May 10, 2022, 10:10 am | Read time: 4 minutes
By pressing multiple keys, known as keyboard shortcuts, you can save a lot of time when working on a PC or laptop. These handy shortcuts can even replace the mouse if needed. TECHBOOK reveals the most important keyboard shortcuts for Apple users working with a MacBook or a Mac.
Em dashes, screenshots for the clipboard, Spotlight search, or just regular work–keyboard shortcuts simplify everyday tasks with notebooks and desktop computers, regardless of the operating system. Sometimes, the key commands are the same for both Windows and macOS, but in many cases, they differ significantly. In the following article, you’ll find a list of the most practical and frequently used keyboard shortcuts for Apple’s MacBook and Mac.
Are you a Windows user? We have the 25 most common combinations for Windows here for you.
Key Explanation:
cmd: command
alt: option
ctrl: control
shift: shift key
Would you rather watch than read? We also reveal the practical keyboard shortcuts for the MacBook and Mac in our video:
Same Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and macOS
Switchers moving from Windows to Apple don’t have to completely abandon all familiar keyboard shortcuts. Some functions, like copying and pasting objects, remain the same. Here is a selection of these shortcuts that apply to both Windows and macOS:
- cmd + X: Cut the selected object and copy it to the clipboard
- cmd + C: Copy the selected object to the clipboard
- cmd + V: Paste the object from the clipboard
- cmd + Z: Undo the previous action (Shift + cmd + Z to redo the undone action)
- cmd + A: Select all
- cmd + F: Open the search window
- cmd + P: Print the document
- cmd + S: Save the document
- cmd + T: Open a new tab in an app
Frequently Used Shortcuts on macOS
Other frequently used shortcuts apply only to macOS, as they sometimes involve system-specific functions that don’t exist in Windows in the same form:
- cmd + W: Close only the front window
- alt + cmd + W: Close all windows
- alt + cmd + esc: Force quit an app
- cmd + Spacebar: Show Spotlight search field
- ctrl + cmd + Spacebar: Show character viewer
- alt + – (Minus): Long em dash
Photo: Getty Images
25 Windows Key Combinations You Should Know
Federal Office for Information Security Warns of Keyboard Shortcut Trick
Taking Screenshots with Apple
To capture entire screen photos or just parts of the screen, Apple generally offers the function of pressing the control key to copy the screenshot to the clipboard instead of saving it as a file:
- cmd + shift + 3: Saves the entire screen as a file.
- cmd + ctrl + shift + 3: Saves the entire screen to the clipboard.
- cmd + shift + 4: Saves a selected area (crosshair appears for selection and area is activated upon releasing the crosshair) as a file.
- cmd + ctrl + shift + 4: Saves a selected area (crosshair appears for selection and area is activated upon releasing the crosshair) to the clipboard.
- cmd + shift + 4 + Spacebar: The crosshair becomes a camera icon, allowing you to click an open window and save it as a file.
- cmd + shift + 5: Saves a customizable area as a file. The area retains the same size and position until changed again.
- cmd + ctrl + shift + 5: Saves a customizable area to the clipboard.
In some cases, taking a screenshot doesn’t work. This is usually due to the program from which you want to take a screenshot. For example, if you are actively using the DVD player, you cannot take screenshots of the displayed content or other windows due to copyright protection.
Log Out, Sleep Mode, and Shut Down
This is where the power button comes into play:
- alt + cmd + Power Button/alt + cmd + “Eject” key: Sleep mode
- ctrl + shift + Power Button/ctrl + shift + “Eject” key: Sleep mode for the display
- ctrl + Power Button/ctrl + “Eject” key: Opens a dialog box offering “Restart,” “Sleep,” and “Shut Down” options.
- Shift + cmd + Q: Log out