Master Mac Shortcuts: Save Time with These Keyboard Tricks

Mastering Mac keyboard shortcuts can save you time, streamline your workflow, and make navigating your Mac a breeze. Here are a few important Mac shortcuts to help you paint more quickly and more effectively.

1. Basic Navigation Shortcuts

Command + Tab: Quickly switch between open apps. Hold Command and press Tab to cycle through your apps.

Command + Space: Open Spotlight search, allowing you to quickly search files, apps, and web suggestions.

Command + H: Hide the current app. To bring it back, use Command + Tab.

2. File Management

Command + N: Open a new Finder window.

Command + Shift + N: Create a new folder in Finder.

Command + Delete: Move selected items to the trash.

Command + Shift + Delete: Empty the trash (press Option to bypass the confirmation dialog).

Command + Up Arrow: Go to the previous folder in Finder.

Command + Down Arrow: Open the selected file or folder.

3. Text Editing Shortcuts

Command + C: Copy selected text.

Command + V: Paste copied text.

Command + X: Cut selected text.

Command + A: Select all text in a document.

Command + Z: Undo the last action (use Command + Shift + Z to redo).

Option + Delete: Delete the word to the left of the cursor, saving you from deleting one character at a time.

Command + Left Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of a line (use the Right Arrow to move to the end).

4. Window and App Management

Command + W: Close the current window or tab.

Command + M: Minimize the active window.

Command + Q: Quit the current app.

Command + Option + Esc: Force quit unresponsive apps.

Command + ` (backtick): Switch between multiple windows of the same app, useful for multitasking with multiple documents.

5. Screenshots and Screen Recording

Command + Shift + 4: Capture a selected portion of your screen. Drag to select the area you want to capture.

Command + Shift + 5: Open the screenshot toolbar for additional screen capture options, including screen recording.

Command + Shift + 3: Capture the entire screen.

6. Finder Quick Actions

Command + I: Get information about the selected file or folder.

Command + Option + Y: Quick Look for a quick preview of the file’s contents.

Command + D: Duplicate a selected file.

Learning these little tricks can speed up daily tasks and improve productivity, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced Mac user. Practice these shortcuts for a few minutes a day, and it will soon become second nature. By adding these powerful shortcuts to your setup, you’ll get through your Mac faster and more efficiently.