Learning a handful of keyboard shortcuts is the single fastest way to feel at home on a Mac. You don’t need hundreds, these 15 cover the things you do every day.
First: meet the Mac modifier keys
| Key | Symbol | Windows equivalent (roughly) |
|---|---|---|
| Command | ⌘ | Ctrl |
| Option | ⌥ | Alt |
| Control | ⌃ | (used differently on Mac) |
| Shift | ⇧ | Shift |
Most shortcuts that use Ctrl on Windows use Command on a Mac. You’ll see these symbols next to menu items in every app — a great way to discover more shortcuts.
The everyday essentials
1. Command + C / Command + V — Copy and paste The same as Windows, just with Command instead of Ctrl.
2. Command + X — Cut Works for text. For files in Finder, see tip 14.
3. Command + Z — Undo (and Shift + Command + Z to redo) Made a mistake? Undo it. Changed your mind? Redo it.
4. Command + A — Select all Selects all the text in a document or every file in a folder.
5. Command + F — Find Search for a word on a web page, in a document or in Finder.
Managing apps and windows
6. Command + Tab — Switch between apps Hold Command and tap Tab to move through your open apps. Let go to switch.
7. Command + ` (backtick) — Switch between windows of the same app Got three Safari windows open? This cycles through them. The backtick key is just above Tab on UK and US keyboards (next to Z on some UK layouts).
8. Command + W — Close the current window or tab Closes just the window — the app keeps running.
9. Command + Q — Quit the app completely On a Mac, closing a window doesn’t quit the app. Command + Q does.
10. Command + H — Hide the app Instantly tucks the current app out of sight. Click its Dock icon to bring it back.
11. Option + Command + Esc — Force Quit Your Mac’s version of Ctrl + Alt + Delete. Opens the Force Quit window so you can close a frozen app.
Finding and moving things
12. Command + Space — Spotlight search Open any app, file or setting by typing its name. It’s also a calculator and unit converter.
13. Command + Comma (,) — Open the app’s settings Works in almost every Mac app. No more hunting through menus.
14. Command + C, then Option + Command + V — Move a file In Finder, copy a file, go to the new folder and press Option + Command + V. The file moves rather than being duplicated — the Mac equivalent of cut and paste for files.
Security and fun
15. Control + Command + Q — Lock your screen Stepping away from your desk? This locks your Mac instantly.
Bonus: Control + Command + Space — Emoji & symbols Opens the emoji picker wherever you’re typing. On newer keyboards, you can also press the 🌐 (Globe) / fn key — or Globe + E. 😀
How to find more shortcuts
- Open any menu in the menu bar — shortcuts are listed on the right of each item.
- Hold Command in some apps (such as Pages or Keynote) to see extra options.
- Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts… to view and customise system shortcuts.
Wrapping up
Don’t try to memorise all 15 at once. Pick three you’ll use today — Command + Tab, Command + Space and Command + Q are a great start — and add a couple more each week.
