macOS Cheat Sheet

Keyboard shortcuts for macOS. ⌘ = Command, ⌥ = Option, ⌃ = Control, ⇧ = Shift, fn/🌐 = Function / Globe key.

61 entries
8 sections
Updated 1 Oct 2026

F

61 entries

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Coming From Windows? #

Windows	Mac
`Ctrl`	`⌘ Command`
`Alt`	`⌥ Option`
`Backspace`	`Delete`
`Delete` (forward)	`fn + Delete`
`Alt + F4`	`⌘ Q` (quit app)
`Ctrl + Alt + Del`	`⌘ ⌥ Esc` (Force Quit)
File Explorer	Finder
Task Manager	Activity Monitor

Essentials #

Shortcut	Action
`⌘ Space`	Spotlight search (apps, files, calculator)
`⌘ Tab`	Switch apps
⌘ `	Switch windows of the same app
`⌘ Q`	Quit app
`⌘ W`	Close window / tab
`⌘ H`	Hide app
`⌘ ⌥ H`	Hide all other apps
`⌘ M`	Minimize window
`⌘ ,`	Open the app's Settings
`⌘ ⌥ Esc`	Force Quit
`⌃ ⌘ Q`	Lock screen
`⌃ ⌘ F` or `fn F`	Toggle full screen
`⌃ ⌘ Space` or `fn E`	Emoji & symbols

Screenshots #

Shortcut	Action
`⌘ ⇧ 3`	Full screen to a file on the desktop
`⌘ ⇧ 4`	Select an area
`⌘ ⇧ 4`, then `Space`	Capture a window
`⌘ ⇧ 5`	Screenshot & screen-recording toolbar
add `⌃`	Copy to clipboard instead of saving (for example `⌃ ⌘ ⇧ 4`)

Mission Control & Spaces #

Shortcut	Action
`⌃ ↑`	Mission Control (all windows and Spaces)
`⌃ ↓`	All windows of the current app
`⌃ ←/→`	Switch Space (virtual desktop)
`F11` or `⌘ F3`	Show desktop

Finder #

Shortcut	Action
`⌘ N` / `⌘ T`	New window / new tab
`⌘ ⇧ N`	New folder
`Return`	Rename
`Space`	Quick Look preview
`⌘ I`	Get Info
`⌘ D`	Duplicate
`⌘ Delete`	Move to Trash
`⌘ ⇧ Delete`	Empty Trash
`⌘ C`, then `⌘ ⌥ V`	Move the file (cut & paste)
`⌘ ⌥ C`	Copy the file's full path
`⌘ ⇧ .`	Show / hide hidden files
`⌘ ⇧ G`	Go to folder (type a path)
`⌘ ↑` / `⌘ ↓`	Parent folder / open selection
`⌘ [` / `⌘ ]`	Back / forward
`⌘ 1` `2` `3` `4`	Icon / list / column / gallery view
`⌘ ⇧ H` / `⌘ ⇧ D` / `⌘ ⌥ L`	Home / Desktop / Downloads
`⌘ ⇧ A` / `⌘ ⇧ U`	Applications / Utilities
`⌘ K`	Connect to server (SMB, FTP…)

Text Editing #

Shortcut	Action
`⌥ ←/→`	Jump one word
`⌘ ←/→`	Start / end of line
`⌘ ↑/↓`	Start / end of document
add `⇧`	Select while moving
`⌥ Delete`	Delete the previous word
`⌘ Delete`	Delete to the start of the line
`fn Delete`	Forward delete
`⌘ ⌥ ⇧ V`	Paste without formatting
`⌃ A` / `⌃ E`	Start / end of line (Emacs style, works in most text fields)

Startup Keys #

Key (hold while booting)	Action
Hold power button (Apple silicon)	Startup options / Recovery
`⌘ R` (Intel)	Recovery
`⌥` (Intel)	Choose startup disk
`⇧`	Safe mode

Tips #

Right-click = ⌃ + click, or a two-finger click on the trackpad.
Drag a file into Terminal to paste its full path.
Hold ⌥ while clicking menu-bar icons (Wi-Fi, sound) to see extra details.