🍎macOS Keyboard Shortcuts
30 essential shortcuts for macOS
System
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘Space | Open Spotlight search |
| ⌘Tab | Switch between apps |
| ⌘Q | Quit application |
| ⌘W | Close window |
| ⌘H | Hide current app |
| ⌘M | Minimize window to Dock |
| ⌘, | Open preferences for current app |
| ⌃⌘Q | Lock screen |
| ⌘⌥Esc | Force Quit dialog |
| ⌘⌥D | Toggle Dock visibility |
General
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘C/⌘V/⌘X | Copy / Paste / Cut |
| ⌘Z/⌘⇧Z | Undo / Redo |
| ⌘A | Select all |
| ⌘F | Find |
| ⌘S | Save |
| ⌘N | New window/document |
| ⌘P | |
| ⌃⌘Space | Emoji & Symbols picker |
Screenshots
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘⇧3 | Screenshot entire screen |
| ⌘⇧4 | Screenshot selected area |
| ⌘⇧4 then Space | Screenshot specific window |
| ⌘⇧5 | Screenshot/recording toolbar |
Spaces
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌃←/⌃→ | Switch to left / right desktop space |
| ⌃↑ | Mission Control |
| ⌃↓ | Application windows |
Finder
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘⇧N (Finder) | New folder |
| ⌘⌫ (Finder) | Move to Trash |
| Space (Finder) | Quick Look preview |
| ⌘⇧. (Finder) | Show hidden files |
| ⌘⌥I | Show Inspector (Finder) |
About macOS Shortcuts
macOS is Apple's desktop operating system powering Mac computers. It uses a consistent set of keyboard shortcuts across all applications built around modifier keys: Command (⌘), Option (⌥), Control (⌃), and Shift (⇧). macOS shortcuts cover window management, Spotlight search, system-level controls, screenshots, and Finder navigation, forming the backbone of productive Mac usage.
This reference covers 30 essential macOS keyboard shortcuts organized across 5 categories: System, General, Screenshots, and more. Each shortcut lists both macOS and Windows/Linux key combinations where applicable, making it easy to find the right key combo regardless of your operating system.
Learning keyboard shortcuts is one of the highest-leverage investments you can make in your daily workflow. Studies show that developers and designers who rely on keyboard shortcuts are measurably faster at common tasks. Rather than memorizing every shortcut at once, focus on the ones you use most frequently and gradually expand your repertoire.
Bookmark this page for quick reference whenever you need to look up a macOS shortcut. The categorized layout makes it easy to find shortcuts by their function, whether you need navigation, editing, or specialized commands.