The following are the modifier key symbols that may appear in the OS X menu:
?—— (?)
? --control
?—— (ALT)
?—— Shift
?—— Caps Lock
fn--function key is FN
Start shortcut keys
Press the key or key combination until the desired function appears/appears (for example, press and hold the key during startup until the startup manager appears, or hold down the Shift key until secure boot appears). Tip: If the startup feature doesn't work and you're using a third-party keyboard, connect the Apple keyboard and try again.
Key or key combination |
Function |
Options |
Show all bootable volumes ( Boot manager ) |
Shift |
Perform a secure boot (start in Safe mode ) |
Left Shift |
Prevent automatic Logon |
C |
Boot from bootable media (DVD, CD, USB Flash drive, and so on). |
T |
Booting in FireWire target Disk mode |
N |
Booting from the NetBoot server |
X |
Force Mac OS X to start (if a non-MAC OS X boot volume exists) |
D |
Using the Apple Hardware Test |
-R |
Using Recovery features (OS X Lion or later) |
-V |
Start in verbose mode |
-S |
Start in single-user mode |
--p-r |
Restore nvram/parameter RAM settings |
Press and hold the media eject (?) key or the F12 key, or the mouse or trackpad button |
Launch the active CD |
See also " Intel-based MAC startup key combination ".
Sleep and power off shortcut keys
Force Mac off
key or key combination |
|
power button |
turn off Mac or put it to sleep |
Press and hold the power button |
-control-power button |
mandatory MAC restarts |
control-media eject key (?) |
|
--media eject key (?) |
|
-control-media eject key (?) |
Quit all apps (you'll have to save the changes you made to the open document first), and then restart your computer |
--control-media eject key (?) |
Quit all apps (you'll have to save the changes you made to the open document first), and then turn off your computer |
shift-control-media eject key (?) |
|
Finder keyboard shortcuts
Key combinations |
Function |
-A |
Select all items in the Front Finder window (if no window is open, desktop content is selected) |
--a |
Deselect all items |
-shift-a |
Open the Applications folder |
-C |
Copy the selected items/text to the Clipboard |
-shift-c |
Open the Computer window |
-D |
Copy Selected items |
-shift-d |
Open Desktop Folder |
-E |
Launch |
-F |
Find any content that matches the Spotlight property |
-shift-f |
Find Spotlight file name matches |
--f |
Navigate to the Search bar in the Open Spotlight window |
-shift-g |
Go to Folder |
-shift-h |
Open the personal folder of the currently logged-on user account |
-I. |
Show Introduction |
-I. |
Show Inspector |
-control-i |
Get summary information |
-shift-i |
Open IDisk |
-j |
Bring up the "display" option |
-K |
Connecting to a server |
-shift-k |
Open the Network window |
-L |
Create an alias for the selected item |
-M |
Minimized window |
--m |
Minimize All windows |
-N |
New Finder window |
-shift-n |
New Folder |
--n |
New Smart Folder |
-O |
Open the selected item |
-shift-q |
Cancellation |
-shift--q |
Sign out now |
-R |
To display (a surrogate's) original body |
-T |
Add to Sidebar |
-shift-t |
Add to personal collection |
--t |
Hide toolbars/Show toolbars in Finder window |
-shift-u |
Open the Utilities folder |
-V |
Paste |
-W |
Close window |
--w |
Close all windows |
-X |
Shear |
--y |
Slide Show (Mac OS X v10.5 or later) |
-Z |
Restore/Redo |
-1 |
Show as Icon |
-2 |
Display in list mode |
-3 |
Display in column mode |
-4 |
Display as Cover Flow (Mac OS X v10.5 or later) |
-comma (,) |
Open Finder Preferences |
-Accent Notes (') (accented keys above the Tab key in the American English keyboard layout) |
Loop through an open Finder window |
-shift-question mark (?) |
Turn on MAC Help |
-Left bracket ([) |
Go to previous folder |
-Right bracket (]) |
Go down a folder before |
-Up ARROW |
Open the folder that contains the current folder |
-control-Up ARROW |
Open the folder containing the current folder in a new window |
-down ARROW |
Turn on highlighted items |
-shift-Up ARROW |
Keep your desktop active |
Right arrow (shown in List view) |
Open the selected folder |
Left arrow (shown in List view) |
Close the selected folder |
-Tap the disclosure triangle (shown in the list view) |
Open all folders in the selected folder |
-Double-click |
Open a folder in a separate window and close the current window |
-Double-click |
Open a folder in a separate window |
-Tap the window title |
View the folder that contains the current window |
-tab |
Switch application software-cycle forward |
-shift-tab |
Switch application software-cycle back to show |
-delete |
Move to Trash |
-shift-delete |
Emptying the wastepaper basket |
-shift--delete |
Empty the Trash (no confirmation dialog box is displayed) |
Space bar (or-y) |
Quick View (Mac OS X v10.5 or later) |
Keys when dragging |
Move the dragged item to another volume/location (the pointer icon changes when you press and hold the key-see this article ) |
Keys when dragging |
Copy the dragged item (the pointer icon changes when you press and hold the key-see this article ) |
Press-key combination when dragging |
Create an alias for the dragged item (the pointer icon changes when you press and hold the key-see this article ) |
Mac OS X "shortcut key Combinations" Summary