30 keyboard shortcuts Mac users need to know | Computerworld 05/04/23, 9:29 PM

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HOW-TO

30 keyboard shortcuts Mac users need to know

This collection of keyboard shortcuts for macOS can help users get the most from their
iMacs, MacBook Pro and MacBook laptops.

I’m sure most Mac users know Command-C means copy and Command-V
means paste, but there’s a host of other useful shortcuts that make a Mac
user’s life much easier. I’ve assembled this short collection to illustrate this
truth:

Esc

Never underestimate the power of the Esc key to get you out of trouble. Say
you're taking a screen shot and managed to select part of your screen for that
shot, only to discover it's the wrong part – tap Esc and you won't need to
worry about it. That's basically the principle of Esc. Use it to cancel a previous
command. Another example: Web page won't load and is sucking up your
system resources?

Tap Esc....

Command-W

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30 keyboard shortcuts Mac users need to know | Computerworld 05/04/23, 9:29 PM

Closes the active window you are currently in. Use Option-Command-W to
close all currently active app windows.

Command-Y

A lot of people use QuickLook to preview items they're looking for. To use
QuickLook, select an item in Finder, press the Space bar and a preview will
appear. There’s also a keyboard shortcut — select an item (you can even use
the Up and Down arrows to navigate to it in Finder view) and then press
Command-Y.

Command – Comma (,)

This is one of the least-known keyboard commands on a Mac, but it’s super
useful. It works like this: You are working in an app, and you want to open the
application’s Preferences. You can navigate to the Menu bar if you like and
scroll through to access the Preferences. Or you can simply press Command-,
(comma) to get to them in the fastest possible time.

Command-G

I'm sure you use Command-F to find items, such as words in a document or on
a webpage. Command-G is its lesser-known relative. Use it to navigate
through each instance of the item you want to find. This means that if you use
Command-F to find all the mentions of 'Command' on this page, and then tap
Command-G, you'll be able to navigate through each one. Oh, and you can
also press Shift-Command-G to move back to the previous mention.

Command-M

Press this combination to minimize the front app window to Dock, or press
Command-Option-M to minimize all the windows belonging to the front app.

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Command and Option

If you can’t see your desktop for all the open applications, just hold Command
and Option down and click anywhere on your desktop. You may just want to
get to all the open windows for a specific app, in which case hold down the
same keys and click on any available window for that app.

Command-Shift-A

Select this combination when in Finder/Desktop view to get to your

Applications folder, or replace the A with U to open your Utilities folder in a
new Finder window (or D for Desktop, H for Home or I to access iCloud Drive).

Command-Space

The combination that can change your life, Command-Space invokes

Spotlight, just depress these keys and start typing your query. (I guess you
know about Command-tab already?)

Command-L

The fastest way to make a search or navigate to a Website in Safari, Command-

L instantly selects the address bar: start typing your query, and select the
appropriate choice using the up/down arrows on the keyboard.

Command-Tab

Open application switcher, keeping Command pressed, use Tab to navigate to

the app you hope to use.

Command-Option-D

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30 keyboard shortcuts Mac users need to know | Computerworld 05/04/23, 9:29 PM

Show or hide the Dock from within most apps.

Fn-left arrow (or right arrow)

Jump directly to the top or bottom of a web page using the Function key and
the right (to the bottom of the page) or left (to the top of the page) arrows on
the keyboard. You can achieve a similar result using Command-Up or
Command-Down. A third way is to use Control-Tab and Control-Shift-Tab .

Command-left/right arrows

Hit Command and the left arrow to go back a page in the browser window. Hit
Command right to go forward again.

Tab nav

Navigate between multiple tabs using the Command-Shift-] or Command-

Shift-[ characters.

Command-Shift-\

The easiest way to see all your open tabs in one Safari window.

Option-Shift-Volume

Press Option-Shift and volume up/down to increase or decrease the volume

on your Mac in small increments. You can also use Option-Shift to change
display brightness in small amounts. Read even more Option secrets here.

Fn twice

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30 keyboard shortcuts Mac users need to know | Computerworld 05/04/23, 9:29 PM

Press the function (fn) key twice to launch Dictation on your Mac, start
speaking, and press fn once you’ve finished. Here are some other ideas on
controlling your Mac with your voice. NB: macOS Catalina now offers the far
more powerful Voice Control, which lets you manage everything on your Mac
using only your voice. Find out more about this here.

Option-File

In Safari, pressing the Option key while selecting the File menu lets you access
the ‘Close Other Tabs’ command. Try the other Safari menu items with Option
depressed to find other commands you probably weren’t aware of.

Option-Brightness Up (or down)

Use this command to quickly launch Displays preferences. Or press Option

with the Mission Control or Volume (up/down) buttons to access preferences
for Mission Control and Sounds.

Command – Backtick `

This is one of the least well-known keyboard commands on a Mac, but it’s
super useful. Use this combination to move between open windows in your
currently active app. It's so useful you'll wonder why you hadn't used it before.

Control - Command - Space

Want to insert emoji or other symbols into what you write? Use Control-
Command-Space to open the Character Viewer where you can select and use
such symbols.

Command-P

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30 keyboard shortcuts Mac users need to know | Computerworld 05/04/23, 9:29 PM

Do you open a document before printing it through the File menu? Do this
instead: Select the document in Finder and press Command-P. The item will
open and the Print dialog will appear. You can also tap Command-P to print
the current item when in most any app.

Option + Command + Esc

In the event an application freezes or hangs you may want to try this: Tap
Option-Command-Esc to Force Quit the rogue app. It’s not always a magic
bullet, but sometimes an application restart is all you need to get your system
moving again.

Command + Control + Q

Walking away from your Mac? Tap this shortcut to immediately lock your
machine.

Touch Bar tip No. 1

If you use a MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar, you can press Shift-Command-6
to grab an image of what is on your Touch Bar. Want to grab an image to place
into the document you're typing in? Just tap Control-Shift-Command-6 and
the picture will be saved to your Clipboard for pasting it in.

Touch Bar tip No. 2

This MacBook Pro Touch Bar tip is particularly useful if you find that you often
accidentally tap the Siri button: You can change where that button is located
so you're less likely to tap it by accident. Open Keyboard Preferences and
choose Customize Control Strip. Look at the Touch Bar, and you’ll see the
icons are slightly agitated. Move your cursor to the bottom of your screen and

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30 keyboard shortcuts Mac users need to know | Computerworld 05/04/23, 9:29 PM

keep moving (as if you're moving it off the screen); you should see one of the
items in your Touch bar highlighted. Now move your cursor to highlight the
Siri button and then drag and drop that button a space or two to the left.

(This is also an excellent way to become familiar with how you can edit other
items in your Touch Bar.)

Touch Bar tip No. 3

Do you use the function keys regularly in some apps? You can get to them, of
course, by pressing the ‘fn’ character. But it's also possible to set up the Touch
Bar so it always shows the function keys in those apps. To do this, open
Keyboard System Preferences, select Function Keys, and tap +. You can then
select the app(s). Don’t worry if you want to use a regular Control Strip
command when you're using one of the apps — just press Fn to get back to
that view.

Safari tips

There are lots of keyboard tips for the Safari browser:

Command + I: Open new email message with content of a page.

Command + Shift + I: Open new email message containing only the URL
of a page.

Spacebar: To move your window down one screen.

Shift+Spacebar: To move your window up one screen.

Command + Y: Open/close the History window.

Command + Shift + T

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30 keyboard shortcuts Mac users need to know | Computerworld 05/04/23, 9:29 PM

This web browser tip can sometimes be a lifesaver. Command + Shift + T will
open your last closed tab, which helps a lot if you are researching something
and close a window without saving the URL.

You can also take a look at Apple’s own extensive collection of keyboard
shortcuts for more great ideas.

Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not
join AppleHolic's Kool Aid Corner community and join the conversation as we
pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple?

Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter or in comments below and let me
know. I'd like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know
when fresh items are published here first on Computerworld.

Jonny is a freelance writer who has been writing (mainly about Apple and technology) since 1999.

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