Open Spotlight
Command+Space
Searches for apps and files. Custom system bindings may differ.
145 shortcuts
macOS & system shortcuts
Your Mac, one keystroke at a time. Here are the most useful key combinations, each with a short explanation. Practise them in the AlphaType trainer afterwards.
Practise these shortcuts nowAll macOS & system shortcuts
Quit active app
Command+Q
Quits the app. In the trainer, only enter the key names.
Close active window or tab
Command+W
Closes the frontmost window or the active tab.
Switch between open apps
Command+Tab
Hold Command and press Tab to choose the app you want.
Record entire screen
Command+Shift+3
Takes a screenshot. The trainer does not start a capture.
Record screen area
Command+Shift+4
Then select the area you want.
Copy selection
Command+C
Transfers selected text or selected Finder files to the clipboard.
Paste clipboard content
Command+V
Pastes copied content at the current target.
Undo last action
Command+Z
The active app determines which actions can be undone.
Open active app preferences
Command+,
Comma opens the app settings, where supported.
Cut selected text
Command+X
For text and supported content. Finder files are moved with Copy and Option–Command–V.
Redo undone action
Command+Shift+Z
Restores the most recently undone action.
Select all items or text
Command+A
The selection applies to the active area.
Search in active app
Command+F
Opens the search for text or items.
Open Force Quit dialog
Option+Command+Esc
Opens the app selection for force quitting; does not automatically quit an app.
Save current document
Command+S
Saves the document in apps that support this command.
Open document or selected item
Command+O
Opens an item or a file picker dialog.
Open print dialog
Command+P
Opens the print settings without printing right away.
Switch between windows of the same app
Command+`
Grave accent (`) on US keyboards. The key may differ depending on the layout; the Window menu shows the local shortcut.
Hide active app
Command+H
Hides its windows without quitting the app.
Hide all other apps
Option+Command+H
Only the current app stays visible.
Minimize active window
Command+M
Puts the frontmost window in the Dock.
Close all windows of the active app
Option+Command+W
Closes this app's windows. Open documents may prompt for confirmation.
Toggle full screen
Control+Command+F
Works in apps with full-screen support. Control is a separate key on the Mac.
Open a new tab
Command+T
In apps with tab support; with only one tab, Finder may first show the tab bar.
Preview selected file with Quick Look
Space
In Finder, first select a file, then press the Space bar.
Move selected Finder item to Trash
Command+Backspace or Command+Del
The Mac Delete key (⌫) is the backspace key, not forward delete. In the trainer, Backspace or Delete are accepted as the answer.
Empty Trash
Command+Shift+Backspace or Command+Shift+Del
Finder command to empty the Trash. Practice it only as a safe knowledge question; the trainer deletes no files. Delete here means ⌫.
Create a new folder in Finder
Command+Shift+N
Creates an empty folder in the current Finder window.
Open information for selected file
Command+I
Shows file type, size and permissions, among other things.
Open Go to Folder in Finder
Command+Shift+G
Allows entering a folder path directly.
Switch Finder to icon view
Command+1
Shows files and folders as icons.
Switch Finder to list view
Command+2
Shows a list with file information.
Switch Finder to column view
Command+3
Shows the folder hierarchy in side-by-side columns.
Switch Finder to gallery view
Command+4
Shows a large preview of the selected item.
Duplicate selected Finder files
Command+D
Creates copies in Finder. In other apps the command may be bound differently.
Move previously copied Finder files here
Option+Command+V
First copy files with Command–C, then use this command in the destination folder.
Open parent folder in Finder
Command+↑
Finder context: opens the enclosing folder. In text fields this combination has a different meaning.
Move cursor one word left
Option+←
In text fields, jumps to the start of the previous word.
Move cursor one word right
Option+→
In text fields, jumps to the end of the next word.
Move cursor to start of line
Command+←
In supported text fields, jumps to the start of the current line.
Move cursor to end of line
Command+→
In supported text fields, jumps to the end of the current line.
Move cursor to start of document
Command+↑
Text editing: jumps to the start of the document.
Move cursor to end of document
Command+↓
Text editing: jumps to the end of the document.
Delete word to the left of cursor
Option+Backspace or Option+Del
Delete (⌫) on a Mac keyboard is equivalent to Backspace. The effect applies to the active text field.
Delete text to the start of the line
Command+Backspace or Command+Del
Deletes the text to the left of the cursor up to the start of the line, not the entire line to the right of it.
Extend text selection one character left
Shift+←
With an existing selection, the opposite direction can shrink the selection.
Extend text selection one character right
Shift+→
Starts or extends the selection to the right.
Extend text selection to the line above
Shift+↑
Extends the selection toward the previous line.
Extend text selection to the line below
Shift+↓
Extends the selection toward the next line.
Open screenshot and screen recording tools
Command+Shift+5
Opens the capture toolbar from macOS Mojave on. It offers screenshots and screen recordings.
Select a single window for a screenshot
Command+Shift+4 → Space
First press and release Shift–Command–4, then the Space bar. Then select the window you want.
Insert emoji and symbols
Fn+E
Opens the emoji picker. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Bold the selected text
Command+B
Turns bold on or off. The effect depends on the app.
Italicize the selected text
Command+I
Turns italics on or off. In the Finder the same keys open the Get Info window.
Underline the selected text
Command+U
Turns underlining on or off.
Add a web link
Command+K
Links the selected text to an address. In the Finder the same keys open Connect to Server.
Show or hide the Fonts window
Command+T
In text apps. In Safari or the Finder the same keys open a new tab.
Show the definition of the selected word
Control+Command+D
Shows or hides the dictionary definition.
Open the Spelling and Grammar window
Command+Shift+;
Apple lists Shift–Command–Colon; on US keyboards that is the semicolon key. The key can differ on Swiss keyboards.
Find misspelled words in the document
Command+;
Jumps to the next flagged spelling mistake.
Delete the character to the left of the insertion point
Control+H
Same as the Delete key. Handy when the hands stay on the home row.
Delete the character to the right of the insertion point
Control+D
Forward delete without a dedicated key. Fn–Delete does the same.
Forward delete on keyboards without a Forward Delete key
Fn+Backspace or Fn+Del
Deletes the character to the right of the insertion point. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Cut the text to the end of the paragraph
Control+K
Cuts the selection or the text up to the end of the paragraph into an app-only clipboard. Paste it again with Control–Y.
Paste text cut with Control–K
Control+Y
Pastes the contents of the app-only clipboard in the same app.
Scroll up one page
Fn+↑
Same as Page Up. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Scroll down one page
Fn+↓
Same as Page Down. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Scroll to the beginning of a document
Fn+←
Same as Home. Scrolls without moving the insertion point. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Scroll to the end of a document
Fn+→
Same as End. Scrolls without moving the insertion point. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Select the text to the beginning of the document
Command+Shift+↑
Selects from the insertion point to the start of the document.
Select the text to the end of the document
Command+Shift+↓
Selects from the insertion point to the end of the document.
Select the text to the beginning of the line
Command+Shift+←
Selects from the insertion point to the start of the current line.
Select the text to the end of the line
Command+Shift+→
Selects from the insertion point to the end of the current line.
Extend the selection to the beginning of the paragraph
Option+Shift+↑
Press again to extend by another paragraph.
Extend the selection to the end of the paragraph
Option+Shift+↓
Press again to extend by another paragraph.
Extend the selection to the beginning of the word
Option+Shift+←
Press again to extend by another word.
Extend the selection to the end of the word
Option+Shift+→
Press again to extend by another word.
Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph
Control+A
Works in most macOS text fields, without the arrow keys.
Move to the end of the line or paragraph
Control+E
Works in most macOS text fields, without the arrow keys.
Move one character forward
Control+F
Same as the Right Arrow key.
Move one character backward
Control+B
Same as the Left Arrow key.
Center the cursor or selection in the visible area
Control+L
Scrolls so that the insertion point sits in the middle of the window.
Move up one line
Control+P
P for previous. Same as the Up Arrow key.
Move down one line
Control+N
N for next. Same as the Down Arrow key.
Insert a new line after the insertion point
Control+O
Inserts a line break while the insertion point stays where it is.
Swap the characters either side of the insertion point
Control+T
Fixes transposed letters, for example “teh” to “the”.
Left align
Command+Shift+[
Apple lists Command–{; on US keyboards that is Shift–Command–[. Swiss keyboards reach the bracket differently.
Right align
Command+Shift+]
Apple lists Command–}; on US keyboards that is Shift–Command–].
Center align
Command+Shift+\
Apple lists Shift–Command–|; on US keyboards the vertical bar sits on the backslash key.
Go to the search field
Option+Command+F
Puts the insertion point in the app’s search field, for example in Mail or the Finder.
Show or hide the app toolbar
Option+Command+T
Works in many apps, and in the Finder when a single tab is open.
Copy Style
Option+Command+C
Copies the formatting of the selected item to the Clipboard.
Paste Style
Option+Command+V
Applies the copied style to the selected item. In the Finder the same keys move files.
Paste and Match Style
Option+Shift+Command+V
Pastes text in the style of the surrounding content, without foreign formatting.
Show or hide the inspector window
Option+Command+I
Shows the properties of the selected item, for example in Pages or Keynote.
Page setup: show the document settings
Command+Shift+P
Opens the document settings for printing. In the Finder the same keys show or hide the Preview pane.
Show the Save As dialog, or duplicate the document
Command+Shift+S
Save As or Duplicate, depending on the app.
Decrease the size of the selected item
Command+Shift+-
Shrinks the text or object step by step.
Increase the size of the selected item
Command++ or Command+=
Shift–Command–Plus; Command–Equals sign does the same.
Open the Help menu
Command+Shift+/
Apple lists Shift–Command–Question mark; on US keyboards it sits on the slash key. The Help search field is active at once.
Eject the selected disk or volume
Command+E
Ejects the selected disk or drive.
Reload the page, or show the original of an alias
Command+R
Reloads in Safari or Calendar; in the Finder, shows the original file of a selected alias.
Open the Computer window
Command+Shift+C
Shows every volume and network at the top level.
Open the Desktop folder
Command+Shift+D
Opens the Desktop folder in a Finder window.
Open the Recents window
Command+Shift+F
Shows every file you viewed or changed recently.
Open the Home folder
Command+Shift+H
Opens the personal folder of the current user account.
Open iCloud Drive
Command+Shift+I
Opens iCloud Drive in a Finder window.
Open the Network window
Command+Shift+K
Shows the servers and computers available on the network.
Open the Downloads folder
Option+Command+L
Opens the Downloads folder in a Finder window.
Open the Documents folder
Command+Shift+O
Opens the Documents folder in a Finder window.
Open the AirDrop window
Command+Shift+R
Shows nearby devices you can send files to.
Show or hide the tab bar in Finder windows
Command+Shift+T
Shows the tab bar even with a single tab open.
Add the selected Finder item to the Dock
Control+Shift+Command+T
Places the selected file or app in the Dock.
Open the Utilities folder
Command+Shift+U
Home of Terminal, Activity Monitor, Disk Utility and more.
Show or hide the Dock
Option+Command+D
Toggles automatic hiding of the Dock.
Add the selected item to the sidebar
Control+Command+T
Places a folder or file in the sidebar favourites.
Hide or show the path bar in Finder windows
Option+Command+P
Shows the full path of the current folder at the bottom of the window.
Hide or show the Sidebar in Finder windows
Option+Command+S
Shows or hides Favourites, Locations and Tags.
Hide or show the status bar in Finder windows
Command+/
Shows the number of items and the free space.
Show View Options
Command+J
Opens icon size, grid spacing, sorting and background for the window.
Make an alias of the selected item
Control+Command+A
Creates a shortcut that points to the original.
Open a new Finder window
Command+N
In other apps the same keys open a new document.
Create a new Smart Folder
Option+Command+N
A Smart Folder gathers files by search criteria.
Use Quick Look to preview the selected files
Command+Y
Alternative to the Space bar; the preview stays open until closed.
View a Quick Look slideshow of the selected files
Option+Command+Y
Shows the selected files full screen, one after another.
Go to the previous folder
Command+[
Like the Back arrow in the toolbar.
Go to the next folder
Command+]
Like the Forward arrow in the toolbar.
Open the enclosing folder in a new window
Control+Command+↑
Like Command–Up Arrow, but in a new window.
Open the selected item in the Finder
Command+↓
Finder context: opens the file or folder. In text fields the same keys jump to the end of the document.
Open the selected folder in list view
→
Only in list view.
Close the selected folder in list view
←
Only in list view.
Empty the Trash without the confirmation dialog
Option+Shift+Command+Backspace or Option+Shift+Command+Del
Deletes permanently without asking. In the trainer, only enter the key names.
Open Mission Control
Control+↑
Shows every window and desktop at a glance.
Show all windows of the front app
Control+↓
App Exposé: shows only the windows of the front app.
Show the desktop
Fn+H or Fn+F11
Moves every window aside. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Show or hide the Dock with the Fn key
Fn+A
Newer macOS versions. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Show or hide Control Center
Fn+C
Opens Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, volume and more. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Start or stop dictation
Fn+D
The shortcut can be changed in Keyboard settings. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Show or hide Notification Center
Fn+N
Shows notifications and widgets. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Show or hide Apps or Launchpad
Fn+Shift+A
Apps from macOS Tahoe 26, Launchpad in earlier versions. Browsers never see the Fn key, so answer in writing in the trainer.
Ask Siri about the selected area
Command+Shift+6
macOS 27 or later with Siri AI (Beta). The system handles it before the browser; answer in writing in the trainer.
Ask Siri about the active window
Command+Shift+Space
macOS 27 or later with Siri AI (Beta). The system handles it before the browser; answer in writing in the trainer.
Select the previous input source
Control+Space
Switches the keyboard language when several input sources are active. The system handles it before the browser; answer in writing in the trainer.
Select the next input source
Control+Option+Space
Switches to the next input source when several are active. The system handles it before the browser; answer in writing in the trainer.
Learning macOS & system efficiently
Start with a few combinations you use often and repeat them in context. AlphaType shows the task, lets you practise the keys and gives immediate feedback.