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, there are nonetheless a number of keyboard commands 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:

Note: The Command key (the Apple key) is next to the Spacebar. In the Knowledge Base, the Command key is usually abbreviated Cmd. Also, the Power key is usually in the upper right corner of the keyboard, denoted by a small triangle pointing to the left or a broken circle and vertical line.

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	Press `Cmd-Shift-c`
Show in a Finder window your personal `Home` folder	Press `Cmd-Shift-h`
Show in a Finder window the `Applications` folder	Press `Cmd-Shift-a`
Show or hide the Dock	Press `Cmd-Option-d` .
On the desktop or in Icon, List, or Cover Flow mode, select items in alphabetical order	Press `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	Press `Cmd-a`
Open a selected item	Press `Cmd-o`
Open a new Finder window	Press `Cmd-n`
Rename a selected item	Press `Return` and type the new name
Make a copy of a selected item	Press `Cmd-d`
Open a selected folder or application	Press `Cmd-o` or `Cmd`-down arrow
Eject a selected disk	Press `Cmd-e`
Make an alias of a selected item	Press `Cmd-l` (the letter l)
Put an alias of the selected items in your Favorites or Finder Toolbar	Press `Cmd-t`
Show original of a selected alias	Press `Cmd-r`
Make a new folder	Press `Cmd-Shift-n`
Trash selected item	Press `Cmd-Del`
Empty Trash	Press `Cmd-Shift-Del`
Close window	Press `Cmd-w` ; to close all open windows while in the Finder, press `Cmd-Option-w`
Hide the front application	Press `Cmd-h` ; you can also press `Option` and click the desktop with the mouse
Minimize the front window to the Dock	Press `Cmd-m`
Get information about a selected item	Press `Cmd-i`
Switch between open applications	Press `Cmd-Tab`
Take a picture of the screen	`Press Cmd-Shift-3` ; the picture will be stored on your hard drive.
Take a picture of a portion of the screen only	Press `Cmd-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	Press `Cmd-.` (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	Press `Cmd-Shift-q`
Connect to a server	Press `Cmd-k`
Open the `Force Quit` window	Press `Cmd-Option-Esc`
Open the `Go To Folder` window or sheet	Press `Cmd-Shift-g`
Open a "Find" or Spotlight search window	Press `Cmd-f`
Open Mac Help	Press `Cmd-?`

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 `Cmd-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	`Cmd`-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	Press `Cmd-n`
Save the current document	Press `Cmd-s`
Print the current document	Press `Cmd-p`
Quit the application	Press `Cmd-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	Press `Cmd-c`
Cut selected text or object	Press `Cmd-x`
Paste	Press `Cmd-v`
Undo last action	Press `Cmd-z`

For other keyboard commands, check the menus within the application and consult the documentation for the program you are using.

Also see:

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Last modified on August 07, 2008.

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