Mac Keyboard Shortcuts — The Essential macOS Cheatsheet

Mac keyboard shortcuts.

The macOS shortcuts worth memorising — search by name or keys, and copy as you go.

⌕

Essentials

Copy⌘+C

Cut⌘+X

Paste⌘+V

Paste & match style⌘+⌥+⇧+V

Undo⌘+Z

Redo⌘+⇧+Z

Select all⌘+A

Save⌘+S

Print⌘+P

Find⌘+F

Text editing

Bold⌘+B

Italic⌘+I

Underline⌘+U

Move to start / end of line⌘+←/→

Move one word left / right⌥+←/→

Delete previous word⌥+⌫

Select to start / end of line⌘+⇧+←/→

Jump to top / bottom of document⌘+↑/↓

Windows & apps

Switch apps⌘+Tab

Quit app⌘+Q

Close window⌘+W

New window⌘+N

Minimize window⌘+M

Hide app⌘+H

Toggle full screen⌃+⌘+F

Mission Control⌃+↑

Spotlight search⌘+Space

Force quit⌘+⌥+Esc

Screenshots & capture

Capture whole screen⌘+⇧+3

Capture selected area⌘+⇧+4

Screenshot & recording toolbar⌘+⇧+5

Copy capture to clipboard (add ⌃)⌃+⌘+⇧+4

Emoji & symbols⌃+⌘+Space

Finder

New folder⌘+⇧+N

Open / Get Info⌘+I

Quick Look previewSpace

Move to Trash⌘+⌫

Empty Trash⌘+⇧+⌫

Go to folder…⌘+⇧+G

Show / hide hidden files⌘+⇧+.

Safari & browsers

New tab⌘+T

Close tab⌘+W

Reopen closed tab⌘+⇧+T

Next / previous tab⌃+Tab

Focus address bar⌘+L

Reload page⌘+R

Back / forward⌘+[ / ]

Get faster on macOS

These are the everyday shortcuts that save the most time on a Mac — clipboard and text editing, moving between apps and windows, taking screenshots, and getting around Finder and Safari. The ⌘ (Command) key does most of the heavy lifting, much like Ctrl on Windows. Looking for the Windows equivalents? See the Windows keyboard shortcuts cheatsheet.

FAQ

What is the Command key used for on a Mac?

Command (⌘) is the primary modifier on macOS, used for most shortcuts like ⌘C to copy, ⌘V to paste and ⌘S to save — roughly where Windows uses Ctrl.

How do I take a screenshot on a Mac?

Press ⌘ + Shift + 3 for the whole screen, ⌘ + Shift + 4 to select an area, or ⌘ + Shift + 5 for the screenshot and recording toolbar.

How do I switch between apps on a Mac?

Hold ⌘ and press Tab to cycle through open apps; keep holding ⌘ and press Tab again to move forward, or ⌘ + Shift + Tab to go back.

Mac keyboard shortcuts.

Get faster on macOS

FAQ

More cheatsheets