20 essential Mac keyboard shortcuts to save you a click

Cleverly use keyboard shortcuts to greatly improve efficiency! Whether it is web browsing or document editing, these shortcut keys can help you save valuable time and avoid frequent use of mouse and menu operations. Over time, the time saved will be considerable. The following lists the 20 most practical shortcut keys for Apple computers. (Non-Mac users? Please check out our Windows Shortcut Key Guide.)

Basic shortcut keys

Cmd Z: Undo

Probably the most practical shortcut key in history. Cmd Z (Ctrl Z is used in Windows) can revoke the previous operation. This shortcut key is suitable for a variety of programs, whether it is accidentally deleting files, applying image filters you don't like, or deleting carefully written text, it can be easily undoed.

Cmd W: Close

Cmd W is a common shortcut key to close the currently open window or file. It works for almost anything, from open documents to browser tabs. The value of this shortcut is particularly prominent when it comes to quickly closing a large number of windows, images, or other content.

Cmd Q: Exit the application

When clicking on the red "x" in the upper left corner of the application window, macOS will not completely close the program, but will only close the selected window. If you are used to using Windows systems, you may need to adapt to this difference—and the fact that the program is still running may cause the processor to slow down. To close the application correctly, select Exit from its menu, or better use this shortcut.

Cmd F: Search

Whatever you do on your computer, you can start searching from almost any location by pressing Cmd F. In the browser, you can search for the current web page; in Finder, you can search for content on your hard drive; in iTunes, you can search for music libraries or stores; and so on.

Return: Rename

If you rename files frequently, this shortcut will be very useful. After selecting a file in Finder, press Return key, enter a new name, and press Return key again after completion. Then move the cursor and continue to operate the next file.

More convenient macOS navigation

Cmd Number: Change Finder View

Finder provides several different ways to view files. You can toggle these options by pressing the Cmd key and then pressing a number. Cmd 1 allows you to display each file as an icon, Cmd 2 as a list, Cmd 3 displays the contents of a group of folders as a series of columns, and Cmd 4 provides a cover streaming perspective. Regardless of which view you end up using, the arrow keys allow you to navigate between lists, columns, and files—no mouse required.

Cmd H: Hide app

Need to reduce screen clutter? Simple and effective, Cmd H hides all open windows of the currently used application and switches the frontmost application to the most recently used application. Keep hiding each app and you will end up with a clear desktop view. Try adding the Option key to get the opposite effect: Cmd Opt H hides all open windows for all open applications except the one you are currently using.

Cmd Tab: Switch the application

Quickly press the Cmd Tab shortcut key to switch you from the current front application to the one you used immediately before; pressing again will take you back. Hold down the Cmd key even after pressing the Tab key, and you will see the icons for all the open apps: Press the Tab key to loop through them.

Space bar: Quick view

Quick View Shortcuts are great for viewing a range of images or other files without having to open them completely in the application. Simply select the file you want to preview in Finder and press the Spacebar. To close this view, press the Spacebar again. You can also select multiple file lists and press Cmd Opt Y to access the quick view slideshow.

Cmd Opt D: Show or hide Dock

Although the Mac's application shortcut Dock is very practical, it may take up some valuable screen space. When you want to hide it quickly, just press Cmd Opt D. Press the shortcut key again to redisplay the Dock. If you find that you prefer the Dockless Appearance, go to System Preferences, where the "Dock" entry allows you to automatically hide it when not in use.

Advanced Tips

Cmd Spacebar: Start Siri

You can call Siri, Apple's smart digital assistant in macOS. So take advantage of this feature and start it with the Cmd Spacebar shortcut. You need to hold these keys to access Siri - a quick click will instead launch the macOS search tool Spotlight. When Siri pops up, you can issue various commands, from searching for local files to preparing for the weather conditions of the day.

Cmd Opt Delete: Delete the file immediately

When a file is deleted, it enters the trash for a period of time, and the system then makes it completely inaccessible. This may be a good safety net if you need to recover deleted files – but if you are able to retrieve files, then anyone who has access to your computer can also retrieve them. To ensure that the files are deleted safely, or just to prevent the wastebasket from occupying too much hard disk space, press Cmd Opt Delete to delete the file permanently immediately.

Cmd Shift 3: Screenshot

These macOS shortcuts allow you to have more precise control over your screenshots. Press Cmd Shift 3 to save the entire screen as a PNG file on the desktop. Using Cmd Shift 4, you can draw a rectangle to take a screenshot of the area. You can also press Cmd Shift 4, then press Spacebar, and then click on the window to take a screenshot of the window individually.

Cmd Opt Esc: Force exit from the application

If the death spin wheel appears, you may need to force exit the app and use brute force to turn it off. The Cmd Opt Esc shortcut key will bring up the Force Exit dialog box, which lists the currently running programs. Select the application in question and click "Force Exit". To skip the dialog box and immediately close the program you are currently using, press Shift Cmd Opt Esc.

Cmd Comma: Open Preferences

You want every macOS application to work in the way that suits you best. This means adjusting the settings of the program. Press the Cmd comma to open the Preferences pane for any program you are using.

More DIY tips:

Cmd Period: Cancel operation

Comma is not the only punctuation mark you can use for shortcut keys. Press the Cmd period to cancel the currently ongoing operation. For example, when the system moves a large number of files between folders or saves super-large files, it can take a long time — or even timeout. The Cmd period shortcut allows you to stop the operation so that you can try again when the computer is not too stuck. It's basically the same as clicking Cancel in the dialog box.

Cmd Shift Q: Logout

If you plan to leave your Mac temporarily and want to make sure that others cannot access it—or at least not access it without your password—you can sign out of your account without turning off your computer. Press Cmd Shift Q to start the logout process.

Cmd T: Open a new tab page

In web browsers such as Google Chrome, this shortcut allows you to open a new tab. And the browser is not the only one - since macOS Sierra, any computer application can take advantage of multiple tabs in a single window. For example, Cmd T will open a new tab in the map and in Finder.

Cmd Shift ?: Get Help

In macOS, help is available with just one shortcut key. Press Cmd Shift ? to open the help window for any application you are running. Then start typing the search terms to view the match list. Remember this shortcut when troubleshooting is required.

Cmd Shift I: Open iCloud Cloud Disk

With every macOS update, iCloud cloud disk plays an increasingly important role in the operating system. If you often store files in your iCloud disk, you need to open it as soon as possible. Rely on Cmd Shift I to access your cloud files directly in Finder.

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