Mac OS X Shortcuts

Many of these shortcuts can be customized (eg the Exposshortcuts), as explained in Customizing shortcuts below.

Shortcuts With Global Scope

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More shortcuts with global scope can be found on the Universal Access page.
command-option-esc

force quit

hold command-shift-optionescape for 4 sec

Force quit front-most application (without confirmation)

control-eject

show shutdown dialog

command-option-eject

sleep now

command-shift-Q

log out

command-shift-option-Q

log out without confirmation

command-control-eject

restart

control-shift-eject

sleep displays

command-option-controleject

shut down

command-tab

cycle between open applications

command-`

*after* having pressed command-tab, it will cycle between open

applications in reverse

command-shift-tab

cycle between open applications in reverse direction

command-`

cycle between open windows in the selected application

command-shift-`

cycle between open windows in the selected application in

reverse direction

control-F4

cycle between open windows in all applications

control-shift-F4

cycle between open windows in all applications in reverse

direction

F8

Spaces (Leopard only)

F9

Expos for all windows (Panther and newer)

F10

Expos for all windows in selected application

F11

Expos to reveal desktop

F12

Dashboard (Tiger and newer)

control-#

Jump to a space (10.5+)

control-arrow

Cycle through spaces (10.5+)

command-space

activate Spotlight (Tiger) or switch between keyboard layouts

(pre-Tiger systems)

command-option-space

open a Spotlight search in a finder "Find" window

shift-volume

Change volume without sound effect

option-shift-volume

Fine-grained volume control (10.5+ ?)

option-volume

Sound Preference Pane

option-brightness

Display Preference Pane

command-decreasebrightness

Change display mode (only on revised fn keyboard layout on

Alu. keyboards, newer MBP/MBs?)

opt-"Empty Trash"

Empty trash, including locked items, without any alerts

command-escape

open front row (Press any F key (except F2) or Escape to exit)

hold shift while performing

slow down any animation (expos, time machine, minimize, etc)

Symbols seen on
Mac menus and
non-US Apple keyboards,
with their common names

action
option-drag scrollbar

smooth scrolling

option-eject

Eject secondary optical media drive (if one exists)

option-click dock icon or

window

Switch to application and hide previous application

command-option-click dock
icon or window

Switch to application and hide all others

command-drag menulet

re-order icon

command-drag menulet off

the menu bar

remove icon from menu bar

[edit]

Command-Tab Box

Press command-tab and hold the command key to keep the box open. Release the command key to switch to the selected
application.
escape

exit command-tab box (equivalent to pressing the period key (.))

hide application

quit application

left/right arrow keys or home/end or

`(grave accent)/tab
up/down arrow keys

select an application (you can also aim with the mouse)

view windows of selected application (use arrow keys to navigate, then press
enter to select window)

[edit]

Dock
hold option while in Dock menu

change the Quit to Force Quit

option-command-drag onto Dock icon

force application to open dropped item

option-drag Dock separator

force the Dock to only resize to non-interpolated icon sizes

command-drag Dock icon to destination copy a Dock item to somewhere else on the hard drive
shift-drag Dock divider

move Dock to left, bottom, or right side of screen

command-drag onto Dock icon

prevent Dock icons from moving

command-click Dock icon

show dock item in Finder

Keyboard Navigation in Mac OS X Core Apps

Expose, Spaces
tab (Expose)

cycle through Expose'd windows

tab (Spaces)

cycle through Spaces

number (Spaces)

focus specific space

c (Spaces)

collect all windows in space 1

Dashboard

command-right arrow

go to next page of widgets in widget dock

command-left arrow

go to previous page of widgets in widget dock

command-+

show/hide widget dock

command-R

reload widget

option-hover pointer over widget

show close button for widget

Spotlight

escape

clear search field (press again to close menu)

[edit]

tab

select current search term (equivalent to command-a)

command-enter

show selected file in Finder (equivalent to command-R or command-clicking

an item)

command-up arrow

move to the first result in the previous category

command-down arrow

move to the first result in the next category

Finder

shift-command-T

Add to Favorites

command-T

Add to Sidebar

escape

Cancel a drag-and-drop action while dragging

option-click zoom button

Cascade all Finder windows

option-click close box or command-optionClose all open finder windows (except popup windows)
W
shift-option-command-W

Close all open finder windows (including popup windows)

command-K

Connect to Server

option-drag file

Copy file to location

option-command-A

Deselect all items

command-E

Eject

shift-command-delete

Empty the Trash (with warning)

shift-option-command-delete

Empty the Trash (without warning)

command-F

Find any matching Spotlight attribute

shift-command-F

Find Spotlight file name matches

shift-option-command-escape

Force Quit Finder

control-command-I

Get Summary Info

command-[

Go Back

command-]

Go Forward

shift-command-G

Go to Folder dialog (with Tab Autocomplete)

shift-command-H

Go to home folder of current user

shift-command-?

Mac Help

option-command-drag file

Make alias of file

command-L

Make alias of the selected item

shift-option-command-up arrow

Make desktop the active window, select parent volume

Page Down or control-down arrow

Move down one page

command-drag file

Move file

command-delete

Move to Trash

Page Up or control-up arrow

Move up one page

command-N

New Finder window

shift-command-N

New folder

option-command-N

New Smart Folder

shift-command-D

Open desktop folder

control-command-up arrow

Open enclosed folder in a new window

Space while dragging

When dragging file onto folder it will spring open without the usual delay

shift-command-I

Open iDisk

shift-command-K

Open Network window

command-up arrow

Open parent folder (if there is no selection or open windows, open Home)

option-command-up arrow

Open parent folder, closing current folder

command-O

Open selected item

command-down arrow

Open selected item (if there is no selection or open windows, open Desktop)

option-command-down arrow

Open selected item, closing current folder

command-click sidebar icon

Open Sidebar item in a new window

shift-command-A

Open the Applications folder

shift-command-C

Open the Computer window

shift-command-U

Open Utilities folder

Space or command-Y

Quick Look selected item

option-spacebar

Fullscreen quicklook selected item

Return or Enter

Rename the selected file/folder (escape cancels, enter accepts the changes)

double-click resize widget

Resize current column to fit the longest file name

tab (shift-tab reverses direction)

Select the next icon in Icon and List views

option-hover pointer over filenames

Show full name if condensed with an ellipsis

option-command-I

Show Inspector (a single window that updates based on selected item or

items)

command-R

Show original (of alias)

command-J

Show View Options

option-command-Y

Slideshow of selection

command-1, command-2, command-3,

command-4

Switch Finder views (Icon, List, Column, Cover Flow)

command-Z

Undo

shift-command-Z

Redo
Finder - Icon View

command-1

switch to icon view

tab/shift-tab

move between icons

Finder - Column View

command-3

Switch to Column View

tab/shift-tab

switch between panes

option-double-click resize widget

resize all columns to fit their longest file names

type anything

Find As You Type within the focused pane (FAYT)

right

Focus contents of selected directory in a new pane

left

go one pane back

Finder - List View

command-2

switch to list view

type anything

Find As You Type (FAYT)

tab
shift tab

cycle through contents of folder, wrapping around

command-up

change working directory to parent

right

open selected folder

left (on a file)

jump to parent folder, if that folder is visible

left (on folder)

close that folder, if open

option-right

open all children of all selected folders

option-left

close all selected folders and children

option-click disclosure triangle

expand/collapse folder and children, recursively

Cover Flow

command-4

switch to cover flow view

open..., save..., browse...

go to... dialogue, allowing one to specify full pathnames from root file. w/ Tab

Autocomplete
command-shift-g

Go to folder... dialogs. w/ Tab Autocomplete

tab space

activate disclosure triangle

Column View Note:

A hollow arrow indicates that the pane with the selected folder is active.
A solid white arrow indicates that contents of the selected folder are active in the pane to the right .
The behavior of FAYT/Tab in Column View is functionally equivalent to tab-autocomplete on a standard *nix shell.

Taking Screenshots

[edit]

The Taking Screenshots in Mac OS X article includes keyboard shortcuts related to taking screenshots.
[edit]

Dialog Boxes

click the default button in dialog box (the button that is entirely blue) (The return key also works if

enter

there are no text fields that use return)

space

click the focused button (the button that has a blue halo around it)

option with Enter,

applies that key to a text box without leaving the box

Return, or Tab
command-.

cancel (equivalent to pressing the escape key)

command-D

dont save (in save/cancel/dont save dialog)

command-R

replace (in Do you want to replace this file dialog)

type first letter in button

label
tab (shift-tab reverses
direction)

press Button
tab between buttons (Full Keyboard Access must be turned on in System Preferences)

Shortcuts Common to Most Applications

hold option key
with menu open

[edit]

show additional menu options

spacebar

simulate a mouse click on focused object (i.e., the button or control that has a blue halo around it)

command-shift-?

Search application help. As of 10.5, this also FAYT searches available menu items. It also activates
the menu bar as keyboard navigable if the search string is empty.

command-shift-+

increase font size

command--

decrease font size

command-,

preferences

command-?

help

command-shift-:

show spelling window

command-;

check spelling

command-A

select all

command-C

copy

command-D

duplicate

command-shift-C

show colors

command-E

use selection for find

command-F

find

command-G

find next

command-shift-G

find previous

command-H

hide application windows

command-option-H hide windows of other applications

command-J

scroll to selection

command-M

minimize (equivalent to double-clicking the title bar)

command-option-M

minimize all application windows (equivalent to option-double-clicking the title bar or option-clicking the
minimize button)

command-N

new

command-O

open

command-P

print

command-Q

quit

command-S

save

command-S

save

command-shift-S

save as

command-option-S save all

command-T

show fonts

command-V

paste

command-W

close window

command-optionW

close all application windows (equivalent to option-clicking the close button)

command-shift-W

close a file and its associated windows

command-X

cut

command-Z

undo

command-shift-Z

redo
[edit]

Other Application Shortcuts

command-option-T

show/hide a toolbar

command-click toolbar lozenge

cycle forward through toolbar displays

command-shift-click toolbar lozenge

cycle backward through toolbar displays

command-drag toolbar icon

re-order icon

command-drag toolbar icon off the toolbar remove icon from toolbar
command-drag title bar

move window without bringing it to front

command-click file name in title bar

show file path in popup

[edit]

Text Shortcuts
These shortcuts can be used within all text areas in Cocoaapplications.
option-left arrow

move left one word

option-right arrow

move right one word

control-delete

delete accent to left

option-delete

back delete one word

shift-option-delete

foward delete one word (equivalent to option-del)

option-up arrow

move up one paragraph

option-down arrow

move down one paragraph

command-up arrow

move to beginning of all text

command-down arrow

move to end of all text

control-left arrow

move to start of current line

command-left arrow
control-right arrow

move to end of current line

command-right arrow
shift + any of the above

extend selection by appropriate amount

click then drag

select text

double-click then drag

select text, wrapping to word ends

triple-click then drag

select text, wrapping to paragraph ends

shift-select text with mouse

add to selection (contiguous)

command-select text with mouse add to selection (non-contiguous)

option-drag

select rectangular area (non-contiguous)

command-option-drag

add rectangular area to selection

drag selection

move text

option-drag selection

copy text

command-control-D

use the dictionary to look up the word under the mouse pointer

escape

show auto-complete list for word (equivalent to F5 or option-escape)

control-A

move to start of current paragraph

control-B

move left one character

control-D

forwards delete

control-E

move to end of current paragraph

control-F

move right one character

control-H

delete

control-K

delete remainder of current paragraph

control-N

move down one line

control-O

insert new line after cursor

control-P

move up one line

control-T

transpose (swap) two surrounding character

control-V

move to end, then left one character

control-Y

paste text previously deleted with control-K

[edit]

System startup
Hold down these keys to cause a Mac to perform special actions at startup time.
C

boot from CD or DVD

force the boot device to be the internal hard drive

start up in FireWire/Thunderbolt target mode (the Mac temporarily becomes a very expensive
external FireWire/Thunderbolt drive)

force boot into Mac OS X (older Macs that dual-boot into OS 9 and X)

boot from Network drive

shift

hold after power-up to boot into safe mode, hold after login to prevent startup items from opening

mouse button

eject CD before booting normally

command-S

boot into single user mode; type exitwhen done

command-option-O-F boot into the Open Firmware prompt

command-option-P-R reset PRAM
command-option-V

verbose boot; show the Unixy text goodness at boot time

command-optionshift-delete

bypass internal hard drive and boot from external drive or CD

option

choose startup disk at boot time

command-.

when startup disk chooser is active, open the CD tray

Customizing shortcuts

[edit]

Many system-wide shortcuts can be customized. This is described in detail in the Changing Keyboard Shortcuts article.

Shortcuts on laptops

[edit]

On most Mac laptops, some of the function keys (F1 - F12) are used to control hardware features:
F1 decrease brightness
F2 increase brightness
F3 mute on G4s, decrease volume on G3s
F4 decrease volume on G4s, increase volume on G3s
F5 increase volume on G4s, numlock on G3s
F6 Num lock on G4s, mute on G3s
F7 Display mode (mirror or extend external display)
F8 disable backlit keyboards (Aluminum PowerBooks)
F9 decrease keyboard brightness for backlit keyboards
F10 increase keyboard brightness for backlit keyboards
F12

eject (some Macs, namely all MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and newer PowerBooks, place a dedicated eject key next to
the F12 key)

Newer Mac laptops (MacBook Pros made after February 2008, MacBooks after November(?) 2007, MacBook Airs), and the
Aluminum keyboard, have a different layout for fn keys. Some keys have been added, while the numlock key has been
removed and the display mode key has been integrated into the brightness key (see combinations in parenthesis)
F1 decrease brightness (command+F1 changes display mode, option+F1 brings up display prefs)
F2 increase brightness (option+F2 brings up display prefs)
F3

expos (F3 shows all windows, control+F3 shows app windows, option+F3 brings up expos prefs, command+F3
shows desktop)

F4 dashboard (option+F4 brings up expos prefs)

F5 decrease keyboard brightness for backlit keyboards (option+F5 brings up keyboard prefs)
F6 increase keyboard brightness for backlit keyboards (option+F6 brings up keyboard prefs)
F7 media navigation backwards (like hitting back on Apple Remote)
F8 media play/pause (like hitting play/pause on Apple Remote)
F9 media navigation forwards (like hitting next on Apple Remote)
F10 mute volume (option+F10 brings up sound prefs)
F11 decrease volume (option+shift+F11 for incremental decrease, option+F11 brings up sound prefs)
F12 increase volume (option+shift+F12 for incremental increase, option+F12 brings up sound prefs)

If you want to use these function keys for standard keyboard shortcuts, you must use the fn key, located in the lower-left
corner of the keyboard. For example, to use Spaces on these keyboards, you must press fn-F8; to shift between all open
windows in all applications, you must press ctrl-fn-F4; etc.
This behaviour can be altered in the Keyboard tab of the Keyboard & Mouse preference pane, so that hardware functions
(like screen brightness) require pressing fn, and standard keyboard shortcuts (like Spaces) work without the fn key.

Application specific shortcuts

iPhoto
command-option-backspace delete pictures from the library from within an album

[edit]

[edit]

command-1,2,3,4,5

rate picture
[edit]

iTunes
command-option-backspace delete songs from the library from within a playlist
command-B

show browser

command-L

highlight currently playing track

command-shift-R

reveal currently playing track in Finder (was command-R until iTunes 10)
[edit]

MS Office 2004

[edit]

Word 2004
Insert Bullet
Clear Formatting Cntrl + Spacebar

[edit]

Powerpoint 2004
page down while in normal view, cursor in the slide window (not notes or
outline)

next slide

F6/fn-F6

toggle between Slide, Outline, and notes

windows

control-shift-S

start slide show from first slide

control-shift-B

start slide show from current slide

Powerpoint 2008
F6/fn-F6 toggle has a bug where it occasionally jumps to the first slide instead of toggling cursor.

[edit]