Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Freddy Reyes
If you switched from Windows to Mac as I did. Sometimes it’s difficult to match all the new shortcuts from Mac with the Windows shortcuts. Here are some of the common Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts:
(Command key) – Sometimes called “Apple key”; on 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) – Located in the lower left corner of built-in keyboards on portable Macs
Finder keyboard shortcuts
| Key combination | What it does |
| Command-A | Select all items in the front Finder window (or desktop if no window is open) |
| Option-Command-A | Deselect all items |
| Shift-Command-A | Open the Applications folder |
| Command-C | Copy selected item/text |
| Shift-Command-C | Open the Computer window |
| Command-D | Duplicate selected item |
| Shift-Command-D | Open desktop folder |
| Command-E | Eject |
| Command-F | Find any matching Spotlight attribute |
| Shift-Command-F | Find Spotlight file name matches |
| Option-Command-F | Navigate to the search field in an already-open Spotlight window |
| Shift-Command-G | Go to Folder |
| Shift-Command-H | Open the Home folder of the currently logged-in user account |
| Command-I | Get Info |
| Option-Command-I | Show Inspector |
| Control-Command-I | Get Summary Info |
| Shift-Command-I | Open iDisk |
| Command-J | Show View Options |
| Command-K | Connect to Server |
| Shift-Command-K | Open Network window |
| Command-L | Make alias of the selected item |
| Command-M | Minimize window |
| Option-Command-M | Minimize all windows |
| Command-N | New Finder window |
| Shift-Command-N | New folder |
| Option-Command-N | New Smart Folder |
| Command-O | Open selected item |
| Shift-Command-Q | Log Out |
| Option-Shift-Command-Q | Log Out immediately |
| Command-R | Show original (of alias) |
| Command-T | Add to Sidebar |
| Shift-Command-T | Add to Favorites |
| Option-Command-T | Hide Toolbar / Show Toolbar in Finder windows |
| Shift-Command-U | Open Utilities folder |
| Command-V | Paste |
| Command-W | Close window |
| Option-Command-W | Close all windows |
| Command-X | Cut |
| Option-Command-Y | Slideshow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command-Z | Undo / Redo |
| Command-1 | View as Icon |
| Command-2 | View as List |
| Command-3 | View as Columns |
| Command-4 | View as Cover Flow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command-, (Command and the comma key) | Open Finder preferences |
| Command-` (the Grave accent key–above Tab key on a US English keyboard layout) | Cycle through open Finder windows |
| Command-Shift-? | Access Mac Help |
| Option-Shift-Command-esc | Force Quit Finder |
| Command-[ | Back |
| Command-] | Forward |
| Command-Up Arrow | Open enclosed folder |
| Control-Command-Up Arrow | Open enclosed folder in a new window |
| Command-Down Arrow | Open highlighted item |
| Command-Tab | Switch application–cycle forward |
| Shift-Command-Tab | Switch application–cycle backward |
| Command-Delete | Move to Trash |
| Shift-Command-Delete | Empty Trash |
| Option-Shift-Command-Delete | Empty Trash without confirmation dialog |
| Spacebar (or Command-Y) | Quick Look (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command key while dragging | Move dragged item to other volume/location (pointer icon changes while key is held–see this article) |
| Option key while dragging | Copy dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held–see this article) |
| Option-Command key combination while dragging | Make alias of dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held–see this article) |
The “right-click” on MacBook Pro works by placing two of your fingers on the trackpad and click.
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