AI has made everyday tasks more efficient than we could have ever dreamed of.
Yet for some reason, we still get excited over the cheap thrill of discovering a new keyboard shortcut! Well folks, today we’re bringing the cheap thrills to you.
Take a deep breath and get ready for our quick guide to Apple Mac keyboard shortcuts – just remember to bookmark for future reference.
Modifier keys you need to know
Completely new to using Apple Macs?
To help familiarise yourself faster with some of the essential keyboard shortcuts, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what the most common Apple modifier keys look like.
These convenient keys are designed to work in conjunction with others, and are typically found in the bottom row of the keyboard.
The handy table below outlines some of the most frequently used modifier keys on an Apple Mac.
| Modifier Key | Symbol |
| Command (Cmd) | ⌘ |
| Control (Ctrl) | ⌃ |
| Shift | ⇧ |
| Option (Alt) | ⌥ |
| Escape (Esc) | ⎋ |
| Function (Fn) | ⊕ |
Essential Apple Mac keyboard shortcuts
Writing shortcuts
Whether you’re a content writer, general administrator, or marketing manager, mastering these core writing shortcuts on the Apple Mac can support efficiency in all digital roles.
| Keyboard shortcut | Action |
| Command + X | Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard |
| Command + C | Copy the selected item to the Clipboard |
| Command + V | Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app |
| Command + B | Boldface the selected text or turn boldfacing off |
| Command + I | Italicise the selected text or turn italics off |
| Command + K | Add a web link |
| Control + Command + D | Show or hide the definition of the selected word |
| Option + Delete | Delete the word to the left of the insertion point |
| Shift + Command + Plus | Increase the size of the selected item |
| Shift + Command + Minus | Decrease the size of the selected item |
| Fn + Up | Page up |
| Fn + Down | Page down |
| Command + Left Curly Bracket ({) | Left align |
| Command + Right Curly Bracket (}) | Right align |
| Shift + Command + Vertical Bar (|) | Centre align |
All rounders
Searching for more Mac key combinations? A handful of helpful all-rounders include:
| Keyboard shortcut | Action |
| Command + F | Find items in a document or open a Find window |
| Command + S | Save files |
| Command + Shift + N | Create a new folder in Finder or on the desktop |
| Control + Tab | Switch between browser tabs |
| Command + Tab | Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps |
| Command + Z | Undo the previous command |
| Shift + Command + Z | Redo the previous command |
Abort mission
While these Mac keyboard shortcuts are slightly longer than the more basic hotkey combinations, they’re ideal for when you’re ready to effortlessly log off, take a break, or head into a Mac-free meeting.
| Keyboard shortcut | Action |
| Option + Command + Power button/Media Eject | Put your Mac into sleep mode |
| Control + Power button/Media Eject | Show a dialogue asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down |
| Control + Command + Power button/Media Eject | Force your Mac to restart |
| Control + Option + Command + Power button/Media Eject | Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac |
| Control + Command + Q | Lock your screen immediately |
| Option + Command + Esc | Force quit an app |
Track pad hacks
For more ways to make the most of your Mac, discover some useful track pad movements that’ll save you time and make you look like a real Apple pro.
| Track pad move | Action |
| Slide two fingers up or down | Scroll |
| Click with two fingers | Right (secondary) click |
| Pinch with two fingers | Zoom in or out |
| Swipe left from the right edge with two fingers | Show Notification Centre |
| Slide three fingers up | Show Mission Control |
| Swipe three fingers left or right | Switch between open windows |
How to create your own Mac keyboard shortcuts
The fun with Mac keyboard shortcuts doesn’t end there.
You can also create your own to meet your specific needs by following this method:
1. Open ‘System Settings’.
2. Click ‘Keyboard’ in the sidebar.
3. Select ‘Keyboard Shortcuts’.
4. Choose ‘App Shortcuts’ from the left-hand menu.
5. Click the ‘+’ button to add a new shortcut.
6. In the ‘Application’ pop-up menu, select a specific app, or choose ‘All Applications’ for a global shortcut.
7. In the ‘Menu Title’ field, type the command’s name exactly as it appears in the app’s menu, including punctuation and ellipses.
8. In the ‘Keyboard Shortcut’ field, press the desired new key combination.
9. Click ‘Done’!
How did we get here?
The first Apple keyboards had nothing even nearly resembling a shortcut key. Then, out of the mist in 1983, came the Apple 2e with two highly mysterious ‘Apple’ keys either side of the spacebar.
This carried through into the first Macintosh in 1984, where in the menus lay a list of keyboard shortcuts with Apple symbols preceding the likes of C, X and V.
But Steve Jobbs didn’t like the company’s logo being overused like that, and so, the command key was born – and the rest is Apple shortcuts history!
Ready to flex your new shortcut knowledge?
These shortcuts are designed to make the Apple user experience more seamless and intuitive. But when it comes to sourcing our clients the right tech stack without the high upfront cost, we never cut corners.
If you want to find out how else we can make sleek Macs work for your business, simply get in touch today to have a chat about your needs.
Call: 01952876928
Email: sales@leaseloop.co
Online: contact form