Mac OS keyboard shortcuts

Startup keyboard shortcuts

Press the key or key combination until the expected function occurs/appears (for example, hold Option during startup until Startup Manager appears, or Shift until "Safe Boot" appears).

Tip: If a startup function doesn't work and you use a third-party keyboard, connect an Apple keyboard and try again.

Key or key combination	What it does
Option	Display all bootable volumes (Startup Manager)
Shift	Perform Safe Boot (start up in Safe Mode)
C	Start from a bootable disc (DVD, CD)
T	Start in FireWire target disk mode
N	Start from NetBoot server
X	Force Mac OS X startup (if non-Mac OS X startup volumes are present)
Command-V	Start in Verbose Mode
Command-S	Start in Single User Mode

Finder keyboard shortcuts

Key combination	What it does
Command-A	Select all items in the front Finder window (or desktop if no window is open)
Option-Command-A	Deselect all items
Shift-Command-A	Open the Applications folder
Command-C	Copy selected item/text to the Clipboard
Shift-Command-C	Open the Computer window
Command-D	Duplicate selected item
Shift-Command-D	Open desktop folder
Command-E	Eject
Command-F	Find any matching Spotlight attribute
Shift-Command-F	Find Spotlight file name matches
Option-Command-F	Navigate to the search field in an already-open Spotlight window
Shift-Command-G	Go to Folder
Shift-Command-H	Open the Home folder of the currently logged-in user account
Command-I	Get Info
Option-Command-I	Show Inspector
Control-Command-I	Get Summary Info
Shift-Command-I	Open iDisk
Command-J	Show View Options
Command-K	Connect to Server
Shift-Command-K	Open Network window
Command-L	Make alias of the selected item
Command-M	Minimize 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 selected item
Shift-Command-Q	Log Out
Option-Shift-Command-Q	Log Out immediately
Command-R	Show original (of alias)
Command-T	Add to Sidebar
Shift-Command-T	Add to Favorites
Option-Command-T	Hide Toolbar / Show Toolbar in Finder windows
Shift-Command-U	Open Utilities folder
Command-V	Paste
Command-W	Close window
Option-Command-W	Close all windows
Command-X	Cut
Option-Command-Y	Slideshow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later)
Command-Z	Undo / Redo
Command-1	View as Icon
Command-2	View as List
Command-3	View as Columns
Command-4	View as Cover Flow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later)
Command-, (Command and the comma key)	Open Finder preferences
Command-` (the Grave accent key--above Tab key on a US English keyboard layout)	Cycle through open Finder windows
Command-Shift-?	Open Mac Help
Option-Shift-Command-Esc (hold for three seconds) - Mac OS X v10.5, v10.6 or later only	Force Quit front-most application
Command-[	Back
Command-]	Forward
Command-Up Arrow	Open enclosed folder
Control-Command-Up Arrow	Open enclosed folder in a new window
Command-Down Arrow	Open highlighted item
Command-Tab	Switch application--cycle forward
Shift-Command-Tab	Switch application--cycle backward
Command-Delete	Move to Trash
Shift-Command-Delete	Empty Trash
Option-Shift-Command-Delete	Empty Trash without confirmation dialog
Spacebar (or Command-Y)	Quick Look (Mac OS X 10.5 or later)
Command key while dragging	Move dragged item to other volume/location (pointer icon changes while key is held--see this article)
Option key while dragging	Copy dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held--see this article)
Option-Command key combination while dragging	Make alias of dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held--seethis article)

Application and other Mac OS X keyboard commands  

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

Key combination	What it does
Command-Space	Show or hide the Spotlight search field (if multiple languages are installed, may rotate through enabled script systems)
Control-A	Move to beginning of line/paragraph
Control-B	Move one character backward
Control-D	Delete the character in front of the cursor
Control-E	Move to end of line/paragraph
Control-F	Move one character forward
Control-H	Delete the character behind the cursor
Control-K	Delete from the character in front of the cursor to the end of the line/paragraph
Control-L	Center the cursor/selection in the visible area
Control-N	Move down one line
Control-O	Insert a new line after the cursor
Control-P	Move up one line
Control-T	Transpose the character behind the cursor and the character in front of the cursor
Control-V	Move down one page
Option-Delete	Delete the word that is left of the cursor, as well as any spaces or punctuation after the word
Option-Command-Space	Show the Spotlight search results window (if multiple languages are installed, may rotate through keyboard layouts and input methods within a script)
Command-Tab	Move forward to the next most recently used application in a list of open applications
Shift-Command-Tab	Move backward through a list of open applications (sorted by recent use)
Shift-Tab	Navigate through controls in a reverse direction
Control-Tab	Move focus to the next grouping of controls in a dialog or the next table (when Tab moves to the next cell)
Shift-Control-Tab	Move focus to the previous grouping of controls
Command-esc	Open Front Row (if installed)
Option-Eject	Eject from secondary optical media drive (if one is installed)
Control-Eject	Show shutdown dialog
fn-Delete	Forward Delete (on portable Macs' built-in keyboard)
Control-F1	Toggle full keyboard access on or off
Control-F2	Move focus to the menu bar
Control-F3	Move focus to the Dock
Control-F4	Move focus to the active (or next) window
Shift-Control-F4	Move focus to the previously active window
Control-F5	Move focus to the toolbar.
Control-F6	Move focus to the first (or next) panel
Shift-Control-F6	Move focus to the previous panel
Control-F7	Temporarily override the current keyboard access mode in windows and dialogs
F9	Tile or untile all open windows
F10	Tile or untile all open windows in the currently active application
F11	Hide or show all open windows
F12	Hide or display Dashboard
Shift-Right Arrow	Extend text selection one character to the right (*)
Shift-Left Arrow	Extend text selection one character to the left (*)
Shift-Command-Up Arrow	Select text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document (*)
Shift-Command-Down Arrow	Select text between the insertion point and the end of the document (*)
Control-Space	Toggle between the current and previous input sources
Option-Control-Space	Toggle through all enabled input sources
Option-Command-esc	Force Quit