Mac OS X "shortcut key Combinations" Summary

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