Useful Keyboard Shortcuts in OS X

Tagged How do I? by Brent on January 13th, 2007

One of the biggest differences between PC & Mac is how the user interacts with the operating system. Where Windows is geared heavily towards a mouse driven OS, Mac is really built around the keyboard. Most Mac software has just about every menu function mapped to some sort of keyboard combination. Here at iBoughtaMac.com, I will post some of the more popular keyboard shortcut maps that I can find or take the time to compose. Hopefully you will find these helpful in your quest to assimilate your shiny new Mac. Here’s a list of keystrokes to help you get around in OS X. This list is put together by someone named cynikal. I found it here.

Application switching keystrokes

  • opt+click on icon (of running app) in dock = hide app in front of app clicked on dock
  • opt+click inside app window = hide app in front of app click on
  • opt+cmd+click on dock icon = hide all other apps
  • opt+cmd+click inside app window = hide all other apps

Dialog specific keystrokes

  • cmd+d (in open dialog) = open desktop
  • cmd+d (in save/discard/cancel dialog) = discard

Mac controlling keystrokes

  • cmd+e = eject media (only useful during/after start up chime)
  • cmd+opt+eject = sleep
  • cmd+ctrl+eject = graceful restart
  • cmd+opt+ctrl+eject = graceful shutdown
  • cmd+ctrl+power = immediate restart (dangerous, should only be used if your system is frozen though we know how rare that is)

Navigational keystrokes

  • opt+scrollbar = jump to exact scrollbar location
  • opt+scrollbar arrows = scroll page at a time (page up/down)

Window manipulation keystrokes

  • cmd+expose command = slow motion expose
  • shift+minimize button = slow motion minimize (works in un-minimize direction too)
  • opt+minimize button = minimize all windows (of current app)
  • opt+close button = closes all windows (of current app)
  • cmd+drag on title bar = move any window around without changing focus to it first

General, yet essential app keystrokes

  • cmd+q = quit
  • cmd+o = open file
  • cmd+i = get info (on current selected object/file/dir)
  • cmd+n = new window/document
  • cmd+s = save
  • cmd+m = minimize
  • cmd+h = hide app (ctrl+cmd+h in photoshop since cmd+h is reserved)
  • cmd+opt+h = hide OTHER apps (useful to show desktop if you cmd+tab to finder first – thanks go to Zeca Moraes)

App switching keystrokes

  • cmd+tab = toggle back to previous app
  • cmd+tab then q (while still holding cmd) = close other app (w/o switching to it)
  • cmd+tab then h (while still holding cmd) = hide other app (w/o switching to it)

Screen shots

  • cmd+shift+3 = take a screenshot (at any time) of the entire screen
  • cmd+shift+4 = draw selection for a screenshot

Finder specific keystrokes

  • cmd+down = open
  • cmd+up = up to parent dir (cd ..)
  • cmd+double-click folder icon = open in new window
  • opt+drag file/folder = explicit copy (when it may possibly move instead if destation and source are on same volume)
  • cmd+drag file/folder = explicit move (when it may possibly move instead if destation and source are on different volume)
  • cmd+opt+drag file/folder = create link
  • cmd+i = get info (on current selected object/file/dir)
  • cmd+shift+A = open Application Folder
  • cmd+shift+U = open Utility Folder
  • cmd+shift+H = open Home Folder
  • cmd+shift+G = go to DIR (in tiger, in a dialog box, beginning a filename with a / does the same)
  • cmd+shift+N = create new folder and name it something
  • cmd+shift+K = go to network
  • cmd+k = connect to server (tiger now has servers in recent items menu in apple menu)
  • cmd+~ = cycle window (including desktop)

Dock specific keystrokes

  • cmd+drag (to/through dock) = keeps icons on dock from moving “out of the way” (useful for when dragging stuff to trash)
  • cmd+opt+d = hide/show dock (should work while in any app)

Terminal specific keystroke

  • cmd+double-click on a URL in Terminal = url grab / open in default browser
  • cmd+opt+shift+s = save selected text
  • cmd+left/right arrow = switch windows
  • cmd+1 or 2 or 3.. = switch to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc window


  • Rick Alger
    What a load of bull.
    I've been using windows for 10 years without a mouse. I can access everything without that health-damaging device. The real ergonomic aspect really starts to shine when using low-quality laptops which only come with touch pads. You really don't want to use a laptop with a touch pad if you value your wrists and productivity.

    So saying windows is geared towards heavy mouse use is a load of crap since you can do anything but using a paint program like illustrator or photoshop without one. Can you disable the mouse pad on a Macbook and still get your work done during an entire day?
  • SEO
    Mac OS, formerly a Power PC Operating System and is typically used on Apple's hardware referred to as Macs, while Windows is typically universal..Mac OS is known more for its attractiveness to creative industries while Windows is usually categorized with businesses..
  • Bret Fleming
    Option and command plus the up or down key takes you to the top or bottom of the scroll bar
  • Even though I know most of the Mac Keystrokes without thinking about them I always choose to read a post on them. Your tips are very helpful to the Mac newbie, and the less fortunate Veteran without prior knowledge, great writeup! And I love your blog even if I bought my first Mac over a decade ago, you help the recent switchers realize their new loves' power!
  • Jess
    Theres also a very important command that I use probably more than any other:

    cmd+w

    closes the current window of the program you are running, but doesn't actually quit the application. for example, msn... if you want to close a chat window with one user without quitting the program. very useful!!
  • Totally! it's kinda like my beef with (standard) schooling. You cram a bunch of students of the same age but different learning levels in a classroom and expect them all to learn everything at the same rate. It's just not working...

    But that's a whole different discussion isn't it?
  • That's a good point, Brent. I guess if they're making the software compatible with older computers, they're probably not utilizing some of the latest technologies available. Sort of like if you go for a hike with a team and you all go the pace of the slowest hiker. It's great for the slowest hiker, but what about the people who could go twice as fast? They could potentially see much more scenery...

    Best!

    Justin
  • xopher
    I miss the good-old-days when you could hit cmd+shift+F to open the Favorites folder. Why is that no longer available in OS X (I am currently running 10.3.9).

    Is there a simple way to regain this keyboard shortcut?
  • I don't know if it's that organized, but the nature of technology (in my opinion) is to always innovate so with all that innovation it creates a "gotta have the latest" kind of scenario. I would hate to be a software/hardware company that had to try to figure out how to roll out new innovations and keep them compatibale with past technology. They can have that!

    haha!
  • Brent,

    Does it seem that Mac and the software companies (e.g., Adobe) work in close partnership? It seems that if I want the newest Adobe software, I need to buy a new Mac (currently running a G3 Powerbook). Or, if I want a new Mac, I may need to buy the newest Adobe Software.

    What do you think? Is it purely for technological reasons? Or, is it to boost sales?

    Thanks,
    Justin
  • Thanks Jakob! WOW you're fast! Appreciated

    Brent
  • Tonebox: You can switch between the windows of the active application by doing cmd+` (I think that's the proper key, at least. On my keyboard it's the same key that has the ~).
  • Hi, thanks for all the shortcuts! Very useful.
    Seeing as your a fountain of knowledge on the subject, maybe i could pick your brains a sec!

    1. In windows, i can see each instance of each application when i use alt+tab. when i use the mac equivelant, i only see one instance of each application. so if i got 7 instances of mozilla, i can only get to one using the keyboard. then i gotta use the window menu to get the particular window i want.. do i make any sense?!

    2. i don't have a hash key on my keyboard!

    well thanks for reading anyway:)
  • jab
    Nice list of shortcuts! Here is another good site for keyboard shortcuts

    http://www.keyxl.com/

    They have shortcuts for alot of mac programs as well as that work of the devil (windows)
  • Gretchen
    I'm using a PC keyboard to use my Mac, the only problem I'm having is trying to figure out how to map my own eject button. I used to be able to hold the f12 key and it would eject, but it's not working on my new setup. I went into Keyboard preferences and was trying to make my own key stroke, but I can't find where I can get it to eject/ Clear as mud?
  • Mark
    I've got hold of an old G4 with OS X 10.3.5
    Unfortunately I don't have a mouse.
    Tab and keyboard navigation seemed to be turned off.

    Ctrl-F1 then Ctrl-F2 gets me the Apple Menu.
    From there I can launch System Preferences.

    Now, how do I select Universal Access? I've tried everything I can think of using the keyboard. Google is no help.
  • Rick, you can access the menubar from keyboard by pressing CTRL + F2.
  • Yo yo yo!

    very helpful tips for me since i was PC my whole life (and very high tech)...

    so how do you open the "Apple" menu with the keyboard, equivalent to the windows key on PCs...

    (ps i have a new macbook)

    Thanks,

    Rick

    ps if you have PC users, simple have them swap the flower and ctrl keys and then everything works pretty much as expected!
  • I use "CMD-F" is that what you are looking for?
  • i have an interesting question as i didn't see it mentioned here or listed in the Keyboard Shortcuts preference pane.

    When a finder window is brought up, there is a search field in the upper right. I use this all the time as it is faster than browsing even a well organized file system. Is there a keyboard shortcut to place my cursor in there?

    thx.

    jc
  • Thanks Ian! great tip!
  • It's worth noting that you can also define your own shortcuts via the System Preferences for pretty much any program (at least under 10.4; not sure otherwise):

    Open System Preferences. Click on the Keyboard & Mouse pane under Hardware. Choose the "Keyboard Shortcuts" tab.

    Besides being able to change system shortcuts here (or discover what they are) you can also use the + and - buttons to add new shortcuts. What's really cool is that you can add them to specific programs. So say that you have a favorite program but want a keyboard shortcut for one of the menu items that is currently shortcut-less. Just hit the + button, and use the first drop-down list ("All Applications") to select your application or add it to the list.

    From there you just have to know what the menu item is named that you're trying to attach a shortcut to, and you're golden.
  • Awesome! Thanks!
  • Ahh German keyboard... Thanks for the update!
  • Found it! It's a German keyboard. It's alt (
    I'm new to this mac and still having a little trouble with the transition. Thanks for your help!
  • I'm a little confused... I have those on my keyboard ('Shift [') - are they not right above on your regular bracket key? Maybe I'm not understanding.
  • Very useful list.
    What I need is a keyboard shortcut for curly brackets {} as used for programming. Any clues? I am new to a mac and didn't notice there were no curly bracket keys when I bought it. Inserting special characters is not good...
  • I think what you are looking for is the "Full Keyboard Access" option in the System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse screen. If you open up your prefs and go to the Keyboard & Mouse Prefs, then click "Keyboard" tab. Than set the full keyboard access to "All Controls" This gives you tab control in dialogs. Hope this is what you were looking for. Here's a screenshot
  • Eh Steve
    Is there a way to control the popup dialogs in OSX? In windows I can arrow to the other buttons, but OSX seems to force me to use the mouse unless I want the default option -- this drives me nuts.
  • Great stuff. Thanks so much.
  • That's basically what I was talking about. Where windows has a sequence of keystrokes, it seems that most Mac apps have a lot more direct keyboard mapped shortcuts. I guess if you look at it, it's kind of a draw, but all I can say is that when I used my PC, I hardly ever used keyboard shortcuts and now that I'm on the Mac, I find myself looking for them a lot more. In my opinion, Mac's keyboards are utilized by apps a lot more than on Windows based systems. Maybe someone will actually do a study on it or something but until them, my opinion is that OS X is more keyboard friendly.
  • Peter
    What makes you say windows is more mouse based than OS X? They're both as keyboard accessable as one another, I'd say (unless you include using the terminal as keyboard interaction with the OS... :P).
    Sure, in OS X you have key *combinations* mapped to just about everything, perhaps, but on Windows where there's not a combination (such as Ctrl+S = save) it's more a... "sequence"..., so save becomes something like Alt, F, S (F and S being File->Save respectively)...
    The often convoluted and strange key combinations loose out in my opinion; is it apple+shift+q or apple+alt+q or apple+alt+shift+q+home+printscreen to close all aps and log off... no wait, it's windows followed by whatever keys are indicated by the keyboard accelerators!
    (PS: not a windows fanboy or mac hater...)
  • Craig
  • Craig
    Additional screen shot shortcuts are here:
    .
  • Very useful list - thanks!
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