Want to get the most out of your Mac? It would be best to learn keyboard shortcuts to help you quickly perform tasks. While you must already be aware of Command + C (copy) and Command + V (paste), these are not the only valuable shortcuts to make your life easier. Furthermore, there are third-party macOS apps like Mouseless that can help you master keyboard shortcuts for the various applications you use to get through your day.
Read along to know some of the top keyboard shortcuts to get around your Mac system and bolster productivity.
Command + Y
Many people use QuickLook to preview the items they seek instantly. You can use QuickLook by selecting an item in Finder > pressing Spacebar.
But why go through such hassle when you can press Command + Y? The keyboard shortcut will bring up the preview and let you take a sneak peek before opening the file.
Command + G
Command + G is the go-to keyboard shortcut for most people trying to find items, such as words on a web page or document. The lesser-known relative is the Command + G keyboard shortcut.
You can use the shortcut to navigate various instances of the items you wish to find. For example, you can press Command + F to look for mentions of Command on this page and then press Command + G to navigate through all of them. If you wish to move back to the previous mention, you can press Shift + Command + G.
Command + W
Use Command + W to close all the active windows you are currently in, and you can press Option + Command + W to terminate all the active application windows. So, you don’t have to close them and waste your time individually.
Command + Comma
Command + Comma is a lesser-known keyboard shortcut but one that’s quite useful.
When you are working on an application and wish to open the Preferences setting of the app, you can navigate to the Menu bar and scroll through the settings to access the Preferences tab. Thanks to Command + Comma shortcut, you don’t have to go through so much hassle. Just press the shortcut, and you’ll reach the Preferences tab in the shortest possible time.
Command & Option
If you have too many open apps and cannot see your desktop, hold Command and Option. Then, keep pressing these two keys and click anywhere on the desktop.
Command + Shift + A
Want to get to your Applications folder? You can hold down Command + Shift + A when in Desktop/Finder view. You can replace the A with U if you want to open your Utilities folder.
Command + L
Command + L is one of the fastest ways to navigate or do a search to a website when you are using Safari. The shortcuts select the address bar, and you can start entering your query. You can even choose the appropriate choice by using the keyboard’s up or down arrow keys. There are also other Safari shortcuts that you’ll learn as you use the web browser.
Command + M
Press Command + M when you wish to minimize the front application window to Dock. For example, you can press Command + Option + M to minimize all the windows that belong to the front application.
Command + Left/Right Arrows
When you want to back a page in your browser window, you need to press the Command button and the left arrow. If you wish to go forward again, press the Command button and the right arrow.
Command + Space
Command + Space is a keyboard shortcut that will transform your life and the way you use your Mac. The combination invokes Spotlight.
Option + Command + Esc
If an application has frozen, you can try pressing Option + Command + Escape. The combination will help you to Force Quit a frozen or rogue application.
Fn Twice
Pressing the fn or function key twice can launch Dictation on your system. Then, you can start speaking and give your fingers some rest. Then, after you have finished dictating, you can press the fn key again.
Fn-Left Arrow (Or Right Arrow)
Do you want to quickly jump to the bottom or head to the top of a web page? It is possible by pressing the fn key and the left arrow (to jump to the top of the page) or the right arrow (to jump to the bottom of the page).
A similar result can be achieved by pressing Command + Down or Command + Up.
Command + P
If you want to open a document or file before it is printed through the File menu, you can choose the document in Finder and hold down the Command + P keys. The document will open, and you will notice the Print dialog box.
Final Thoughts
These are some popular keyboard shortcuts you need to know when using a Mac. These shortcuts will augment your productivity and make your life so much easier.
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