How-to: macOS Keyboard Shortcuts

⌘ (Command), ⌥ (Alt/Option) and ⇧ (Shift) keys. In all Apple Mac Applications the keyboard shortcuts can be found in the drop down menus. If the shortcuts are shown in gray text. This does not mean the shortcut is disabled unless all of the menu text is also gray.

Screen Capture to disk:

Screen to jpeg file on desktop. (To remove the drop shadow see defaults.)

⌘ ⇧ 3

Selection to jpeg file on desktop.

⌘ ⇧ 4 + Drag

Window (click camera) to jpeg file, click with ⌥ to remove the drop shadow.

⌘ ⇧ 4 + Spacebar

In macOS Mojave or later, take a screenshot or make a screen recording.

⌘ ⇧ 5

Screen Capture to clipboard:

Screen to clipboard.

⌘ ⇧ 3 + Ctrl

Selection to clipboard.

⌘ ⇧ 4 + Drag + Ctrl

Window (Camera effect) to clipboard.

⌘ ⇧ 4 + Spacebar + Ctrl

Copy and Paste

Cut.

⌘ X

Copy.

⌘ C

Paste.

⌘ V

Cut and paste of files in the Finder does not work in macOS, but you can Copy and Move.

Move: Move the files in the Clipboard from their original location to the current location.

⌘ ⌥ V

Paste and match style, may not work everywhere.

⌘ ⌥ ⇧ V

Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.

⌥ while dragging.

Move the dragged item to the other volume, instead of copying it.

⌘ while dragging to another volume.

Open the item in a separate window, then close the original window.

⌥ while double-clicking

Open a folder in a separate tab or window.

⌘ while double-clicking

Make an alias of the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.

⌘ ⌥ while dragging

Dock /Switch Applications

Show/Hide Dock.

⌘ ⌥ D

Enter or exit Full Screen mode (or press ⌥ + Green zoom button).

⌘ Ctrl F

Switch applications (even while dragging a file).

⌘ Tab

Switch between document Windows in current application.

⌘ `

Switch application, hide previous one.

⌥ Dock

Switch application, hide all others.

⌘ Dock

Toggle Monochrome Hi Visibility (Accessibility).

Ctrl ⌘ ⌥ 8

Prevent dock icons from moving out of the way (useful when dragging items to the trash).

⌘ +drag

Apple Finder

Explicit COPY (will copy even if destation is on same volume). ⌥ + Drag

Explicit MOVE (will move even if destation is on different volume). ⌘ + Drag

Go to the /Applications folder. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]} ⌘ ⇧ A

Copy the selected files to the clipboard. ⌘ C

Copy File/Folder pathname to the clipboard. ⌘ ⌥ C

Go to the /Computer folder, (a virtual folder displaying all mounted disks). ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]} ⌘ ⇧ C

Go to the ~/Desktop folder. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]} ⌘ ⇧ D

Paste one or more files from the clipboard to the current folder. ⌘ V

MOVE files on the clipboard from their original location to the current folder. ⌘ ⌥ V

Make alias in new location. ⌘ ⌥ + Drag

Show/Hide hidden files (toggle). If you have multiple finder windows open this will take a few seconds to work. ⌘ ⇧ .

Duplicate the selected files. ⌘ D

Open the desktop folder. ⌘ ⇧ D

Eject the selected disk or volume. ⌘ E

Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window. ⌘ F

Force Quit Finder (⌥⇧⌘⎋)
or in the GUI: Open Finder. Click on the Apple menu icon and press and hold the Shift key. Select the Force Quit Finder command. This may be needed if a bunch of folders suddenly appear to be empty. ⌘ ⌥ ⇧ +Esc

Go to the Recents window, 'all my files'. ⌘ ⇧ F

Go to folder — type in a path (with tab-completion). ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]} ⌘ ⇧ G

Go to the Home Folder ~/ ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]} ⌘ ⇧ H

Go to the iCloud Drive folder. ⌘ ⇧ I

Get Info. ⌘ I

Super Get Info (change whatever you click on). ⌘ ⌥ I

Open the Connect to Server window. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]} ⌘ K

Go to network. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]} ⌘ ⇧ K

Make Alias. ⌘ L

Open the Downloads folder. ⌘ ⌥ L

New Finder window. ⌘ N

Create a new folder. ⌘ ⇧ N

Create a new Smart folder (saved search). ⌘ ⌥ N

Open item, or open a dialog to select a file to open. ⌘ O

Open the Documents folder. ⌘ ⇧ O

Open item. ⌘ ↓

Print. ⌘ P

Show or hide the Preview pane in Finder windows. ⌘ ⇧ P

Show or hide the Path Bar at the bottom of Finder windows.
To copy the UNIX path use Get-Info/Inspector and select/copy the 'Where:' text. ⌘ ⌥ P

Quit Application. ⌘ Q

Show original.
(1) When an alias is selected the Finder: show the original file for the selected alias.
(2) In some apps, such as Calendar or Safari, refresh or reload the page. (
3) In Software Update preferences, check for software updates again. ⌘ R

Go to the AirDrop window. ⌘ ⇧ R

Save. ⌘ S

Save as. ⌘ ⇧ S

Show/Hide the Finder sidebar. ⌘ ⌥ S

Open new Tab. ⌘ T

Show or hide the Tab bar in Finder windows. ⌘ ⇧ T

Show or hide the toolbar in Finder windows. ⌘ ⌥ T

Add selected Finder item to the Dock ⌘ ⇧ Ctrl T

Go to the /Applications/Utilities/ folder. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]} ⌘ ⇧ U

Close Window. ⌘ W

Close all Windows. ⌘ ⌥ W

Toggle Slideshow mode (show selected graphic files full-screen). ⌘ ⌥ Y

Cycle finder windows (including desktop). ⌘ ~

Highlight next item. Tab

Open folder in a new window. ⌘ + double-click folder icon

Show/Hide the footer in finder. ⌘ /

Move up one directory. ⌘ ↑

go back. ⌘ [

go forward. ⌘ ]

View items in the current Finder window as icons. ⌘ 1

View items in the current Finder window as a list. ⌘ 2

View items in the current Finder window as columns. ⌘ 3

View items in the current Finder window in a gallery. ⌘ 4

Open preferences for the frontmost app. ⌘ ,

Toggle hidden files (Finder and in apps that support this.). ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]} ⌘ ⇧ .

Move between Folders in Finder, in list view close folder. ←

Move between Folders in Finder, in list view open folder. →

Trash

Delete/Move to Trash.

⌘ ⌫

Empty the Trash.

⌘ ⇧ ⌫

Delete selected item immediately.

⌘ ⌥ ⌫

Empty the Trash without confirmation dialog.

⌘ ⌥ ⇧ ⌫

Empty trash, including any locked files.

⌥ while Emptying the Trash
Function Keys

Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.

⌘ F1/Brightness Down

Turn target display mode on or off.

⌘ F2/Brightness Up

Open System Preferences ➞ Display. This also works with ⌥ F1

⌥ F2/Brightness Up

Turn display off (brightness=0)

Control ⇧Eject

Decrease the display brightness in smaller steps.

⌥ ⇧ F1/Brightness Down

Increase the display brightness in smaller steps.

⌥ ⇧ F2/Brightness Up

Increase brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.

Ctrl Brightness Up

Decrease brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.

Ctrl Brightness Down

Adjust the display brightness on an external display, if supported.

⌥ ⇧ Ctrl Brightness Up (or Down)

Open Mission control / Spaces.

F3 or Ctrl + ↑

Show the desktop.

⌘ F3/Mission Control

Open Mission Control preferences.

⌥ F3/Mission Control

Toggle Space.

F8

Exposé - Show all open windows.

F9

Exposé - Show all open windows for an application.

F10

Hide all windows.

F11

Open/close Dashboard.

F12
Add ⇧ to the above F.Keys for a slow-motion effect

Open Sound preferences. Also works with Volume down(F11).

⌥ F12/Volume Up

Adjust the sound volume in smaller steps. Also works with ⌥ ⇧ Volume Down(F11).

⌥ ⇧ F12/Volume Up

Open Sound preferences.

⌥ F12/Volume up/down

Window management:

Use the app in full screen, if supported by the app.

⌘ Ctrl F

Hide the windows of the front app.

⌘ H

View the frontmost app but hide all other applications.

⌘ ⌥ H

Minimize the front window to the Dock.

⌘ M

Minimize all windows of the front app.

⌘ ⌥ M

Hide all other apps.

⌥ ⌘ + click on dock icon.
Hide all other apps.
⌥ ⌘ + click inside app window.
Hide all other apps that are in front.

⌥ + click dock icon (of running app)

Hide all other apps that are in front.

⌥ + click inside app window.

QuickLook

Activate QuickLook on the selected file(s).

Spacebar (or ⌘ Y)

Full Screen/slideshow QuickLook on the selected file(s).

⌘ ⌥ Y

Terminal

Move the insertion point (this emits arrow keys).

⌥ + Click

Switch windows.

⌘ left/right arrow

Switch to 1st terminal window.

⌘ 1

Switch to 2nd, 3rd window.

⌘ 2, ⌘ 3...

QuickTime Player

Play backwards/speed.

J

Stop

K (also spacebar and . )

Play forwards/speed.

L

Move one frame forward (or 0.25 sec on audio).

→

Move one frame back.

←

Spotlight

Activate/deactivate Spotlight.

⌘ Spacebar

Open the current file’s location in finder.

⌘ R

Open Finder Spotlight search window.

⌘ ⌥ Spacebar

Open the top/next item.

⌘ Return / ⌘ Click

Move to next/previous category.

⌘ ↓ / ↑

Editing Text (email, TextEdit etc)

Move one word left.

⌥ ←

Move one word right.

⌥ →

Beginning of Sentence (Home).

Ctrl A

End of Sentence (End).

Ctrl E

Beginning of line.

⌘ ←

End of line.

⌘ →

Open Emoji character panel 😎 (Emoji, symbols and punctuation)

⌘ Ctrl Spacebar

Enter a Double quote “ (open/left)

⌥ [

Enter a Double quote ” (close/right)

⌥ ⇧ [

Enter a Single quote ‘ (open/left)

⌥ ]

Enter a Single quote ’ (close/right) Also Apostrophe: O’Brien

⌥ ⇧ ]

Scroll one page up. (cursor retains position)

⤒

Scroll one page down. (cursor retains position)

⤓

Move one page up. (reposition cursor)

⌥ ⤒

Move one page down.

⌥ ⤓

Scroll to beginning of document.

⌘ ↑ or ↖

Scroll to end of document.

⌘ ↓ or ↘
Add shift key ⇧ to the above to also select the text.

Delete previous word.

⌥ ⌫

Delete next word.

⌥ ⌦

Delete next character (Del)

Ctrl D

Show hidden files in open and save dialogs. (Snow Leopard only)

⌘ ⇧ .

Open Application Help (Search)

⌘ ⇧ /

Jump to exact scrollbar location.

⌥ Scrollbar

Scroll page at a time (page up/down)

⌥ Scrollbar arrows

Startup on Apple silicon

Boot into Safe mode:

Shut down.

Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.

Select your startup disk, then press and hold the Shift key while clicking “Continue in Safe Mode”.
This will delete some system caches and disable login items.

For Target mode on Apple silicon: Utilities ➞ Share Disk ➞ Select disk/volume ➞ Start Sharing.

Startup on an intel mac

Boot into Safe mode:

Shut down, and wait 10 seconds before pressing the Power Button to start up.

As soon as you hear the startup chime/chord, press and hold down ⇧ (Shift).

Once the Apple logo and progress bar appear, you can release the Shift key.
This will delete some system caches and disable login items.

Start up into macOS Recovery, Restore from Time Machine/Repair/reinstall macOS ⌘ R

Start up using Internet Recovery ⌘ ⌥ R

Startup Manager - This will allow you to Select a startup disk or resume a hung software update window. Option

Start up in Single-User mode (command line) Disabled in macOS Mojave or later. ⌘ S

Force macOS startup. X

Start up from a CD (if it has a system folder). C

Start Apple Diagnostics from first partition (or Apple Hardware test on Pre 2012 Macs). D

Attempt to start up from a network server(NetBoot). N

Force PowerBook screen reset. R

Start up in FireWire Target Disk mode. T

Start up in Verbose mode. ⌘ V

Bypass primary startup volume (will seek DVD or external disk) ⌘ ⌥ ⇧ ⌫

PRAM hardware Reset - Hold down Cmd-Option-R with your left hand, then press
POWER to start up and immediately press P with your right hand.
At the prompt type: 'reset-nvram' or 'reset-all'. See HT204063 [intel macs only]. ⌘ ⌥ P R

Open Firmware ⌘ ⌥ O F

Eject CD (press during/after startup chime), see also drutil eject ⌘ E

Eject CD (hold mouse button down during startup) mouse

To return to normal mode, restart the Mac without holding down any keys.

Sleep, log out and Shut down shortcuts:

Sleep now. POWER

Hold for 10 seconds (force shut down). POWER

Immediately lock the screen. ⌘ Ctrl Q

Log out of your macOS user account, prompt to confirm. ⌘ ⇧ Q

Log out immediately without confirming. ⌘ ⌥ ⇧ Q

Restart, Sleep, Shutdown dialog box. Ctrl Eject

Sleep the display now. Ctrl ⇧ Eject

Restart, Sleep, Shutdown dialog box (n/a with Touch ID sensor). Ctrl POWER

Sleep the display now (n/a with Touch ID sensor). Ctrl ⇧ POWER

Sleep the computer now. ⌘ ⌥ Eject

Sleep the computer now (n/a with Touch ID sensor). ⌘ ⌥ POWER

Shut down the computer now (Graceful Shutdown). ⌘ ⌥ Ctrl Eject

Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save. ⌘ Ctrl Eject

Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save. (n/a with Touch ID sensor). ⌘ Ctrl POWER

Force Quit menu - selectively force quit applications. ⌘ ⌥ Esc

Hold for three seconds to Force Quit the foremost application. ⌘ ⌥ ⇧ Esc

Stop a process. Close pop-up notification. ⌘ .(period)

To Restart a system that fails a normal shutdown, open a terminal window and type: sudo shutdown -r now

⌘ is the Command or Apple key
⌥ is the Option or Alt key
⇧ is the Shift key
⌫ is the Backspace key

System Preferences

To disable or change any keyboard shortcuts, open System Preferences ➞ Keyboard ➞ Shortcuts
per-application settings can be added under App Shortcuts press [+]
To reset to the default settings, open Keyboard Shortcuts and press [Restore Defaults]

To enable keyboard control in dialog boxes: Keyboard ➞ Full Keyboard Access=All Controls
Full keyboard access will allow you to use Tab,Shift-Tab,Enter, Esc and the Space bar to navigate a dialogue box.

To display an on screen keyboard: System Preferences ➞ Language & Text ➞ Input sources ➞ Keyboard/Character viewer

You can discover additional keyboard shortcuts by opening a menu and pressing the ⌥ (Option) and ⇧ (Shift) keys. For example, in Finder, open the File menu and press the ⌥ (Option) key.

'Command + Tab' cycles through Applications,
'Command + ~ (tilde)' cycles through an individual Applications windows"

Related macOS commands

How-to: Bash Terminal Keyboard shortcuts
nvram - Manipulate or reset firmware variables.
macOS Key bindings - Remap the Home and End Keys.
screencapture - Take Screenshots.
HT102439 - How to use the function keys F1, F2.. on your Mac (may also need to press Fn+Esc to lock in this change).
HT201236 - Keyboard Shortcuts Quick Reference (Apple).
HT204895 - Use Multi-Touch gestures on your Mac (Apple).
Disable or Change “global” keyboard shortcuts on Mac (Apple).
37 Secret Features of the Mac Keyboard - MacMost.
Applications:Utilities:Grab - Copy the screen to a TIFF file with (optional) 10 second delay.
DanRodney - macOS Keyboard Shortcuts.

Screen Capture to disk:
Screen to jpeg file on desktop. (To remove the drop shadow see defaults.)	⌘ ⇧ 3
Selection to jpeg file on desktop.	⌘ ⇧ 4 + Drag
Window (click camera) to jpeg file, click with ⌥ to remove the drop shadow.	⌘ ⇧ 4 + Spacebar
In macOS Mojave or later, take a screenshot or make a screen recording.	⌘ ⇧ 5
Screen Capture to clipboard:
Screen to clipboard.	⌘ ⇧ 3 + Ctrl
Selection to clipboard.	⌘ ⇧ 4 + Drag + Ctrl
Window (Camera effect) to clipboard.	⌘ ⇧ 4 + Spacebar + Ctrl
Copy and Paste
Cut.	⌘ X
Copy.	⌘ C
Paste.	⌘ V
Cut and paste of files in the Finder does not work in macOS, but you can Copy and Move.
Move: Move the files in the Clipboard from their original location to the current location.	⌘ ⌥ V
Paste and match style, may not work everywhere.	⌘ ⌥ ⇧ V
Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.	⌥ while dragging.
Move the dragged item to the other volume, instead of copying it.	⌘ while dragging to another volume.
Open the item in a separate window, then close the original window.	⌥ while double-clicking
Open a folder in a separate tab or window.	⌘ while double-clicking
Make an alias of the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.	⌘ ⌥ while dragging
Dock /Switch Applications
Show/Hide Dock.	⌘ ⌥ D
Enter or exit Full Screen mode (or press ⌥ + Green zoom button).	⌘ Ctrl F
Switch applications (even while dragging a file).	⌘ Tab
Switch between document Windows in current application.	⌘ `
Switch application, hide previous one.	⌥ Dock
Switch application, hide all others.	⌘ Dock
Toggle Monochrome Hi Visibility (Accessibility).	Ctrl ⌘ ⌥ 8
Prevent dock icons from moving out of the way (useful when dragging items to the trash).	⌘ +drag
Apple Finder
Explicit COPY (will copy even if destation is on same volume).	⌥ + Drag
Explicit MOVE (will move even if destation is on different volume).	⌘ + Drag
Go to the /Applications folder. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]}	⌘ ⇧ A
Copy the selected files to the clipboard.	⌘ C
Copy File/Folder pathname to the clipboard.	⌘ ⌥ C
Go to the /Computer folder, (a virtual folder displaying all mounted disks). ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]}	⌘ ⇧ C
Go to the ~/Desktop folder. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]}	⌘ ⇧ D
Paste one or more files from the clipboard to the current folder.	⌘ V
MOVE files on the clipboard from their original location to the current folder.	⌘ ⌥ V
Make alias in new location.	⌘ ⌥ + Drag
Show/Hide hidden files (toggle). If you have multiple finder windows open this will take a few seconds to work.	⌘ ⇧ .
Duplicate the selected files.	⌘ D
Open the desktop folder.	⌘ ⇧ D
Eject the selected disk or volume.	⌘ E
Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.	⌘ F
Force Quit Finder (⌥⇧⌘⎋) or in the GUI: Open Finder. Click on the Apple menu icon and press and hold the Shift key. Select the Force Quit Finder command. This may be needed if a bunch of folders suddenly appear to be empty.	⌘ ⌥ ⇧ +Esc
Go to the Recents window, 'all my files'.	⌘ ⇧ F
Go to folder — type in a path (with tab-completion). ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]}	⌘ ⇧ G
Go to the Home Folder ~/ ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]}	⌘ ⇧ H
Go to the iCloud Drive folder.	⌘ ⇧ I
Get Info.	⌘ I
Super Get Info (change whatever you click on).	⌘ ⌥ I
Open the Connect to Server window. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]}	⌘ K
Go to network. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]}	⌘ ⇧ K
Make Alias.	⌘ L
Open the Downloads folder.	⌘ ⌥ L
New Finder window.	⌘ N
Create a new folder.	⌘ ⇧ N
Create a new Smart folder (saved search).	⌘ ⌥ N
Open item, or open a dialog to select a file to open.	⌘ O
Open the Documents folder.	⌘ ⇧ O
Open item.	⌘ ↓
Print.	⌘ P
Show or hide the Preview pane in Finder windows.	⌘ ⇧ P
Show or hide the Path Bar at the bottom of Finder windows. To copy the UNIX path use Get-Info/Inspector and select/copy the 'Where:' text.	⌘ ⌥ P
Quit Application.	⌘ Q
Show original. (1) When an alias is selected the Finder: show the original file for the selected alias. (2) In some apps, such as Calendar or Safari, refresh or reload the page. ( 3) In Software Update preferences, check for software updates again.	⌘ R
Go to the AirDrop window.	⌘ ⇧ R
Save.	⌘ S
Save as.	⌘ ⇧ S
Show/Hide the Finder sidebar.	⌘ ⌥ S
Open new Tab.	⌘ T
Show or hide the Tab bar in Finder windows.	⌘ ⇧ T
Show or hide the toolbar in Finder windows.	⌘ ⌥ T
Add selected Finder item to the Dock	⌘ ⇧ Ctrl T
Go to the /Applications/Utilities/ folder. ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]}	⌘ ⇧ U
Close Window.	⌘ W
Close all Windows.	⌘ ⌥ W
Toggle Slideshow mode (show selected graphic files full-screen).	⌘ ⌥ Y
Cycle finder windows (including desktop).	⌘ ~
Highlight next item.	Tab
Open folder in a new window.	⌘ + double-click folder icon
Show/Hide the footer in finder.	⌘ /
Move up one directory.	⌘ ↑
go back.	⌘ [
go forward.	⌘ ]
View items in the current Finder window as icons.	⌘ 1
View items in the current Finder window as a list.	⌘ 2
View items in the current Finder window as columns.	⌘ 3
View items in the current Finder window in a gallery.	⌘ 4
Open preferences for the frontmost app.	⌘ ,
Toggle hidden files (Finder and in apps that support this.). ^{[Also works in Open/Save dialogue boxes]}	⌘ ⇧ .
Move between Folders in Finder, in list view close folder.	←
Move between Folders in Finder, in list view open folder.	→
Trash
Delete/Move to Trash.	⌘ ⌫
Empty the Trash.	⌘ ⇧ ⌫
Delete selected item immediately.	⌘ ⌥ ⌫
Empty the Trash without confirmation dialog.	⌘ ⌥ ⇧ ⌫
Empty trash, including any locked files.	⌥ while Emptying the Trash

Function Keys
Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.	⌘ F1/Brightness Down
Turn target display mode on or off.	⌘ F2/Brightness Up
Open System Preferences ➞ Display. This also works with ⌥ F1	⌥ F2/Brightness Up
Turn display off (brightness=0)	Control ⇧Eject
Decrease the display brightness in smaller steps.	⌥ ⇧ F1/Brightness Down
Increase the display brightness in smaller steps.	⌥ ⇧ F2/Brightness Up
Increase brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.	Ctrl Brightness Up
Decrease brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.	Ctrl Brightness Down
Adjust the display brightness on an external display, if supported.	⌥ ⇧ Ctrl Brightness Up (or Down)
Open Mission control / Spaces.	F3 or Ctrl + ↑
Show the desktop.	⌘ F3/Mission Control
Open Mission Control preferences.	⌥ F3/Mission Control
Toggle Space.	F8
Exposé - Show all open windows.	F9
Exposé - Show all open windows for an application.	F10
Hide all windows.	F11
Open/close Dashboard.	F12 Add ⇧ to the above F.Keys for a slow-motion effect
Open Sound preferences. Also works with Volume down(F11).	⌥ F12/Volume Up
Adjust the sound volume in smaller steps. Also works with ⌥ ⇧ Volume Down(F11).	⌥ ⇧ F12/Volume Up
Open Sound preferences.	⌥ F12/Volume up/down
Window management:
Use the app in full screen, if supported by the app.	⌘ Ctrl F
Hide the windows of the front app.	⌘ H
View the frontmost app but hide all other applications.	⌘ ⌥ H
Minimize the front window to the Dock.	⌘ M
Minimize all windows of the front app.	⌘ ⌥ M
Hide all other apps.	⌥ ⌘ + click on dock icon.
Hide all other apps.	⌥ ⌘ + click inside app window.
Hide all other apps that are in front.	⌥ + click dock icon (of running app)
Hide all other apps that are in front.	⌥ + click inside app window.
QuickLook
Activate QuickLook on the selected file(s).	Spacebar (or ⌘ Y)
Full Screen/slideshow QuickLook on the selected file(s).	⌘ ⌥ Y
Terminal
Move the insertion point (this emits arrow keys).	⌥ + Click
Switch windows.	⌘ left/right arrow
Switch to 1st terminal window.	⌘ 1
Switch to 2nd, 3rd window.	⌘ 2, ⌘ 3...
QuickTime Player
Play backwards/speed.	J
Stop	K (also spacebar and . )
Play forwards/speed.	L
Move one frame forward (or 0.25 sec on audio).	→
Move one frame back.	←
Spotlight
Activate/deactivate Spotlight.	⌘ Spacebar
Open the current file’s location in finder.	⌘ R
Open Finder Spotlight search window.	⌘ ⌥ Spacebar
Open the top/next item.	⌘ Return / ⌘ Click
Move to next/previous category.	⌘ ↓ / ↑
Editing Text (email, TextEdit etc)
Move one word left.	⌥ ←
Move one word right.	⌥ →
Beginning of Sentence (Home).	Ctrl A
End of Sentence (End).	Ctrl E
Beginning of line.	⌘ ←
End of line.	⌘ →
Open Emoji character panel 😎 (Emoji, symbols and punctuation)	⌘ Ctrl Spacebar
Enter a Double quote “ (open/left)	⌥ [
Enter a Double quote ” (close/right)	⌥ ⇧ [
Enter a Single quote ‘ (open/left)	⌥ ]
Enter a Single quote ’ (close/right) Also Apostrophe: O’Brien	⌥ ⇧ ]
Scroll one page up. (cursor retains position)	⤒
Scroll one page down. (cursor retains position)	⤓
Move one page up. (reposition cursor)	⌥ ⤒
Move one page down.	⌥ ⤓
Scroll to beginning of document.	⌘ ↑ or ↖
Scroll to end of document.	⌘ ↓ or ↘ Add shift key ⇧ to the above to also select the text.
Delete previous word.	⌥ ⌫
Delete next word.	⌥ ⌦
Delete next character (Del)	Ctrl D
Show hidden files in open and save dialogs. (Snow Leopard only)	⌘ ⇧ .
Open Application Help (Search)	⌘ ⇧ /
Jump to exact scrollbar location.	⌥ Scrollbar
Scroll page at a time (page up/down)	⌥ Scrollbar arrows

Start up into macOS Recovery, Restore from Time Machine/Repair/reinstall macOS	⌘ R
Start up using Internet Recovery	⌘ ⌥ R
Startup Manager - This will allow you to Select a startup disk or resume a hung software update window.	Option
Start up in Single-User mode (command line) Disabled in macOS Mojave or later.	⌘ S
Force macOS startup.	X
Start up from a CD (if it has a system folder).	C
Start Apple Diagnostics from first partition (or Apple Hardware test on Pre 2012 Macs).	D
Attempt to start up from a network server(NetBoot).	N
Force PowerBook screen reset.	R
Start up in FireWire Target Disk mode.	T
Start up in Verbose mode.	⌘ V
Bypass primary startup volume (will seek DVD or external disk)	⌘ ⌥ ⇧ ⌫
PRAM hardware Reset - Hold down Cmd-Option-R with your left hand, then press POWER to start up and immediately press P with your right hand. At the prompt type: 'reset-nvram' or 'reset-all'. See HT204063 [intel macs only].	⌘ ⌥ P R
Open Firmware	⌘ ⌥ O F
Eject CD (press during/after startup chime), see also drutil eject	⌘ E
Eject CD (hold mouse button down during startup)	mouse

Sleep now.	POWER
Hold for 10 seconds (force shut down).	POWER
Immediately lock the screen.	⌘ Ctrl Q
Log out of your macOS user account, prompt to confirm.	⌘ ⇧ Q
Log out immediately without confirming.	⌘ ⌥ ⇧ Q
Restart, Sleep, Shutdown dialog box.	Ctrl Eject
Sleep the display now.	Ctrl ⇧ Eject
Restart, Sleep, Shutdown dialog box (n/a with Touch ID sensor).	Ctrl POWER
Sleep the display now (n/a with Touch ID sensor).	Ctrl ⇧ POWER
Sleep the computer now.	⌘ ⌥ Eject
Sleep the computer now (n/a with Touch ID sensor).	⌘ ⌥ POWER
Shut down the computer now (Graceful Shutdown).	⌘ ⌥ Ctrl Eject
Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save.	⌘ Ctrl Eject
Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save. (n/a with Touch ID sensor).	⌘ Ctrl POWER
Force Quit menu - selectively force quit applications.	⌘ ⌥ Esc
Hold for three seconds to Force Quit the foremost application.	⌘ ⌥ ⇧ Esc
Stop a process. Close pop-up notification.	⌘ .(period)