macOS keyboard shortcuts

macOS is Apple's desktop operating system, with a deeply consistent shortcut language built around the Command key. The same chords for saving, switching apps, screenshots, and text navigation work across nearly every Mac app. Mastering the system-level defaults makes the whole Mac feel faster. This cheat sheet covers 72 default shortcuts.

System Essentials

Open Spotlight search	`Cmd`+`Space`
Switch between apps	`Cmd`+`Tab`
Switch between apps (reverse)	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`Tab`
Cycle windows of current app	`Cmd`+`
Quit app	`Cmd`+`Q`
Force Quit dialog	`Cmd`+`Option`+`Esc`
Close window	`Cmd`+`W`
Close all windows of app	`Cmd`+`Option`+`W`
Minimize window	`Cmd`+`M`
Hide current app	`Cmd`+`H`
Hide all other apps	`Cmd`+`Option`+`H`
Open app settings / preferences	`Cmd`+`,`
Lock screen	`Ctrl`+`Cmd`+`Q`
Log out	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`Q`
Toggle full screen	`Ctrl`+`Cmd`+`F`
Toggle Dock hiding	`Cmd`+`Option`+`D`
Open emoji and symbol picker	`Ctrl`+`Cmd`+`Space`

Editing (Everywhere)

Copy	`Cmd`+`C`
Cut	`Cmd`+`X`
Paste	`Cmd`+`V`
Paste and match style	`Cmd`+`Option`+`Shift`+`V`
Undo	`Cmd`+`Z`
Redo	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`Z`
Select all	`Cmd`+`A`
Find	`Cmd`+`F`
Find next	`Cmd`+`G`
Find previous	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`G`
New document / window	`Cmd`+`N`
New tab	`Cmd`+`T`
Open file	`Cmd`+`O`
Save	`Cmd`+`S`
Print	`Cmd`+`P`

Text Navigation

Move to start / end of line	`Cmd`+`Left/Right`
Move one word left / right	`Option`+`Left/Right`
Move to start / end of document	`Cmd`+`Up/Down`
Delete word before cursor	`Option`+`Delete`
Delete to start of line	`Cmd`+`Delete`
Select to start / end of line	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`Left/Right`
Select word by word	`Option`+`Shift`+`Left/Right`

Screenshots

Capture entire screen	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`3`
Capture selected area	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`4`
Capture a window	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`4`then`Space`
Open screenshot and recording toolbar	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`5`
Copy screenshot to clipboard instead of file	`Hold Ctrl with any screenshot shortcut`

Finder

New Finder window	`Cmd`+`N`
New folder	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`N`
Move selected item to Trash	`Cmd`+`Delete`
Empty Trash	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`Delete`
Duplicate selected item	`Cmd`+`D`
Get Info on selected item	`Cmd`+`I`
Quick Look preview	`Space`
Rename selected item	`Enter`
Open selected item	`Cmd`+`Down`
Go to enclosing folder	`Cmd`+`Up`
Go to Folder dialog	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`G`
Go to Home folder	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`H`
Go to Desktop folder	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`D`
Go to Applications folder	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`A`
Go to Utilities folder	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`U`
Icon / List / Column / Gallery view	`Cmd`+`1/2/3/4`
Show or hide hidden files	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`.`
Move copied files here (cut-paste)	`Cmd`+`Option`+`V`
Eject selected disk or volume	`Cmd`+`E`

Mission Control & Spaces

Open Mission Control	`Ctrl`+`Up`
App Expose (windows of current app)	`Ctrl`+`Down`
Move between full-screen apps and Spaces	`Ctrl`+`Left/Right`

Documents & Apps

Open Force Touch dictionary / look up (in many apps)	`Cmd`+`Ctrl`+`D`
Bold / Italic / Underline	`Cmd`+`B / Cmd`+`I / Cmd`+`U`
Zoom in / out (in most apps)	`Cmd`+`Plus / Cmd`+`Minus`
Reset zoom	`Cmd`+`0`
Reopen last closed tab (browsers)	`Cmd`+`Shift`+`T`
Switch tabs in tabbed apps	`Ctrl`+`Tab`

Put your top macOS shortcuts on real keys

The five macOS actions most worth binding to a physical macropad key:

Cmd+Shift+4 Capture selected area The most used screenshot mode; one tap replaces a four-key claw.

Cmd+Space Open Spotlight search The launcher for apps, files, and math; the hub of keyboard-driven macOS.

Ctrl+Cmd+Q Lock screen Instant security every time you step away from the desk.

Cmd+Option+Esc Force Quit dialog The panic button for a frozen app deserves a physical key.

Cmd+Option+Shift+V Paste and match style The most useful and most finger-twisting chord in macOS.

I hand-build small-batch programmable macropads (QMK/VIA) in Barcelona. One press, any shortcut, any app.

See the macropads

macOS shortcut FAQs

How do I take a screenshot on a Mac?

Cmd+Shift+3 captures the whole screen, Cmd+Shift+4 lets you drag a selection, and Cmd+Shift+4 then Space captures a single window. Cmd+Shift+5 opens the full screenshot and screen-recording toolbar.

What is the Mac equivalent of Ctrl+Alt+Delete?

Cmd+Option+Esc opens the Force Quit dialog, where you can kill an unresponsive app. Activity Monitor (found via Cmd+Space Spotlight) is the closer equivalent of Task Manager.

How do I cut and paste files on a Mac?

Copy the files with Cmd+C, then paste with Cmd+Option+V to move them instead of copying. Finder has no Cmd+X for files by design.

How do I switch between windows of the same app on a Mac?

Cmd+Tab switches between apps, while Cmd+` (backtick) cycles through the windows of the current app. Ctrl+Down shows all windows of the app in App Expose.

How do I lock my Mac screen quickly?

Press Ctrl+Cmd+Q to lock the screen immediately without logging out or closing anything.