OSX:Keyboardshortcuts

Akeyboardshortcutisawayto
invokeafunctioninOSXbypressing
acombinationofkeysonyour
keyboard.LearnaboutcommonOSX
keyboardshortcuts.

Usingkeyboardshortcuts
Touseakeyboardshortcut,pressamodifierkeyatthe
sametimeasacharacterkey.Forexample,pressingthe
Commandkey(ithasa symbol)andthenthe"c"key
copieswhateveriscurrentlyselectedtotheClipboard.This
isalsoknownastheCommandCkeyboardshortcut.You
canseethekeysthatmaptomanyshortcutsbylookingin
anapp'smenus.
Amodifierkeyisapartofmanykeyboardshortcuts.A
modifierkeyaltersthewayotherkeystrokesor
mouse/trackpadclicksareinterpretedbyOSX.Modifier
keysinclude:Command,Shift,Option,Control,Caps
Lock,andthefnkey.Thesekeysarerepresentedbyspecial
symbolswhenyouseetheminmenusandotherpartsofOS
X:
Commandkey

Controlkey

Optionkey

ShiftKey

CapsLock

fn FunctionKey
Whenthefnkeyisusedwiththetoprowofkeysonyour
keyboard,itmakesthemperformadifferentfunction.For
example,ifakeyboardshortcutisControlF2,youpressfn
ControlBrightnessonyourkeyboard.Ifyoulookcloselyat
theBrightnesskeyatthetopofyourkeyboard,thereisan
F2symbolindicatingthatthiskeyworksasafunctionkey
(F2orfunction2)whenyouholdfnonthekeyboard.
IfyouuseanonApplekeyboardthatincludesaWindows
key,theAltkeyisthesamethingaspressingOption,and
theWindowskeyisthesamethingasCommand.Youcan
changehowthesekeysareinterpretedfromtheKeyboard
paneofSystemPreferences.
Startupshortcuts
Usethesekeycombinationstochangehowyourcomputer
startsup.Pressandholdthekeyorcombinationofkeys
immediatelyafterstartingyourMacuntiltheexpected
functionoccursorappears.Forexample,pressandholdthe
OptionkeyduringstartupuntiltheStartupManager
appears.
Note:Ifyou'reusingakeyboardmanufacturedbysomeone
otherthanApple,theAltkeyisusuallythesamekeyasthe
Optionkey.Ifthismodifierdoesn'tappeartowork,try
usinganApplekeyboardinstead.
Keyorkeycombination Whatitdoes

OptionorAlt Displayallstartupvolumes
(StartupManager)
Shift StartupinSafeMode

LeftShift Preventautomaticlogin

C Startfrombootablemedia
(DVD,CD,USBthumb
drive)

T StartupinTargetdiskmode

N StartfromaNetBootserver

X ForceOSXstartup(when
nonOSXstartupvolumes
areavailable)

D UseAppleHardwareTest

CommandR UseOSXRecovery
(OSXLionorlater)

CommandV StartupinVerboseMode

CommandS StartupinSingleUserMode

CommandOptionPR ResetNVRAM/parameter
RAM

HolddowntheMediaEject() Ejectremovablediscs
keyorF12key,ormouseor
trackpadbutton
Sleepandshutdownshortcuts
UsethesekeycombinationsafteryourMachasstartedup
tosleep,shutdown,orrestartyourcomputer.
Keyorkey Whatitdoes
combination

Powerbutton Taptopoweron.Oncepoweredon,tapthe
powerbuttontowakeorsleepinOSX
Mavericks.

Holddownthe Showtherestart/sleep/shutdowndialogin
powerbuttonfor OSXMavericks
1.5seconds

Holddownthe ForcetheMactopoweroff
powerbuttonfor
5seconds

Command ForcetheMactorestart
Controlpower
button

ControlMedia Showrestart/sleep/shutdowndialog
Eject()

Command Putthecomputertosleep
OptionMedia
Eject()
Command Quitallapplications(aftergivingyouachance
ControlMedia tosavechangestoopendocuments),then
Eject() restartthecomputer

Command Quitallapplications(aftergivingyouachance
OptionControl tosavechangestoopendocuments),thenshut
MediaEject() downthecomputer

ShiftControl Putalldisplaystosleep
MediaEject()

Takingscreenshots
Usetheseshortcutstotakeapictureofwhatyouseeon
yourscreen.YoucanalsouseGrabtotakescreenshots,an
applocatedintheUtilitiesfolder.
Key Whatitdoes
combinatio
n

Command Capturethescreentoafile
Shift3

Command CapturethescreentotheClipboard
Shift
Control3

Command Captureaselectionofthescreentoafile,orpress
Shift4 thespacebartocapturejustawindow
Command CaptureaselectionofthescreentotheClipboard,,
Shift orpressthespacebartocapturejustawindow
Control4

ApplicationandotherOSX
shortcuts
Thesekeyboardshortcutsworkinmostapps.
Key Whatitdoes
combination

Command ShoworhidetheSpotlightsearchfield
Spacebar (ifmultiplelanguagesarebeingused
simultaneously,thisshortcutmayrotatethrough
enabledscriptsystemsinstead)

Command ShowtheSpotlightsearchresultswindow(if
OptionSpace multiplelanguagesareinstalled,mayrotate
bar throughkeyboardlayoutsandinputmethods
withinascript)

CommandTab Moveforwardtothenextmostrecentlyused
applicationinalistofopenapplications

Command Movebackwardthroughalistofopen
ShiftTab applications(sortedbyrecentuse)

ShiftTab Navigatethroughcontrolsinareversedirection
ControlTab Movefocustothenextgroupingofcontrolsina
dialogorthenexttable(whenTabmovestothe
nextcell)

ShiftControl Movefocustothepreviousgroupingofcontrols
Tab

OptionMedia Ejectfromsecondaryopticalmediadrive(ifone
Eject() isinstalled)

CommandF1 Toggle"MirrorDisplays"onmultimonitor
configurations

CommandF2 ToggleTargetDisplayMode

CommandF3 ShowDesktop

CommandF5 ToggleVoiceOverOnorOff

OptionF1or Opens"Displays"SystemPreference
OptionF2

OptionF3or OpenMissionControlpreferences
OptionF4

OptionF10or OpenSoundpreferences
F11orF12

ShiftControl Movefocustothepreviouspanel
F6
ControlF7 Temporarilyoverridethecurrentkeyboard
accessmodeinwindowsanddialogs

ControlF8 Movetothestatusmenusinthemenubar

Command Activatethenextopenwindowinthefrontmost
Accent(`) application

Command Activatethepreviousopenwindowinthe
ShiftAccent frontmostapplication
(`)

Command Movefocustothewindowdrawer
OptionAccent
(`)

Command Decreasethesizeoftheselecteditem
Minus()

Command{ Leftalignaselection

Command} Rightalignaselection

Command| Centeralignaselection

Command DisplaytheSpellingandGrammarwindow
Colon(:)

Command Findmisspelledwordsinthedocument
Semicolon(;)
Command Openthefrontapplication'spreferenceswindow
Comma(,)

Command Decreasescreencontrast
Option
Control
Comma(,)

Command Increasescreencontrast
Option
ControlPeriod
(.)

Command Opentheapplication'shelpinHelpViewer
QuestionMark
(?)

Command Turnfontsmoothingonoroff
Option/

Command Increasethesizeoftheselecteditem
Shift=

CommandA Highlighteveryiteminadocumentorwindow,
orallcharactersinatextfield

CommandB Boldfacetheselectedtextortoggleboldfaced
textonandoff

CommandC CopytheselecteddatatotheClipboard
Command DisplaytheColorswindow
ShiftC

Command Copytheformattingsettingsoftheselecteditem
OptionC andstoreontheClipboard

Command Paste(apply)theformattingsettingsfromthe
OptionV Clipboardtotheselecteditem

Command ShoworhidetheDock
OptionD

Command Displaythedefinitionoftheselectedword
ControlD

CommandD SelectstheDesktopfolderinOpenandSave
dialogsorselectsDon'tSaveindialogsthat
containaDon'tSavebutton

Command SelectsDon'tSaveindialogsthatcontaina
Delete DeleteorDon'tSavebutton

CommandE Usetheselectionforafind

CommandF OpenaFindwindow

Command Movetothesearchfieldcontrol
OptionF

CommandG Findthenextoccurrenceoftheselection
Command Findthepreviousoccurrenceoftheselection
ShiftG

CommandH Hidethewindowsofthecurrentlyrunning
application

Command Hidethewindowsofallotherrunning
OptionH applications

CommandI Italicizetheselectedtextortoggleitalictexton
oroff

Command Displayaninspectorwindow
OptionI

CommandM MinimizetheactivewindowtotheDock

Command Minimizeallwindowsoftheactiveapplication
OptionM totheDock

CommandN Createanewdocumentinthefrontmost
application

CommandO Displayadialogforchoosingadocumentto
openinthefrontmostapplication

CommandP DisplaythePrintdialog

Command Displayadialogforspecifyingdocument
ShiftP parameters(PageSetup)
CommandQ Quitthefrontmostapplication

CommandS Savetheactivedocument

Command DisplaytheSaveAsdialogorduplicatethe
ShiftS currentdocument

CommandT DisplaytheFontswindow

Command Showorhideatoolbar
OptionT

CommandU Underlinetheselectedtextorturnunderliningon
oroff

CommandV PastetheClipboardcontentsattheinsertion
point

Command Applythestyleofoneobjecttotheselected
OptionV object(PasteStyle)

Command Applythestyleofthesurroundingtexttothe
ShiftOptionV insertedobject(PasteandMatchStyle)

Command Applyformattingsettingstotheselectedobject
ControlV (PasteRuler)

CommandW Closethefrontmostwindow

Command Closeafileanditsassociatedwindows
ShiftW
Command Closeallwindowsintheapplicationwithout
OptionW quittingit

CommandX RemovetheselectionandstoreintheClipboard

CommandZ Undopreviouscommand(someapplications
allowformultipleUndos)

Command Redopreviouscommand(someapplications
ShiftZ allowformultipleRedos)

ControlSpace Togglebetweenthecurrentandpreviousinput
bar sources

Option Togglethroughallenabledinputsources
ControlSpace
bar

Command chooseanapplicationtoForceQuit
Optionesc

Command ForceQuitthefrontmostapplication
ShiftOption
Esc(holdfor
threeseconds)

Command Previousbrowserwebpage
LeftBracket
([)
Command Nextbrowserwebpage
RightBracket
(])
Textselectionshortcuts
Usethesekeycombinationswheneditingtextinafieldor
document.
fnDelete ForwardDelete(onaportableMac'sbuiltin
keyboard)

fnUp Scrolluponepage(sameasPageUpkey)
Arrow

fnDown Scrolldownonepage(sameasPageDownkey)
Arrow

fnLeft Scrolltothebeginningofadocument(sameasHome
Arrow key)

fnRight Scrolltotheendofadocument(sameasEndkey)
Arrow

Comman Movethetextinsertionpointtotheendofthecurrent
dRight line
Arrow

Comman Movethetextinsertionpointtothebeginningofthe
dLeft currentline
Arrow
Comman Movethetextinsertionpointtotheendofthe
dDown document
Arrow

Comman Movethetextinsertionpointtothebeginningofthe
dUp document
Arrow

Option Movethetextinsertionpointtotheendofthenext
Right word
Arrow

Option Movethetextinsertionpointtothebeginningofthe
Left previousword
Arrow

Option Deletethewordthatisleftofthecursor,aswellas
Delete anyspacesorpunctuationaftertheword

Comman Selecttextbetweentheinsertionpointandtheendof
dShift thecurrentline(*)
Right
Arrow

Comman Selecttextbetweentheinsertionpointandthe
dShift beginningofthecurrentline(*)
Left
Arrow

Comman Selecttextbetweentheinsertionpointandthe
dShift beginningofthedocument(*)
Up
Arrow

Comman Selecttextbetweentheinsertionpointandtheendof
dShift thedocument(*)
Down
Arrow

ShiftLeft Extendtextselectiononecharactertotheleft(*)
Arrow

Shift Extendtextselectiononecharactertotheright(*)
Right
Arrow

ShiftUp Extendtextselectiontothelineabove,tothenearest
Arrow characterboundaryatthesamehorizontallocation(*)

Shift Extendtextselectiontothelinebelow,tothenearest
Down characterboundaryatthesamehorizontallocation(*)
Arrow

Shift Extendtextselectiontotheendofthecurrentword,
Option thentotheendofthefollowingwordifpressedagain
Right (*)
Arrow

Shift Extendtextselectiontothebeginningofthecurrent
Option word,thentothebeginningofthefollowingwordif
Left pressedagain(*)
Arrow

Shift Extendtextselectiontotheendofthecurrent
Option paragraph,thentotheendofthefollowingparagraph
Down ifpressedagain(*)
Arrow

Shift Extendtextselectiontothebeginningofthecurrent
Option paragraph,thentothebeginningofthefollowing
Up paragraphifpressedagain(*)
Arrow

Control Movetobeginningoflineorparagraph
A

ControlB Moveonecharacterbackward

Control Deletethecharacterinfrontofthecursor
D

ControlE Movetothebeginningofalineorparagraph

ControlF Moveonecharacterforward

Control Deletethecharacterbehindthecursor
H

Control Deletefromthecharacterinfrontofthecursortothe
K endofthelineorparagraph
ControlL Centerthecursororselectioninthevisiblearea

Control Movedownoneline
N

Control Insertanewlineafterthecursor
O

ControlP Moveuponeline

ControlT Transposethecharacterbehindthecursorandthe
characterinfrontofthecursor

Control Movedown
V
*Note:Ifnotextisselected,theextensionbeginsatthe
insertionpoint.Iftextisselectedbydragging,thenthe
extensionbeginsattheselectionboundary.Reversingthe
directionoftheselectiondeselectstheappropriateunit.
Accessibility
ThesekeyboardshortcutshelpyoucontrolyourMacwith
yourkeyboardorassistivedevices.
AccessibilityandVoiceOverkeyboardcommands
Keycombination Whatitdoes

CommandOptionF5 DisplayAccessibilityOptions

CommandF5orfn TurnVoiceOveronoroff
CommandF5

OptionControlF8orfn OpenVoiceOverUtility(if
OptionControlF8 VoiceOverison)

OptionControlF7orfn DisplayVoiceOvermenu(if
OptionControlF7 VoiceOverison)

OptionControlSemicolon EnableordisableVoiceOver
(;)

CommandOption8 TurnZoomonoroff

CommandOptionPlus(+) ZoomIn

CommandOptionMinus() ZoomOut

CommandOptionControl8 Invert/revertthescreencolors
(OSXLionorearlier)

CommandOptionControl Reducecontrast(OSXLionor
Comma(,) earlier)

CommandOptionControl Increasecontrast(OSXLionor
Period(.) earlier)
Note:Youmayneedtoenable"UseallF1,F2,etc.keysas
standardkeys"inKeyboardpreferencesfortheVoiceOver
menuandutilitytowork.
Fullkeyboardaccess
Fullkeyboardaccessletsyouuseyourkeyboardto
navigateandinteractwithitemsonthescreen.Usethese
shortcutstoselectandadjustcontrolssuchastextfields
andsliders.Thissettingcanbetoggledbypressing
ControlF7,orbyselectingFullKeyboardAccessfromthe
ShortcutspaneofKeyboardpreferencesinSystem
Preferences.
Key Whatitdoes
combinat
ion

Tab Movetothenextcontrol

ShiftTab Movetothepreviouscontrol

Control Movetothenextcontrolwhenatextfieldisselected
Tab

Arrow Movetotheadjacentiteminalist,tabgroup,ormenu
keys or
Moveslidersandadjusters(verticalupanddown
arrowsusedtoincreaseanddecreasevalues)

Control Movetoacontroladjacenttothetextfield
Arrow
keys

Space Selectthehighlightedmenuitem
bar

Returnor Clickthedefaultbuttonorperformthedefaultaction
Enter

Esc ClicktheCancelbuttonor
Closeamenuwithoutchoosinganitem
Youcannavigatethemenusinthemenubarwithoutusing
amouseortrackpad.Toputthefocusinthemenubar,
pressControlF2(fnControlF2onportablekeyboards).
Thenusethekeycombinationslistedbelow.
Keycombination Whatitdoes

LeftArrowandRight Movefrommenutomenu
Arrow

Return Openaselectedmenu

UpArrowandDown Movetomenuitemsintheselected
Arrow menu

Typethemenuitems Jumptoamenuitemintheselected
name menu

Return Selectamenuitem
AccessibilityMouseKeys
WhenMouseKeysisturnedoninAccessibility
preferences,youcanusethekeyboardornumerickeypad
keystomovethemousepointer.
Keycombination Whatitdoes
8ornumerickeypad8 MoveUp

Kornumerickeypad2 MoveDown

Uornumerickeypad4 MoveLeft

Oornumerickeypad6 MoveRight

Jornumerickeypad1 MoveDiagonallyBottomLeft

Lornumerickeypad3 MoveDiagonallyBottomRight

7ornumerickeypad7 MoveDiagonallyTopLeft

9ornumerickeypad9 MoveDiagonallyTopRight

Iornumerickeypad5 PressMouseButton

Mornumerickeypad0 HoldMouseButton

.(periodkey) ReleaseHoldMouseButton

Findershortcuts
Keycombination Whatitdoes

CommandA Selectallitemsinthefront
Finderwindow(ordesktopif
nowindowisopen)

CommandOptionA Deselectallitems
CommandShiftA OpentheApplicationsfolder

CommandC Copyselecteditemortextto
theClipboard

CommandShiftC OpentheComputerwindow

CommandD Duplicateselecteditem

CommandShiftD Opendesktopfolder

CommandE Eject

CommandF FindanymatchingSpotlight
attribute

CommandShiftF FindSpotlightfilename
matches

CommandOptionF Navigatetothesearchfieldin
analreadyopenSpotlight
window

CommandShiftG GotoFolder

CommandShiftH OpentheHomefolderofthe
currentlyloggedinuser
account

CommandControlT AddtoSidebar(OSX
Mavericks)
CommandI GetInfo

CommandOptionI ShowInspector

CommandControlI GetSummaryInfo

CommandShiftI OpeniDisk

CommandJ ShowViewOptions

CommandK ConnecttoServer

CommandShiftK OpenNetworkwindow

CommandL Makealiasoftheselected
item

CommandM Minimizewindow

CommandOptionM Minimizeallwindows

CommandN NewFinderwindow

CommandShiftN Newfolder

CommandOptionN NewSmartFolder

CommandO Openselecteditem

CommandShiftQ LogOut

CommandShiftOptionQ LogOutimmediately
CommandR Showoriginal(ofalias)

CommandT AddFindertab(OSX
Mavericks)

CommandShiftT ShoworhideFindertab(OS
XMavericks)

CommandOptionT HideorShowToolbarin
Finderwindows

CommandShiftU OpenUtilitiesfolder

CommandV Paste

CommandW Closewindow

CommandOptionW Closeallwindows

CommandX Cut

CommandOptionY Slideshow(MacOSXv10.5
orlater)

CommandZ Undo

Command1 ViewasIcon

Command2 ViewasList

Command3 ViewasColumns
Command4 ViewasCoverFlow(MacOS
Xv10.5orlater)

CommandComma(,) OpenFinderpreferences

CommandAccent(`)(theAccent CyclethroughopenFinder
keyaboveTabkeyonaUS windows
Englishkeyboardlayout)

CommandShiftQuestionMark OpenMacHelp
(?)

CommandLeftBracket([) Gotothepreviousfolder

CommandRightBracket(]) Gotothenextfolder

CommandUpArrow Openthefolderthatcontains
thecurrentfolder

CommandControlUpArrow Openthefolderthatcontains
thecurrentfolderinanew
window

CommandDownArrow Openhighlighteditem

CommandShiftUpArrow Makethedesktopactive

RightArrow(inListview) Opentheselectedfolder

LeftArrow(inListview) Closetheselectedfolder
Optionclickthedisclosure Openallfolderswithinthe
triangle(inListview) selectedfolder

Optiondoubleclick Openafolderinaseparate
window,closingthecurrent
window

Commanddoubleclick Openafolderinaseparate
window

Commandclickthewindowtitle Seethefoldersthatcontain
thecurrentwindow

CommandTab Switchapplicationcycle
forward

CommandShiftTab Switchapplicationcycle
backward

CommandDelete MovetoTrash

CommandShiftDelete EmptyTrash

CommandShiftOptionDelete EmptyTrashwithout
confirmationdialog

Spacebar(orCommandY) QuickLook(MacOSXv10.5
orlater)

Commandkeywhiledragging Movethedraggeditemto
anothervolumeorlocation
 (thepointerchangeswhilekey
isheld)

Optionkeywhiledragging Copydraggeditem
(thepointerchangeswhilekey
isheld)

CommandOptionkey Makealiasofdraggeditem
combinationwhiledragging (thepointerchangeswhilekey
isheld)

Learnmore
TolearnmoreaboutthisfeatureofOSX,searchtheHelp
menufor"keyboardshortcuts".Thefollowingarticlesalso
provideinformationaboutkeyboardshortcuts.
Creatingyourownkeyboardshortcutsforapplications
Ifakeyboardshortcutdoesntwork
ResolvingVoiceOverkeycommandconflicts
HowtoAddaSpokenCommandforaKeyboardShortcut

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