OS X: Keyboard shortcuts
A keyboard shortcut is a way to invoke a function in OS X by pressing a combination of keys on your keyboard. Learn about common OS X keyboard shortcuts.
Using keyboard shortcuts
To use a keyboard shortcut, press a modifier key at the same time as a character key. For example, pressing the Command key (it has a symbol) and then the "c" key copies whatever is currently selected to the Clipboard. This is also known as the Command-C keyboard shortcut. You can see the keys that map to many shortcuts by looking in an app's menus.
A modifier key is a part of many keyboard shortcuts. A modifier key alters the way other keystrokes or mouse/trackpad clicks are interpreted by OS X. Modifier keys include: Command, Shift, Option, Control, Caps Lock, and the fn key. These keys are represented by special symbols when you see them in menus and other parts of OS X:
⌘ | Command key |
⌃ | Control key |
⌥ | Option key |
⇧ | Shift Key |
⇪ | Caps Lock |
fn | Function Key |
When the fn key is used with the top row of keys on your keyboard, it makes them perform a different function. For example, if a keyboard shortcut is Control-F2, you press fn-Control-Brightness on your keyboard. If you look closely at the Brightness key at the top of your keyboard, there is an F2 symbol indicating that this key works as a function key (F2 or function 2) when you hold fn on the keyboard.
If you use a non-Apple keyboard that includes a Windows key, the Alt key is the same thing as pressing Option, and the Windows key is the same thing as Command. You can change how these keys are interpreted from the Keyboard pane of System Preferences.
Startup shortcuts
Use these key combinations to change how your computer starts up. Press and hold the key or combination of keys immediately after starting your Mac until the expected function occurs or appears. For example, press and hold the Option key during startup until the Startup Manager appears.
Note: If you're using a keyboard manufactured by someone other than Apple, the Alt key is usually the same key as the Option key. If this modifier doesn't appear to work, try using an Apple keyboard instead.
Key or key combination | What it does |
Option or Alt | Display all startup volumes (Startup Manager) |
Shift | Start up in Safe Mode |
Left Shift | Prevent automatic login |
C | Start from bootable media (DVD, CD, USB thumb drive) |
T | Start up in Target disk mode |
N | Start from a NetBoot server |
X | Force OS X startup (when non-OS X startup volumes are available) |
D | Use Apple Hardware Test |
Command-R | Use OS X Recovery (OS X Lion or later) |
Command-V | Start up in Verbose Mode |
Command-S | Start up in Single User Mode |
Command-Option-P-R | Reset NVRAM / parameter RAM |
Hold down the Media Eject (⏏) key or F12 key, or mouse or trackpad button | Eject removable discs |
Sleep and shut down shortcuts
Use these key combinations after your Mac has started up to sleep, shut down, or restart your computer.
Key or key combination | What it does |
Power button | Tap to power on. Once powered on, tap the power button to wake or sleep in OS X Mavericks. |
Hold down the power button for 1.5 seconds | Show the restart / sleep / shutdown dialog in OS X Mavericks |
Hold down the power button for 5 seconds | Force the Mac to power off |
Command-Control-power button | Force the Mac to restart |
Control-Media Eject (⏏) | Show restart / sleep / shutdown dialog |
Command-Option-Media Eject (⏏) | Put the computer to sleep |
Command-Control-Media Eject (⏏) | Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then restart the computer |
Command-Option-Control-Media Eject (⏏) | Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then shut down the computer |
Shift-Control-Media Eject (⏏) | Put all displays to sleep |
Taking screenshots
Use these shortcuts to take a picture of what you see on your screen. You can also use Grab to take screenshots, an app located in the Utilities folder.
Key combination | What it does |
Command-Shift-3 | Capture the screen to a file |
Command-Shift-Control-3 | Capture the screen to the Clipboard |
Command-Shift-4 | Capture a selection of the screen to a file, or press the spacebar to capture just a window |
Command-Shift-Control-4 | Capture a selection of the screen to the Clipboard, , or press the spacebar to capture just a window |
Application and other OS X shortcuts
These keyboard shortcuts work in most apps.
Key combination | What it does |
Command-Space bar | Show or hide the Spotlight search field (if multiple languages are being used simultaneously, this shortcut may rotate through enabled script systems instead) |
Command-Option-Space bar | Show the Spotlight search results window (if multiple languages are installed, may rotate through keyboard layouts and input methods within a script) |
Command-Tab | Move forward to the next most recently used application in a list of open applications |
Command-Shift-Tab | Move backward through a list of open applications (sorted by recent use) |
