), click the “+” button to create a custom shortcut for a specific menu command in any app.

Tips for Mastering Keyboard Shortcuts

Customize to Fit Your Workflow: Don’t hesitate to change or add shortcuts that better match your personal or professional needs.

Practice Regularly: Incorporate a few shortcuts into your daily routine until they become second nature.

Print a Cheat Sheet: Keep a printed or digital reference nearby until you’ve memorized your most-used commands.

Conclusion

By using these tables as a reference, you can quickly find and learn the Apple keyboard shortcuts that boost your efficiency. With practice, these shortcuts will become second nature, helping you to navigate macOS faster and more effortlessly. Don’t forget to bookmark this page until you have memorized all Apple keyboard shortcuts. Happy shortcutting!