Updated June 2026 · macOS Sequoia · 60+ shortcuts
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete Cheat Sheet (2026)
The complete reference for Mac keyboard shortcuts — covering essentials, Finder, screenshots, window management, text editing, and system shortcuts for macOS Sequoia. Bookmark this page or download the PDF to keep it on your desk.
Mac keyboard shortcuts follow a consistent pattern: the ⌘ Command key does what Ctrl does on Windows, and ⌥ Option is used as a secondary modifier. Once you internalize that rule, most shortcuts become intuitive.
Below are 60+ shortcuts organized by category. Each one works on macOS Sequoia (and most work on Ventura and Monterey too).
Essential Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd + C | Copy |
Cmd + V | Paste |
Cmd + X | Cut |
Cmd + Z | Undo |
Cmd + A | Select All |
Cmd + F | Find |
Cmd + S | Save |
Cmd + P | |
Cmd + Q | Quit App |
Cmd + W | Close Window / Tab |
Cmd + N | New Window / Document |
Cmd + T | New Tab |
App & Window Switching
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd + Tab | Switch Apps |
Cmd + ` | Switch Windows (Same App) |
Ctrl + ↑ | Mission Control |
Ctrl + ↓ | App Exposé |
Ctrl + → / ← | Switch Spaces |
Cmd + M | Minimize Window |
Cmd + H | Hide App |
Ctrl + Cmd + F | Toggle Full Screen |
Screenshots
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd + Shift + 3 | Full-Screen Screenshot |
Cmd + Shift + 4 | Region Screenshot |
Cmd + Shift + 4 → Space | Window Screenshot |
Cmd + Shift + 5 | Screenshot Toolbar |
Cmd + Shift + 6 | Touch Bar Screenshot |
+ Control (any above) | Copy to Clipboard |
Finder & Files
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd + Space | Spotlight Search |
Cmd + Option + Space | Finder Search Window |
Cmd + Delete | Move to Trash |
Cmd + Shift + Delete | Empty Trash |
Enter | Rename File |
Cmd + O | Open File / App |
Cmd + D | Duplicate File |
Cmd + I | Get Info (File Properties) |
Cmd + Shift + G | Go to Folder… |
Cmd + Option + V | Move Files (Paste & Move) |
Cmd + 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | Switch Finder View |
Cmd + Shift + N | New Folder |
Text Editing
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd + → | Jump to End of Line |
Cmd + ← | Jump to Start of Line |
Option + → | Jump One Word Right |
Option + ← | Jump One Word Left |
Cmd + ↑ | Jump to Top of Document |
Cmd + ↓ | Jump to Bottom of Document |
Option + Delete | Delete Previous Word |
Cmd + Delete | Delete to Start of Line |
Ctrl + K | Delete to End of Line |
Cmd + B / I / U | Bold / Italic / Underline |
System & Accessibility
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd + , | Open App Preferences |
Cmd + Option + Esc | Force Quit |
Ctrl + Cmd + Q | Lock Screen |
Cmd + Option + D | Show / Hide Dock |
Ctrl + Cmd + Space | Emoji & Symbols Picker |
Cmd + Option + M | Minimize All Windows |
Cmd + Shift + ? | Open Help Menu |
Ctrl + Option + Cmd + 8 | Invert Colors |
Cmd + Option + F5 | Accessibility Options |
3 Mac shortcuts most people never discover
- Cmd+Option+V — Move files instead of copying them. Copy a file with Cmd+C, then paste it with Cmd+Option+V and the original is deleted from the source folder.
- Cmd+Shift+G — Go to any folder path instantly. In Finder or any Open/Save dialog, this opens a "Go to Folder" box where you can type
~/Library/or any hidden path. - Cmd+, — Opens Preferences in almost every Mac app. Stop hunting through menus — this works universally.
Mac vs Windows: Key Differences
If you're switching from Windows, the biggest adjustment is replacing Ctrl with ⌘ Cmd for most shortcuts. A few other notable differences:
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Ctrl+C | Cmd+C |
| Paste | Ctrl+V | Cmd+V |
| Undo | Ctrl+Z | Cmd+Z |
| Switch Apps | Alt+Tab | Cmd+Tab |
| Close Window | Alt+F4 | Cmd+Q (quit) / Cmd+W (close tab) |
| Task Manager / Force Quit | Ctrl+Alt+Delete | Cmd+Option+Esc |
| Screenshot | Win+Shift+S | Cmd+Shift+4 |
| File Rename | F2 | Enter |
| Open Properties | Alt+Enter | Cmd+I |
| New Folder | Ctrl+Shift+N | Cmd+Shift+N |
See the full comparison on our Windows vs Mac shortcuts page.
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Get the PDF Bundle →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mac equivalent of Ctrl+Alt+Delete?▾
Mac doesn't have a direct equivalent, but you can press Cmd+Option+Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window, which lets you quit any frozen app. You can also hold the Power button for a few seconds to force-shutdown if the system is completely unresponsive.
How do I take a screenshot on a Mac?▾
Press Cmd+Shift+3 to capture the entire screen, Cmd+Shift+4 to drag-select a region, or Cmd+Shift+4 then Space to capture a specific window. On macOS Sequoia, Cmd+Shift+5 opens a screenshot toolbar with options for recording video too. All screenshots save to the Desktop by default.
What does the Command key do on a Mac?▾
The Command key (⌘) is the primary modifier key on Mac — it takes the role that Ctrl plays on Windows. Cmd+C copies, Cmd+V pastes, Cmd+Z undoes, Cmd+Q quits an app, and Cmd+Tab switches between open apps. Most keyboard shortcuts that use Ctrl on Windows use Cmd on Mac.
How do I switch between open windows on a Mac?▾
Press Cmd+Tab to switch between apps (hold Cmd and tap Tab to cycle). To switch between windows of the same app, press Cmd+` (backtick). For Mission Control — showing all open windows — press Ctrl+Up or swipe up with three fingers on the trackpad.
How do I copy and paste on a Mac keyboard?▾
Press Cmd+C to copy selected text or files, and Cmd+V to paste. To paste without formatting (plain text only), press Cmd+Option+Shift+V. To cut text, press Cmd+X. In Finder, to move files instead of copying, copy with Cmd+C then paste with Cmd+Option+V.
What are the most important Mac keyboard shortcuts to know?▾
The top Mac shortcuts are: Cmd+Space (Spotlight search), Cmd+Tab (switch apps), Cmd+Q (quit app), Cmd+W (close window), Cmd+Shift+3 (screenshot), Cmd+Z (undo), Cmd+, (open app preferences), and Ctrl+Up (Mission Control). These cover 90% of everyday Mac usage.