To use a keyboard shortcut, press and hold one or more modifier keys and then press the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use Command-C (copy), press and hold the Command key, then the C key, then release both keys. Mac menus and keyboards often use symbols for certain keys, including modifier keys:

On keyboards made for Windows PCs, use the Alt key instead of Option, and the Windows logo key instead of Command.

Our collection of keyboard shortcuts for Apple computers will let you speed around your Mac machine faster than ever. Go on—save yourself a few clicks. I know that CTRL+S is Save. What is the shortcut to Save As? Also, is it the same in Word as it is in Excel?

Some keys on some Apple keyboards have special symbols and functions, such as for display brightness , keyboard brightness , Mission Control and more. If these functions aren't available on your keyboard, you might be able to reproduce some of them by creating your own keyboard shortcuts. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3, or other standard function keys, combine them with the Fn key.

Cut, copy, paste and other common shortcuts

• Command-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
• Command-C: Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.
• Command-V: Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.
• Command-Z: Undo the previous command. You can then press Shift-Command-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands.
• Command-A: Select All items.
• Command-F: Find items in a document or open a Find window.
• Command-G: Find Again: Find the next occurrence of the item previously found. To find the previous occurrence, press Shift-Command-G.
• Command-H: Hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Option-Command-H.
• Command-M: Minimise the front window to the Dock. To minimise all windows of the front app, press Option-Command-M.
• Command-O: Open the selected item, or open a dialogue to select a file to open.
• Command-P: Print the current document.
• Command-S: Save the current document.
• Command-T: Open a new tab.
• Command-W: Close the front window. To close all windows of the app, press Option-Command-W.
• Option-Command-Esc: Force quit an app.
• Command-Space bar: Show or hide the Spotlight search field. To perform a Spotlight search from a Finder window, press Command-Option-Space bar. (If you use multiple input sources to type in different languages, these shortcuts change input sources instead of showing Spotlight. Learn how to change a conflicting keyboard shortcut.)
• Control-Command-Space bar: Show the Character Viewer, from which you can choose emoji and other symbols.
• Control-Command-F: Use the app in full screen, if supported by the app.
• Space bar: Use Quick Look to preview the selected item.
• Command-Tab: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.
• Shift-Command-5: In macOS Mojave or later, take a screenshot or make a screen recording. Or use Shift-Command-3 or Shift-Command-4 for screenshots. Learn more about screenshots.
• Shift-Command-N: Create a new folder in the Finder.
• Command-Comma (,): Open preferences for the front app.

Sleep, log out and shut down shortcuts

You might need to press and hold some of these shortcuts for slightly longer than other shortcuts. Max dirt bike 2loads of cool games. This helps you to avoid using them unintentionally.

• Power button: Press to turn on your Mac or wake it from sleep. Press and hold for 1.5 seconds to put your Mac to sleep.* Continue holding to force your Mac to turn off.
• Option-Command-Power button* or Option-Command-Media Eject : Put your Mac to sleep.
• Control-Shift-Power button* or Control-Shift-Media Eject : Put your displays to sleep.
• Control-Power button* or Control-Media Eject : Display a dialogue asking whether you want to restart, sleep or shut down.
• Control-Command-Power button:* Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents.
• Control-Command-Media Eject : Quit all apps, then restart your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.
• Control-Option-Command-Power button* or Control-Option-Command-Media Eject : Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.
• Control-Command-Q: Immediately lock your screen.
• Shift-Command-Q: Log out of your macOS user account. You will be asked to confirm. To log out immediately without confirming, press Option-Shift-Command-Q.

* Does not apply to the Touch ID sensor.

Finder and system shortcuts

• Command-D: Duplicate the selected files.
• Command-E: Eject the selected disc or volume.
• Command-F: Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.
• Command-I: Show the Get Info window for a selected file.
• Command-R: (1) When an alias is selected in the Finder, this shows the original file for the selected alias. (2) In some apps, such as Calendar or Safari, refresh or reload the page. (3) In Software Update preferences, check for software updates again.
• Shift-Command-C: Open the Computer window.
• Shift-Command-D: Open the desktop folder.
• Shift-Command-F: Open the Recents window, showing all of the files you viewed or changed recently.
• Shift-Command-G: Open a Go to Folder window.
• Shift-Command-H: Open the Home folder of the current macOS user account.
• Shift-Command-I: Open iCloud Drive.
• Shift-Command-K: Open the Network window.
• Option-Command-L: Open the Downloads folder.
• Shift-Command-N: Create a new folder.
• Shift-Command-O: Open the Documents folder.
• Shift-Command-P: Show or hide the Preview pane in Finder windows.
• Shift-Command-R: Open the AirDrop window.
• Shift-Command-T: Show or hide the tab bar in Finder windows.
• Control-Shift-Command-T: Add selected Finder item to the Dock (OS X Mavericks or later)
• Shift-Command-U: Open the Utilities folder.
• Option-Command-D: Show or hide the Dock.
• Control-Command-T: Add the selected item to the sidebar (OS X Mavericks or later).
• Option-Command-P: Hide or show the path bar in Finder windows.
• Option-Command-S: Hide or show the Sidebar in Finder windows.
• Command-Slash (/): Hide or show the status bar in Finder windows.
• Command-J: Show View Options.
• Command-K: Open the Connect to Server window.
• Control-Command-A: Make an alias of the selected item.
• Command-N: Open a new Finder window.
• Option-Command-N: Create a new Smart Folder.
• Command-T: Show or hide the tab bar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.
• Option-Command-T: Show or hide the toolbar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.
• Option-Command-V: Move the files in the Clipboard from their original location to the current location.
• Command-Y: Use Quick Look to preview the selected files.
• Option-Command-Y: View a Quick Look slideshow of the selected files.
• Command-1: View the items in the Finder window as icons.
• Command-2: View the items in a Finder window as a list.
• Command-3: View the items in a Finder window in columns.
• Command-4: View the items in a Finder window in a gallery.
• Command-Left Bracket ([): Go to the previous folder.
• Command-Right Bracket (]): Go to the next folder.
• Command-Up Arrow: Open the folder that contains the current folder.
• Command-Control-Up Arrow: Open the folder that contains the current folder in a new window.
• Command-Down Arrow: Open the selected item.
• Right Arrow: Open the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
• Left Arrow: Close the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
• Command-Delete: Move the selected item to the Bin.
• Shift-Command-Delete: Empty the Bin.
• Option-Shift-Command-Delete: Empty the Bin without confirmation dialogue.
• Command-Brightness Down: Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.
• Option-Brightness Up: Open Displays preferences. This works with either Brightness key.
• Control-Brightness Up or Control-Brightness Down: Change the brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.
• Option-Shift-Brightness Up or Option-Shift-Brightness Down: Adjust the display brightness in smaller steps. Add the Control key to this shortcut to make the adjustment on your external display, if supported by your display.
• Option-Mission Control: Open Mission Control preferences.
• Command-Mission Control: Show the desktop.
• Control-Down Arrow: Show all windows of the front app.
• Option-Volume Up: Open Sound preferences. This works with any of the volume keys.
• Option-Shift-Volume Up or Option-Shift-Volume Down: Adjust the sound volume in smaller steps.
• Option-Keyboard Brightness Up: Open Keyboard preferences. This works with either Keyboard Brightness key.
• Option-Shift-Keyboard Brightness Up or Option-Shift-Keyboard Brightness Down: Adjust the keyboard brightness in smaller steps.
• Option key while double-clicking: Open the item in a separate window, then close the original window.
• Command key while double-clicking: Open a folder in a separate tab or window.
• Command key while dragging to another volume: Move the dragged item to the other volume, instead of copying it.
• Option key while dragging: Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
• Option-Command while dragging: Make an alias of the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
• Option-click a disclosure triangle: Open all folders within the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
• Command-click a window title: See the folders that contain the current folder.
• Learn how to use Command or Shift to select multiple items in the Finder.
• Click the Go menu in the Finder menu bar to see shortcuts for opening many commonly used folders, such as Applications, Documents, Downloads, Utilities and iCloud Drive.

Document shortcuts

The behaviour of these shortcuts may vary with the app you're using.

• Command-B: Boldface the selected text, or turn boldfacing on or off.
• Command-I: Italicise the selected text, or turn italics on or off.
• Command-K: Add a web link.
• Command-U: Underline the selected text, or turn underlining on or off.
• Command-T: Show or hide the Fonts window.
• Command-D: Select the Desktop folder from within an Open dialogue or Save dialogue.
• Control-Command-D: Show or hide the definition of the selected word.
• Shift-Command-Colon (:): Display the Spelling and Grammar window.
• Command-Semicolon (;): Find misspelled words in the document.
• Option-Delete: Delete the word to the left of the insertion point.
• Control-H: Delete the character to the left of the insertion point. Or use Delete.
• Control-D: Delete the character to the right of the insertion point. Or use Fn-Delete.
• Fn-Delete: Forward delete on keyboards that don't have a Forward Delete key. Or use Control-D.
• Control-K: Delete the text between the insertion point and the end of the line or paragraph.
• Fn-Up Arrow: Page Up: Scroll up one page.
• Fn-Down Arrow: Page Down: Scroll down one page.
• Fn-Left Arrow: Home: Scroll to the beginning of a document.
• Fn-Right Arrow: End: Scroll to the end of a document.
• Command-Up Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the document.
• Command-Down Arrow: Move the insertion point to the end of the document.
• Command-Left Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current line.
• Command-Right Arrow: Move the insertion point to the end of the current line.
• Option-Left Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
• Option-Right Arrow: Move the insertion point to the end of the next word.
• Shift-Command-Up Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document.
• Shift-Command-Down Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the document.
• Shift-Command-Left Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line.
• Shift-Command-Right Arrow: Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the current line.
• Shift-Up Arrow: Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line above.
• Shift-Down Arrow: Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line below.
• Shift-Left Arrow: Extend text selection one character to the left.
• Shift-Right Arrow: Extend text selection one character to the right.
• Option-Shift-Up Arrow: Extend text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then to the beginning of the following paragraph if pressed again.
• Option-Shift-Down Arrow: Extend text selection to the end of the current paragraph, then to the end of the following paragraph if pressed again.
• Option-Shift-Left Arrow: Extend text selection to the beginning of the current word, then to the beginning of the following word if pressed again.
• Option-Shift-Right Arrow: Extend text selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of the following word if pressed again.
• Control-A: Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
• Control-E: Move to the end of a line or paragraph.
• Control-F: Move one character forwards.
• Control-B: Move one character backwards.
• Control-L: Centre the cursor or selection in the visible area.
• Control-P: Move up one line.
• Control-N: Move down one line.
• Control-O: Insert a new line after the insertion point.
• Control-T: Swap the character behind the insertion point with the character in front of the insertion point.
• Command-Left Curly Bracket ({): Left align.
• Command-Right Curly Bracket (}): Right align.
• Shift-Command-Vertical bar (|): Centre align.
• Option-Command-F: Go to the search field.
• Option-Command-T: Show or hide a toolbar in the app.
• Option-Command-C: Copy Style: Copy the formatting settings of the selected item to the Clipboard.
• Option-Command-V: Paste Style: Apply the copied style to the selected item.
• Option-Shift-Command-V: Paste and Match Style: Apply the style of the surrounding content to the item pasted within that content.
• Option-Command-I: Show or hide the inspector window.
• Shift-Command-P: Page setup: Display a window for selecting document settings.
• Shift-Command-S: Display the Save As dialogue, or duplicate the current document.
• Shift-Command-Minus sign (-): Decrease the size of the selected item.
• Shift-Command-Plus sign (+): Increase the size of the selected item. Command-Equal sign (=) performs the same function.
• Shift-Command-Question mark (?): Open the Help menu.

Other shortcuts

For more shortcuts, check the shortcut abbreviations shown in the menus of your apps. Every app can have its own shortcuts, and shortcuts that work in one app might not work in another.

• Apple Music shortcuts: Choose Help > Keyboard shortcuts from the menu bar in the Music app.
• Other shortcuts: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, then click Shortcuts.

Learn more

• Create your own shortcuts and resolve conflicts between shortcuts
• Change the behaviour of the function keys or modifier keys

This is the ultimate guide for working with MacBook keyboards, including accessing special functions, characters, accents, and using keyboard shortcuts in Mac OS system. Click on the list below to jump to an appropriate section.

MacBook Keyboard Diagram / Map

MacBook keyboard has few distinctive sections: Function keys (in light blue), which provides access to various functions in MacBook itself or Mac OS system. By combining them with the FN key, you'll get access to F1 - F12 keys, which can be associated with particular application features (useful in Photoshop for example).

The second section is the modifier keys (in light yellow). Shift allows to type uppercase letters and other additional characters. Command and Alt/Option are used in keyboard shortcuts, as well as the Control key, which is used almost exclusively by Mac OS X and Apple programs.

Return and left Shift has two variants, one used in the US and Eastern Asia (horizontal Return and long Shift), and second, used in Europe, Middle East and Africa (vertical Return and short left Shift). On the diagram, this is shown by dashed lines. Of course, MacBook keyboards have lots of localizations, the most common - US English - is shown above. If you're unsure about the localization you have, go and check it with this guide.

MacBook Air 11' has slightly different keyboard, with smaller top and bottom row keys to accommodate smaller laptop size. Newest MacBooks Pro with TouchBar don't have upper F keys row, instead, they have a touchscreen which changes displayed options based on context.

MacBook Keyboard Symbols Chart

Symbol	Meaning	Notes
Screen brightness down
Screen brightness up
Launches Mission Control	Icon available on MacBooks Unibody
Launches Mission Control	Icon available on MacBooks pre-unibody
Launches Dashboard	Icon available on MacBooks Unibody
Launches Dashboard	Icon available on MacBooks pre-unibody
Keyboard backlight down
Keyboard backlight up
Rewind
Play / Pause
Fast Forward
Sound: mute
Sound: volume down
Sound: volume up
Eject	Available on MacBooks with CD/DVD drive
Power	Available on MacBooks without CD/DVD drive
Command	On MacBooks 1st generation this is replaced by Apple logo
Alt / Option	Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts
Tab	Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts
Backspace	Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts
Shift	Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts
Caps Lock	Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts
Return	Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts
Enter	Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts, accessed with FN key
Delete	Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing
Clear	Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing
Home	Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing. Can be substituted by CMD + up arrow shortcut.
End	Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing. Can be substituted by CMD + down arrow shortcut.
Page Up	Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing
Page Down	Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing
Arrows	Used to move things or pointer

MacBook Keyboard Special Characters and Accents Map

If you want to type special characters or accents, change your keyboard language to US International PC (thanks, Steve!) and use the map below to get them. You can also check out our solution to the two languages on one keyboard problem.

Where is the Print Screen Button?

Unlike PC keyboard, there is no Print Screen key on MacBook keyboard. This functionality is accessed by keyboard shortcuts and - on Mac - you have greater flexibility:

Manual Save Microsoft On Mac On Keyboard Backlight

• Command + Shift + 3 - captures entire screen;
• Command + Shift + 4 - captures selected region. Your cursor turns to crosshair and by clicking and dragging you can specify which area you want to capture;
• Command + Shift + 4 + Space - captures selected window. First press the shortcut from above, then - when you have crosshair - hit Space. The cursor will turn to the camera and the active window will have a blue overlay. Click on it to get it captured.

Manual Save Microsoft On Mac On Keyboard Windows 10

In some apps, like Photoshop, you need to add Control into the mix, to paste the screenshot into the app.

MacBook Keyboard Tricks

There's a lot you can do in Mac OS by using the keyboard only. Here's a list of highly useful and not-so-useful keyboard shortcuts:

Shortcut	Action
Command + W	Quickly closes the active window in Safari or any other browser. Works also with many applications, like Pages, Numbers, Photoshop. Great way to quickly close something when your boss is coming around :)
Command + H	Hides the active application. Useful for hiding something quickly ;)
Option + Shift + F11/F12	Makes tiny changes in volume level instead of standard jumps.
Control + Option + Command + 8	Reverses colors on the screen.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	When watching YouTube video, this will advance you to 10%, 20%, 30%.. of movie completion.
Option + Delete	Deletes whole word in text editors
Control + Command + V	Pastes copied text without formatting. Useful when copying something from Pages and pasting into eg. Wordpress :)
Control + Command + Option + Eject/Shutdown	Shuts down the MacBook without the need to provide username and password.
Command + Shift + A	Opens the Applications folder in Finder.
Command + Shift + U	Opens the Utilities folder in Finder.
Command + Shift + D	Opens the Desktop folder in Finder.
Command + Shift + I	When in Safari, this shortcut copies the URL, opens Mail app and creates a new email with the copied URL pasted as a link in a message.
Command + Option + M	Minimizes all open windows, showing Desktop.
Command + Option + Shift + Esc	Hold for 3 seconds to force quit any app.
Command + Tab	Cycle through opened apps from left to right.
Command + Shift + Tab	Cycle through opened apps from right to left.
Command + `	Cycles through active app windows.
Command + Q	Quit active app.
Command + T	Opens a new tab in Finder. Opens a new tab in a web browser.
Command + N	Creates new Finder window.
Command + Shift + N	Creates new folder in Finder.
Command + Space	Launches Spotlight.
Command + Option + Space	Switches to next keyboard language (if you have more than one).
Command + Control + Space	In some websites and apps this will give you the emoji keyboard.
Command + Delete	Sends selected files/folders to trash.
Fn + Delete	Deletes text from left to right.
F10 + Shutdown	Hold while launching MacBook to get a silent start.
Command + up arrow/down arrow	Jump to the beginning or end of a page. This is equivalent to PC's Home and End keys.
Command + up arrow + L	Highlights the address bar in a web browser.

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