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To expedite your Macbook experience with shortcut combinations, this Mytour article gathers frequently used Macbook shortcuts. While some users may already be familiar with certain shortcuts, this compilation is extremely useful for newcomers to efficiently navigate their Macbook.
Common shortcuts in Macbook
Compilation of shortcuts in Macbook
- Applicable to any Mac running OS X.
- Mac compatible keyboard (Command key, not Windows).
Firstly, get acquainted with some keys exclusive to Mac. The Command key features a distinctive symbol (⌘), making it easily recognizable, and the Option key functions similarly to the Alt key on Windows. Your keyboard may also have a function key (Fn) next to the Control key.
Many of these shortcuts correspond to menus you find at the top of the Mac screen. One simple way to discover these new shortcuts is to look to the right of any menu and see the listed shortcuts.
After getting acquainted with the Mac keyboard, here is a list of 10 common shortcuts on Mac that you should know.
1. Exit any program on Mac
Command-Q : If you've used a Windows computer for a while, you're probably familiar with closing applications by clicking the X button in the top corner of the application window. On OS X, you can close the application window with the red X button (located in the top left corner of the window), but this won't exit the application. To completely exit any Mac program on OS X, you have to use the Quit command with this shortcut or click on the application menu, then select Quit.
2. Quickly Close Mac Windows
Command-W, Option-Command-W : Use the first shortcut to close any active application window, use the second shortcut to close all active application windows (or Finder, which is also an application). These shortcuts function similarly to the Close Windows option in Finder and most other applications. For example, in the Chrome browser, use the Command-W shortcut to close the Chrome window and use the Command-Shift-W shortcut to close tabs on Chrome.
3. Open a New Web Browser Tab on Mac
Command-T : Whether you're using a web browser like Safari or Chrome in Finder, you can use this shortcut to open a new tab in the browser. In Chrome, use the Command-Shift-T shortcut to reopen the most recently closed tab. Continue using this shortcut to open additional tabs (or continue opening tabs in reverse chronological order on Chrome).
4. Swiftly Switch Between Applications on Mac
Command-Tab , Command- ~: Use the first shortcut to activate the quick switch between built-in applications on Mac OS X, allowing you to toggle between running applications on Mac. Use the Command-Tab shortcut multiple times to switch to the next application from left to right.
Utilize Command- ~ (tilde, located above the Tab key) to switch between running applications from right to left. Use the Command-Q shortcut to exit the current highlighted program.
5. Cut, Copy, and Paste on Mac
Command-X , Command-C , Command-V : These are the three shortcuts users frequently rely on. Instead of using the mouse to access the Edit menu in an application for these functions, you can use the Command-X to cut, Command-C to copy, and Command-V to paste, saving a considerable amount of time for other tasks.
6. Swift Content Search on Mac
Command-F : Searching is a crucial part of a computer user's workflow, from finding relevant documents to searching for a keyword or phrase in the Safari browser. To search for something in Finder, Safari, or Chrome, or in Pages or Word documents, simply press the Command-F key combination, and a small window will appear. In this window, you can enter your search terms, and you will find what you need.
7. Capture Screenshots on Mac
Command-Shift-3 , Command-Shift-4 : Taking screenshots is a essential task that supports the daily work of many people.
Use the Command-Shift-3 shortcut to capture a screenshot of the entire Mac screen, from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. The Command-Shift-4 shortcut will turn your mouse cursor into a set of crosshairs that you can click and drag to capture a specific area on the screen.
Pro Tip: Press the Spacebar once to capture a screenshot of a specific window, or press and hold the Spacebar to move the selected area around without changing its size.
8. Open Finder Folder on Mac
Command-Shift-A, Command-Shift-U, Command-Shift-D, Command-Shift-H : In Finder, you'll often navigate to one of the common folders: Applications, Utilities, Desktop, and Home. It's straightforward—just press and hold the Command key and the first letter of each folder to access them.
9. Force Quit Mac Applications
Command-Option-Esc : If an application becomes unresponsive, you may need to force quit it. To do this, you can right-click on the application icon on the Dock. However, using the Command-Option-Esc shortcut is much quicker. This shortcut opens the Force Quit dialog, and from there, you can use the Force Quit dialog to force quit the unresponsive application.
Initially, use the Command-Tab shortcut to 'freeze' the active application, or use the Command + Shift + Option + Esc shortcut to exit the running application.
10. Hide Mac Applications
Command-H , Command-Option-H : You're working privately during a meeting, and you don't want your colleagues to see when they walk by. Press the Command-H shortcut to hide the currently active application.
If you just need to conceal the chaos, using the Command-Option-H shortcut will hide all other applications in the background, allowing you to focus on a single application.
Compilation of Handy and Memorable MacBook Shortcuts
- Command + C = Copy
- Command + V = Paste
- Command + Alt + V = Cut (Command + C = Select file to cut)
- Command + Delete = Delete
- Command + Q = Quit the application.
- Command + W = Close the active window.
- Command + M = Minimize.
- Command + Shift + 3 = Capture the entire screen.
- Command + Shift + 4 + drag mouse = Capture a selected area on the screen.
- Command + Shift + 4 + Space = Capture a window when the mouse is pointing at it.
- Spacebar = Quick Look (click on the folder for a preview)
- Command + I (make sure to click on what you need info about)
- Command + ',' = General settings setup
Macbook Shortcut Keys
Web Browsing Shortcuts
- Command + T = New tab
- Command + R = Refresh
- Command + Control + F = Full screen
- Command + D = Bookmark page
- Command + Link = Open link in a new tab
- Command + '+' = Zoom in
- Command + '-' = Zoom out
- Command + 0 = Default size of the webpage
iTunes Shortcuts
- Command + T = Full visualizer
- Spacebar = Play/Pause
- Command + Shift + M = Mini iTunes
Beautiful Effects Shortcuts
- Control + Option + Command + B in Launchpad => Explore it yourself.
- Fn + Shift + F4 or Shift + F4 = Stunning effect when opening Launchpad
- Fn + Shift + F3 or Shift + F3 = Gorgeous effect when opening Application Window
A compilation of shortcuts on MacBook includes all the most frequently used shortcuts to speed up tasks, enhance work efficiency, and especially save time for other activities. Mytour has compiled these MacBook shortcuts to help you operate and perform tasks faster and more efficiently. With this article, we hope you'll gain more tips for using the shortcut combinations on MacBook.
