For Mac OS X, what are some useful keyboard commands?
Although Mac OS X allows for the manipulation of files and applications using the mouse alone, a number of keyboard commands are available for navigating the Mac OS X GUI.
Key commands in the Finder
Below are some keyboard commands that may be helpful when working in the Mac OS X Finder:
| Action | Keystrokes |
|---|---|
| Show in a Finder window the volumes (e.g., hard drives, removable disks, mounted disk images, and file servers) connected to the computer |
Command-Shift-c
|
Show in a Finder window your personal Home folder
|
Command-Shift-h
|
Show in a Finder window the Applications folder
|
Command-Shift-a
|
| Show or hide the Dock |
Command-Option-d
|
| On the desktop or in Icon, List, or Cover Flow mode, select items in alphabetical order |
Tab ; press Shift-Tab to move
backward, or use the arrow keys to move in a specific direction
|
| Select specific item on the desktop or in a Finder window | Begin to type the item's name on the keyboard |
| Select (or deselect) all items on the desktop or in a Finder window |
Command-a
|
| Open a selected item |
Command-o
|
| Open a new Finder window |
Command-n
|
| Rename a selected item | Press Return and type
the new name
|
| Make a copy of a selected item |
Command-d
|
| Open a selected folder or application |
Command-o or Command-down arrow
|
| Eject a selected disk |
Command-e
|
| Make an alias of a selected item |
Command-l (the letter l)
|
| Put an alias of the selected items in your Favorites or Finder Toolbar |
Command-t
|
| Show original of a selected alias |
Command-r
|
| Make a new folder |
Command-Shift-n
|
| Trash selected item |
Command-Del
|
| Empty Trash |
Command-Shift-Del
|
| Close window |
Command-w ; to close all
open windows while in the Finder, press
Command-Option-w
|
| Hide the front application |
Command-h ; you can also press Option and
click the desktop with the mouse
|
| Minimize the front window to the Dock |
Command-m
|
| Get information about a selected item |
Command-i
|
| Switch between open applications |
Command-Tab
|
| Take a picture of the screen |
Command-Shift-3 ; the picture will be stored on your hard
drive.
|
| Take a picture of a portion of the screen only |
Command-Shift-4 ; the cursor will change into a
crosshair. Hold down the mouse button, drag the crosshair over the
portion of the screen you wish to take a picture of, and then release
the mouse button.
|
| Cancel an action |
Command-. (the period key)
|
| Shut down the computer | Press the Power key, then Return ; for keyboards
that don't have a Power key, press Ctrl-Eject and then
Return
|
| Restart the computer | Press the Power key, then r ; for keyboards
that don't have a Power key, press Ctrl-Eject and then
r
|
| Put the computer to sleep | Press the Power key, then s ; for keyboards
that don't have a Power key, press Ctrl-Eject and then
s
|
| Log out of your account |
Command-Shift-q
|
| Connect to a server |
Command-k
|
Open the Force Quit window
|
Command-Option-Esc
|
Open the Go To Folder window or sheet
|
Command-Shift-g
|
| Open a "Find" or Spotlight search window |
Command-f
|
| Open Mac Help |
Command-?
|
Key commands for the Dock
| Action | Keystrokes |
|---|---|
| Leave a running application's icon permanently in the Dock |
Ctrl-click or click and hold the application's icon;
then, from the contextual menu, choose Keep In
Dock
|
| Hide all but a given application | Press and hold Command-Option while clicking the
application's icon
|
| See a list of open windows for an application |
Ctrl-click or click and hold the application's icon
|
| Show Dock item in the Finder | Command-click the application's icon
|
Key commands in other applications
Key commands in applications other than the Finder differ, but the following are common to most (but not all) programs:
| Action | Keystrokes |
|---|---|
| Create a new document |
Command-n
|
| Save the current document |
Command-s
|
| Print the current document |
Command-p
|
| Quit the application |
Command-q
|
| Select text | Press and hold the Shift key and
then use the arrow keys to move over the text
|
| Copy selected text or object |
Command-c
|
| Cut selected text or object |
Command-x
|
| Paste |
Command-v
|
| Undo last action |
Command-z
|
For other keyboard commands, check the menus within the application and consult the documentation for the program you are using.
Last modified on October 19, 2009.







