macOS Shortcuts Cheatsheet

macOS Keyboard Shortcuts Cheatsheet

A quick-reference guide for essential macOS keyboard shortcuts, covering keyboard symbol mappings, system controls, window management, Finder operations, and web browsing.

Keyboard Symbols Reference

Apple keyboards frequently represent shortcut keys with distinct symbols:

Key	Symbol	Name	Description
Command	⌘	Cmd	Primary modifier key (similar to Ctrl on Windows)
Option	⌥	Alt	Secondary modifier key (for special options/characters)
Shift	⇧	Shift	Uppercase/alternate mapping key
Control	⌃	Ctrl	Terminal/shortcut utility key
Escape	⎋	Esc	Exit/cancel key
Return	↵	Enter	Execution/new-line key

Essential System & Desktop Controls

Cmd + Space                  # Open Spotlight Search (fast file/app search and calculator)
Cmd + Option + Esc           # Open Force Quit Applications dialog (kill frozen apps)
Cmd + Ctrl + Q               # Lock your screen immediately
Cmd + , (comma)              # Open Preferences/Settings for the active application
Cmd + Tab                    # Switch between open applications (hold Cmd, tap Tab)
Cmd + ` (backtick)           # Switch between open windows of the active application
Cmd + Shift + 3              # Take a full screenshot
Cmd + Shift + 4              # Capture a cropped screenshot of a custom selected area
Cmd + Shift + 5              # Open Screenshot and Screen Recording options menu

Window Management & Mission Control

Cmd + M                      # Minimize the active window to Dock
Cmd + H                      # Hide the active application window
Cmd + Option + H             # Hide all application windows EXCEPT the active one
Ctrl + Up Arrow              # Open Mission Control (view all active windows and workspaces)
Ctrl + Down Arrow            # Open Application Expose (view all windows of the active app)
Ctrl + Left Arrow            # Switch to the virtual workspace/desktop on the left
Ctrl + Right Arrow           # Switch to the virtual workspace/desktop on the right
Cmd + Option + D             # Toggle showing or hiding the Dock

Finder Operations

Navigating the macOS file system.

Spacebar                     # Open Quick Look (instant preview of selected file without launching app)
Return (Enter)               # Rename the selected item (unlike Windows where Enter executes!)
Cmd + Down Arrow             # Open/Execute the selected file or folder
Cmd + Up Arrow               # Go up one folder level in the directory tree
Cmd + N                      # Open a new Finder window
Cmd + Shift + N              # Create a new folder
Cmd + Shift + G              # Open "Go to Folder" search bar (input absolute path like /var/log)
Cmd + I                      # Open Get Info panel for the selected file/folder
Cmd + Delete                 # Move selected item to Trash
Cmd + Shift + Delete         # Empty the Trash
Cmd + [                      # Go back to the previous folder in history
Cmd + ]                      # Go forward to the next folder in history

Web Browser & Common Tab Operations

Standard shortcuts supported by Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and other macOS web browsers.

Cmd + T                      # Open a new browser tab
Cmd + W                      # Close the current active tab
Cmd + Shift + T              # Reopen the last closed tab (restores closed sessions)
Cmd + L                      # Set focus to the URL address/search bar
Cmd + R                      # Reload/Refresh the current webpage
Cmd + Option + R             # Hard reload page, clearing cache (Chrome/Firefox)
Cmd + Option + Left Arrow    # Switch to the next tab on the left
Cmd + Option + Right Arrow   # Switch to the next tab on the right
Cmd + [1-9]                  # Switch to the tab in position [1-9]