Shortcuts
Updated: October 15, 2024
Common shortcuts every Mac user should be aware of.
There are equivalent buttons to Linux & Windows
CMD == SUPER == WIN
ALT == META == OPT
| Key | Symbol | Key | Symbol | Key | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Command | ⌘ | Option | ⌥ | Caps Lock | ⇪ |
| Shift | ⇧ | Control | ⌃ | Function | Fn |
| Esc | ⎋ | Backspace | ⌫ | Fwd Del | ⌦ |
| Power | ⌽ | Enter | ⏎ | Tab | ⇥ |
| Apple | |
| Shortcut | Effect |
|---|---|
| ⌘+Spacebar | Spotlight |
| ⌘+⇧+. | Toggle Hide/Show Files |
| ⌘+⇧+f | Put a browser in fullscreen hiding its tabs |
| ⌘+⇧+3 | Take Screenshot Of Entire Screen |
| ⌘+⇧+4 | Crosshair Selection or Spacebar Hit To Capture Crosshaired Window |
| ⌘+⇧+U | Open Utilities Folder |
| ⌘+⌥+D | Toggle Hide/Show Dock |
| ⌘+⌥+Esc | Force quit applications menu |
| ⌘+⌃+↑ | Open the folder that contains the current folder in a new window |
| ⌘+TAB | Switch Apps |
| ⌘+, | Open Preferences For The Front App |
| ⌘+Mission Control | Show Desktop |
| ⌘+↓ | Open Selected Item |
| ⌃+T | Toggle Two Characters Around |
Deleting
| Shortcut | Effect |
|---|---|
| ⌘+DELETE | Send Selected Item To Trash |
| ⌘+⇧+DELETE | Empty Trash |
⌦ is achieved by “fn ⌫”
Startup
For M1 M2 (silicone) macs now boot to recovery just by holding power on bootup
- Hold ⌥ to select USB
- Hold C to select CD/DVD rom
- Hold T for transferring files from one mac to another
- Hold ⇧ to enter safe mode
- Hold D to run hardware dianostics (option d will start test from internet)
- Hold ⌘ + ⌥ + P + R (Parameter RAM, aka nonvolatile RAM, issues related to sound, mouse scrolling, or keyboard may require a PRAM/NVRAM reset.)
- Hold ^ + ⌥ + ⇧ to enter system management controller (fans, power, etc)
- Hold ⌘ + R to enter recovery mode