macOS keyboard shortcuts

The combinations that save hours. The page is laid out for printing — the cheat sheet is one ⌘P away.

macOS keyboard shortcuts — cheat sheet

// In short

46 macOS keyboard shortcuts across 6 categories: system, Finder, screenshots, Mission Control, text editing, and accessibility. The page carries a print layout, so ⌘P produces a cheat sheet for the wall.

Key facts

System: 12
Finder: 10
Screenshots: 5
Mission Control: 6
Text editing: 8
Accessibility: 5

// System

Shortcut	Action
	Open Spotlight — search files, launch apps, do quick math
	Switch between appsHold ⌘ and tap ⇥ repeatedly; ⌘⇧⇥ walks backwards
	Cycle windows of the current app
	Force-quit a frozen app
	Lock the screen
	Put the display to sleep without sleeping the Mac
	Quit the app entirely (not just the window)
	Close the window or tab⌘⌥W closes every window of the app
	Minimise the window to the Dock
	Hide the app⌘⌥H hides every other app instead
	Emoji and symbols pickerWorks in any text field; ⌃⌘Space does the same
	Quick Note on top of any app

// Finder

Shortcut	Action
	Create a new folder
	Go to a folder by pathAccepts ~/Library and completes paths with ⇥
	Show or hide hidden files
	Quick Look at the selected file
	Rename the fileOn macOS ⏎ renames; ⌘↓ is what opens the file — a classic Windows-switcher trap
	Move to Trash⌘⇧⌫ empties the Trash
	Copy the full path to the file
	Duplicate the file
	Open the Utilities folder
	Open the Downloads folder

// Screenshots

Shortcut	Action
	Capture the whole screen
	Capture a selected areaTap Space before releasing to switch to window capture, ⎋ cancels
	Capture a single window with its shadowHold ⌥ while clicking to drop the shadow
	Screenshot and screen-recording panelAlso holds the timer, save location, and area recording
	Capture an area straight to the clipboard, no file

// Mission Control

Shortcut	Action
	Mission Control — every window and desktop
	All windows of the current app
	Previous desktop
	Next desktop
	Show the desktop
	Open Launchpad

// Text editing

Shortcut	Action
	Jump to the start of the lineOn a Mac this is ⌘, not Home
	Jump to the end of the line
	Jump to the top of the document⌘↓ goes to the bottom
	Move the cursor one word leftAdd ⇧ to select word by word
	Delete the word before the cursor
	Delete to the start of the line
	Paste without formatting
	Look up the word under the cursor

// Accessibility

Shortcut	Action
	Zoom the screen inNeeds zoom enabled in Accessibility settings; ⌥⌘− zooms out
	Invert the screen colours
	Toggle VoiceOver
	Dictation — press fn twice
	Zoom with the scroll wheel or trackpadEnable it in Accessibility → Zoom

// CONNECT

Contact Information

Submit a request or write to me directly on Telegram. I'll reply within 24 hours.

telegram @releeshahn

email[email protected]