Essential macOS shortcuts for MacBook, iMac and Mac mini users. 37 shortcuts for macOS.
Updated .
Essentials
Shortcut
Action
Cmd + C
Copy
Cmd + X
Cut
Cmd + V
Paste
Cmd + Z
Undo
Cmd + Shift + Z
Redo
Cmd + A
Select all
Cmd + S
Save
Cmd + F
Find
Cmd + P
Print
Option + Cmd + V
Move a copied file in Finder
Apps and windows
Shortcut
Action
Cmd + Tab
Switch apps
Cmd + `
Switch windows of the same app
Cmd + Q
Quit the app
Cmd + W
Close the window
Cmd + M
Minimize the window
Cmd + H
Hide the app
Option + Cmd + Esc
Force quit
Cmd + Space
Spotlight search
Ctrl + Up
Mission Control
Ctrl + Cmd + Q
Lock the screen
Ctrl + Cmd + F
Toggle full screen
Screenshots
Shortcut
Action
Cmd + Shift + 3
Capture the whole screen
Cmd + Shift + 4
Capture a selected area
Cmd + Shift + 4, then Space
Capture a window
Cmd + Shift + 5
Open the screenshot and recording toolbar
Text editing
Shortcut
Action
Option + Left / Right
Move the cursor one word
Cmd + Left / Right
Jump to the start or end of a line
Cmd + Up / Down
Jump to the start or end of a document
Option + Delete
Delete the previous word
Fn + Delete
Forward delete
Ctrl + Cmd + Space
Open the emoji and symbols viewer
Finder
Shortcut
Action
Cmd + N
New Finder window
Cmd + Shift + N
New folder
Cmd + Delete
Move to Trash
Space
Quick Look preview
Cmd + I
Get Info
Cmd + Shift + .
Show or hide hidden files
How to learn keyboard shortcuts for good
Pick three shortcuts you would use today. Ignore the rest for now.
Use them on purpose for a week, even when the mouse feels quicker. Each use strengthens the habit.
Print this sheet and keep it beside your keyboard. Cross off shortcuts once you use them without thinking.
Add three more each week. In a month you will know a dozen, which covers most daily work.
Why shortcuts and touch typing go together
Shortcuts only save time when your fingers find the keys without looking. Touch typists learn shortcuts faster because Ctrl, Shift, Alt and the letter keys are already mapped to fingers. If you still look down for modifier keys, a few typing lessons will make every shortcut on this page faster.
Printing this page
Use Ctrl + P (Cmd + P on Mac). The header, footer and ads are removed automatically so the cheat sheet prints cleanly on one or two pages.
Text editing shortcuts every typist should know
Action
Windows and Linux
Mac
Delete the previous word
Ctrl + Backspace
Option + Delete
Move one word left or right
Ctrl + Left or Right arrow
Option + Left or Right arrow
Jump to start or end of line
Home or End
Cmd + Left or Right arrow
Select one word at a time
Ctrl + Shift + arrow
Option + Shift + arrow
Select to start or end of line
Shift + Home or End
Cmd + Shift + arrow
Undo / redo
Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y
Cmd + Z / Cmd + Shift + Z
These work in almost every app, from email to code editors, and combine with fast typing to save far more time than any single app shortcut.
Frequently asked questions
How can I remember keyboard shortcuts?
Learn two or three at a time and use them on purpose for a week before adding more. Printing this sheet and keeping it next to your keyboard helps.
Do these Mac shortcuts work on every version?
These are long-standing defaults for macOS. A few can differ by version, language or custom settings.