Frequently Asked Questions

Using keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts use one or more of these modifier keys, which in menus are abbreviated using symbols:

• Fn (Function)
  
• Control (or Ctrl) ⌃
  
• Option (or Alt) ⌥
  
• Shift ⇧
  
• Command (or Cmd) ⌘
  

To use a shortcut, press and hold the modifier keys, then press the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use Command-C, press and hold the Command key, then the C key, then release both keys. (On keyboards made for Windows PCs, press the Alt key instead of Option, and the Ctrl key or Windows logo key instead of Command.)

The keys in the top row of many Apple keyboards have special symbols and functions, such as for brightness,Mission Control, and more. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3, or other standard function keys, combine them with the Fn (Function).

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: Minimize the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the front app, press Option-Command-M.
  
• Command-O: Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open.
  
• Command-P: Open a print dialog so that you can print the current document.
  
• Command-Q: Quit the current app.
  
• 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.2
  
• Control–Command–Space bar or Fn-E: Show the Character Viewer, from which you can choose emoji and other symbols.
  
• Control-Command-F: Use or stop using 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.
  
• Command–Grave accent (`): Switch between the windows of the app you're using. (The character on the second key varies by keyboard. It's generally the key above the Tab key and to the left of the number 1.)
  
• 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 empty folder in the Finder.
  
• Control-Command-N: Create a new folder that contains the currently selected items.
  
• Command-Comma (,): Open settings (preferences) for the front app.
  
• Fn-Q: Create a Quick Note.

Sleep, log out, and shut down shortcuts

You might need to press and hold some of these shortcuts for slightly longer than other shortcuts. 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: This will put your Mac to sleep.
  
• Control–Shift–Power button: This will put your displays to sleep.
  
• Control–Power button: This will show a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down.
  
• Control–Command–Power button: This will force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents.
  
• Control-Command-Media Eject: This will 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: This will 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: This will 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.
  
• Option key while choosing Log Out, Shut Down, or Restart from the Apple menu : Complete the action without showing a confirmation dialog.

Finder and system shortcuts

• Command-D: Duplicate the selected files.
  
• Command-E: Eject the selected disk 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: show 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, 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).
  
• Control-Shift: Press and hold while accessing the Dock to use or stop using Dock magnification.
  
• 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.
  
• Control–Command–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 Trash.
  
• Shift-Command-Delete: Empty the Trash.
  
• Option-Shift-Command-Delete: Empty the Trash without confirmation dialog.
  
• Command–Brightness Down: Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.
  
• Option–Brightness Up: Open Displays settings. 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 settings.
  
• Command–Mission Control or Fn-H or Fn-F11 Show the desktop.
  
• Control–Up Arrow: Open Mission Control.
  
• Control–Down Arrow: Show all windows of the front app.
  
• Option–Volume Up: Open Sound settings. 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 settings. 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.
  
• Command or Shift while selecting an item: Select multiple items in the Finder.
  
• Fn-A: Show or hide the Dock.
  
• Fn-C: Show or hide Control Center.
  
• Fn-D: Start or stop dictation.
  
• Fn-N: Show or hide Notification Center.
  
• Fn-Shift-A: Show or hide Launchpad.
  
• Fn-Fn: Open the Character Viewer.
  
• Command + Command (press twice): Open or close Type to Siri.
  
• Control–Space bar and Control-Option–Space bar: Select the previous or next input source, if you use multiple input sources to type in different languages.
  
• Window-tiling shortcuts
  
• 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.