Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts

To use a keyboard shortcut or a key combination, you can press the modifier keys and the character key at the same time. For example, pressing the Command key at the same time (labeled Keys) and the "C" key will copy any currently selected content (text, graphics, and so on) to the Clipboard. This is also known as the COMMAND-C key combination (or keyboard shortcut).

Modifier keys are included in many key combinations. Modifier keys will change how MAC OS X interprets other keystrokes or mouse-click Actions. Modifier keys include Command, Control, Option, Shift, Caps Lock, and FN keys (if your keyboard has the FN key).

The following are the modifier key symbols that appear in the Mac OS X menu:

(Command key)-This key may also have an Apple logo on some Apple keyboards ()
(Control key)
(Option Key)-"Alt" may also appear on this key
(Shift key)
(Caps Lock)-Toggle uppercase lock on or off
fn (function key)

Start keyboard shortcuts

Press the key or key combination until the desired function appears (for example, hold Option during startup until Start Manager appears, or hold down SHIFT until safe 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
Option	Show all bootable volumes (boot manager)
Shift	Perform a secure boot (start in safe mode)
C	Booting from bootable disk (DVD, CD)
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)
Command-v	Start in verbose mode
Command-s	Start in single-user mode

Finder keyboard shortcuts

Key combinations	Function
Command-a	Select all items in the Front Finder window (if no window is open, desktop content is selected)
Option-command-a	Deselect all items
Shift-command-a	Open the Applications folder
Command-c	Copy the selected item/text to the Clipboard
Shift-command-c	Open the Computer window
Command-d	Copy Selected items
Shift-command-d	Open Desktop Folder
Command-e	Launch
Command-f	Find any content that matches the Spotlight property
Shift-command-f	Find Spotlight file name matches
Option-command-f	Navigate to the Search bar in the Open Spotlight window
Shift-command-g	Go to Folder
Shift-command-h	Open the personal folder of the currently logged-on user account
Command-i	Show Introduction
Option-command-i	Show Inspector
Control-command-i	Get summary information
Shift-command-i	Open IDisk
Command-j	Bring up the "display" option
Command-k	Connecting to a server
Shift-command-k	Open the Network window
Command-l	Create an alias for the selected item
Command-m	Minimized window
Option-command-m	Minimize All windows
Command-n	New Finder window
Shift-command-n	New Folder
Option-command-n	New Smart Folder
Command-o	Open the selected item
Shift-command-q	Cancellation
Option-shift-command-q	Sign out now
Command-r	To display (a surrogate's) original body
Command-t	Add to Sidebar
Shift-command-t	Add to personal collection
Option-command-t	Hide toolbars/Show toolbars in Finder window
Shift-command-u	Open the Utilities folder
Command-v	Paste
Command-w	Close window
Option-command-w	Close all windows
Command-x	Shear
Option-command-y	Slide Show (Mac OS X 10.5 or later)
Command-z	Restore/Redo
Command-1	Show as Icon
Command-2	List mode display
Command-3	Display in column mode
Command-4	Display as Cover Flow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later)
command-, (Command plus comma key)	Open Finder Preferences
Command-' (Accent key-top of the Tab key in American English keyboard layout)	Loop through an open Finder window
Command-shift-?	Turn on MAC Help
Option-shift-command-esc (press and hold for three seconds)-Mac OS X v10.5, v10.6, or later only	Force exit of the front-most application
command-[	Back off
Command-]	Forward
Command-Up ARROW	Open the included folder
Control-command-Up ARROW	Open the included folder in a new window
Command-DOWN ARROW	Turn on highlighted items
Command-tab	Switching applications-loop forward
Shift-command-tab	Switching applications-loop backwards
Command-delete	Move to Trash
Shift-command-delete	Emptying the wastepaper basket
Option-shift-command-delete	Empty the Trash (no confirmation dialog box is displayed)
Space bar (or command-y)	Quick View (Mac OS X 10.5 or later)
Press the Command key while dragging	Move the dragged item to another volume/location (the pointer icon changes when you press and hold the key-see this article)
Press the Option key while dragging	Copy the dragged item (the pointer icon changes when you press and hold the key-see this article)
Press Option-command key while dragging	Make an alias for the dragged item (the pointer icon changes when you press and hold the key-see this article)

applications and other MAC OS X keyboard Commands

Note: Some applications may not support all of the following application key combinations.

Key combinations	Function
command-Space Key	Show or hide the Spotlight search bar (if multiple languages are installed, it is possible to cycle between enabled scripting systems)
Control-a	Move to the beginning of a line/paragraph
Control-b	Move backward one character
Control-d	Delete the character before the cursor
Control-e	Move to the end of a line/paragraph
Control-f	Move one character forward
Control-h	Delete the character after the cursor
Control-k	Delete all content from the character before the cursor to the end of the line/paragraph
Control-l	Places the cursor/selection in the center of the visible area
Control-n	Move down one line
Control-o	Insert a row after the cursor
Control-p	Move up one line
Control-t	Move the characters before and after the cursor
Control-v	Move down one page
Option-delete	Delete the word to the left of the cursor, and any spaces or punctuation after the word
option-command-Space Key	Display the Spotlight Search Results window (if you have multiple languages installed, you may be looping between keyboard layouts and input methods under a script)
Command-tab	In the list of open applications, move down to the next most recently used application
Shift-command-tab	Move up in the list of open apps (sort by most recent time)
Shift-tab	Navigate the controls in the opposite direction
Control-tab	Focus on the next set of controls in the dialog box or focus on the next table (when Tab moves to the next cell)
Shift-control-tab	Focus on a group of controls
Command-esc	Open Front Row (if installed)
option-Launch key	Eject from the alternate optical drive (if installed)
control-Launch key	Show shutdown dialog box
option-command-Launch key	Put your computer into sleep mode
control-command-Launch key	Quit all apps (you'll have to save the changes you made to the open document first), and then restart your computer
Control option-command-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
Fn-delete	Delete Forward (built-in keyboard for portable MAC)
Control-f1	Toggle full keyboard control on or off
Control-f2	Focus Menu Bar
Control-f3	Focus Dock
Control-f4	Focus on the active window or the next window
Shift-control-f4	Focus on an active window
Control-f5	Focus on the toolbar.
Control-f6	Focus on the first (or next) panel
Shift-control-f6	Focus on the previous panel
Control-f7	The current keyboard control mode in the Temporary Overlay window and dialog box
F9	Collage or un-collage all open windows
F10	Collage or un-collage all open windows in the current active application
F11	Hide or Show all open windows
F12	Hide or show Dashboard
Command-'	Activates the next open window in the front-most application
Shift-command-'	Activates the previous open window in the front-most application
Option-command-'	Focus Window Drawer
Command--(minus)	Reduce Selected items
command-{	Aligns the selection to the left
command-}	Make the selection right-aligned
command-|	Align the selection to the center
command-:	Show the spelling window
command-;	Find misspelled words in a document
command-,	Open the Preferences window for the front-most application (provided the application supports this keyboard shortcut)
option-control-command-,	Reduce screen Contrast
option-control-command-.	Enhanced screen Contrast
Command-?	To open the app's help in the Help display program
option-command-/	Turn font smoothing on or off
shift-command-=	Enlarge the selected item
Shift-command-3	To capture a screen to a file
Shift-control-command-3	Capture the screen to the Clipboard
Shift-command-4	Snaps the selection to a file
Shift-control-command-4	Snaps the selection to the Clipboard
Command-a	Highlight all items in a document or window, or highlight all characters in a text field
Command-b	Display selected text in bold or toggle text bold display on/off
Command-c	Copy the selected data to the Clipboard
Shift-command-c	Display the Colors window
Option-command-c	Copy the style of the selected text
Control-command-c	Copy the formatting of the selected item and store it in the Clipboard
Option-command-d	Show or hide the Dock
Command-control-d	Display the definition of the selected word in the dictionary application
Command-d	Select the Desktop folder in the Open and Save dialog box In Mac OS X v10.6.8 and earlier, select Do not store in the dialog box that contains the Do not store button
Command-delete	In OS X Lion, select Do not store in the dialog box that contains the Do not store button
Command-e	Use the selection to find
Command-f	Open the Find window
Option-command-f	Move to the Search bar control
Command-g	Find the next location where the selection appears
Shift-command-g	Find the previous location where the selection appears
Command-h	Hide the currently running application window
Option-command-h	Hide all other running application windows
Command-i	Display selected text in italics or toggle text italic display on/off
Option-command-i	Show Inspector Window
Command-j	Scroll to the selected section
Command-m	Minimize the active window to the Dock
Option-command-m	Minimize all windows of an active application to the Dock
Command-n	Create a new document in the front-most application
Command-o	Display dialog box to select the document to open in the top-most application
Command-p	Display the Print dialog box
Shift-command-p	Displays a dialog box for specifying Print parameters (Page Setup)
Command-q	Exit the front-most application
Command-s	Storing Active Documents
Shift-command-s	Display the Save As dialog box
Command-t	Display the Fonts window
Option-command-t	Show or hide a toolbar
Command-u	Underline selected text or turn on/off underline function
Command-v	Paste the Clipboard contents at the insertion point location
Option-command-v	Apply the style of an object to the selected object (Paste style)
Option-shift-command-v	Apply the style of the surrounding text to the inserted object (paste and match style)
Control-command-v	Apply formatting to the selected object (paste Ruler command)
Command-w	Close the front window
Shift-command-w	Close the file and its associated window
Option-command-w	Close all its windows without exiting the application directly
Command-x	Remove the selection and save it to the Clipboard
Command-z	Restore previous command (some applications allow multiple restores)
Shift-command-z	Redo the previous command (some applications allow multiple redo)
control-RIGHT Arrow	Another value or cell in a focused view (such as a table)
Control-LEFT Arrow	Another value or cell in a focused view (such as a table)
Control-DOWN ARROW	Another value or cell in a focused view (such as a table)
control-Up ARROW	Another value or cell in a focused view (such as a table)
Command-RIGHT Arrow	Move the text insertion point to the end of the current line
Command-LEFT Arrow	Move the text insertion point to the beginning of the current line
Command-DOWN ARROW	Move the text insertion point to the end of the document
Command-Up ARROW	Move the text insertion point to the beginning of the document
Shift-command-RIGHT Arrow	Select the text (*) between the insertion point and the end of the current line.
Shift-command-LEFT Arrow	Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line (*)
shift-RIGHT Arrow	Extend text selection to the right by one character (*)
Shift-LEFT Arrow	Extend text selection to the left by one character (*)
Shift-command-Up ARROW	Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document (*)
Shift-command-DOWN ARROW	Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the document (*)
Shift-Up ARROW	Extend the text selection to the nearest character Edge (*) at the same horizontal position as the previous line
Shift-DOWN ARROW	Extend the text selection to the nearest character Edge (*) at the same horizontal position as the next line
shift-option-RIGHT Arrow	Extend the text selection to the ending of the current word, then press once to expand to the last word (*)
Shift-option-LEFT Arrow	Extend the text selection to the beginning of the current word, then press once to expand to the first word (*)
shift-option-DOWN ARROW	Extend the text selection to the end of the current paragraph, and then press once to extend the ending of the next paragraph (*)
shift-option-Up ARROW	Extend the text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then press once to expand to the Zhou (*) of the next paragraph
control-Space Key	Toggle between the current input source and the previous input source
option-control-Space Key	Switch between all enabled input sources
Option-command-esc	Force exit

(*) Note: If no text is selected, the extension starts at the insertion point position. If you select text by dragging, the extension begins at the edge of the selection. Selecting the selection in reverse will deselect the appropriate section.

Universal Auxiliary-VoiceOver Keyboard command

See this article for information about the VoiceOver combination key differences in Mac OS X v10.6.

key combination	functions
command-f5 or br> fn Command-f5	to turn VoiceOver
control Option-f8 or FN control Option-f8	Open VoiceOver Utility
Control option-f7 or fn control option-f7	display VoiceOver menu
Control Option -; or FN Control option-;	Enable/Disable VoiceOver control option lockdown
option-command-8 or fn command-f11	turn on zoom
option-command-+	Zoom In
option-command--(minus sign)	Zoom out
option-control-command-8	Invert/revert screen color
control option-command-,	decrease contrast
Control option-command-.	Contrast Enhancement

Note : You may need to enable the F1, F2, and other keys as standard function keys in keyboard preferences for the VoiceOver menus and utilities to work correctly.

Universal Assist-mouse button

When you turn on the mouse button in universal accessibility preferences, you can move the mouse pointer using the keys on the keyboard or the numeric keypad. If your computer does not have a numeric keypad, use the Fn (function) key.

Key combinations	Function
8	Move Up
2	Move Down
4	Move left
6	Move right
1	Move diagonally to the left bottom corner
3	Move diagonally to the lower-right corner
7	Move diagonally to the top-left corner
9	Move diagonally to the upper-right corner
5	Press the mouse button
0	Hold down the mouse button
. (A period on the numeric keypad)	Release the pressed mouse button

See also: Mouse shortcut key.

Other information

Advanced : This article refers to the default modifier key assignment. You can change the modifier key assignment in the keyboard and mouse preferences of system preferences. For example, you can change the Command key to use the Option key, and vice versa. You can also restore the default modifier key settings.

Please see also:

• Intel-based Apple portable computer: The Caps Lock key has been modified to reduce the occurrence of accidental activation
• To create a keyboard shortcut for an application
• If the keyboard shortcuts do not work correctly
• If you can't use some keyboard shortcuts
• Using Global keyboard shortcuts
• Start the hypervisor: How to select a startup volume
• Resolving VoiceOver Key Command conflicts
• Mac OS X: An alternative way to control your computer
• Additional features of Mac OS X:dock
• Mac OS X: Voice-How to add a spoken command to a keyboard shortcut
• QuickTime player: About movie playback keyboard shortcuts
• Keynote 4.0 Help (iWork ' 08)
• Keyboard shortcuts for Front Row
• ICal 3 keyboard shortcuts
• IWeb 3 keyboard shortcuts
• IPhoto 8 keyboard shortcuts
• IPhoto 8: Create shortcut keys for your favorite keywords
• GarageBand 5 keyboard shortcuts
• IMovie 8 keyboard shortcuts
• ITunes 8 keyboard shortcuts
• Pages 3 keyboard shortcuts

Category: Play Mac

Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts