General keyboard shortcuts Windows and Mac OS X
General keyboard shortcuts « Welcome to Fun Master blog.
I can not speak for just how fun this other blog, linked above, is (the navigation is lacking a bit), but this list of keyboard shortcuts is very good. Use them carefully, at least until you get the hang of them, something like "SHIFT+DELETE" can cause you some stress if you did not really want to permanently want to delete something. Keyboard shortcuts are faster than mouse clicks by a quite a bit. Once you start using them, it is hard to believe you ever got along without them.
I am also linking to the WikiPedia table too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_keyboard_shortcuts I do not think it is as complete as the ones below but it does have shortcuts for the two most popular Linux desktop flavors, KDE and Gnome. One of the things that these shortcuts point out, is just how similar the different operating systems really are in their functionality.
There are quite a few shortcuts listed so you may want to save this list as a pdf so you can look it up later. Look at the bottom of the page to email this post. Download the .pdf Keyboard_shortcuts_Windows_Mac_OS_X or the .doc Keyboard_shortcuts_Windows_Mac_OS_X
General keyboard shortcuts
* CTRL+C (Copy)
* CTRL+X (Cut)
* CTRL+V (Paste)
* CTRL+Z (Undo)
* DELETE (Delete)
* SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)
* CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)
* CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)
* F2 key (Rename the selected item)
* CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)
* CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)
* CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)
* CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)
* CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)
* SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)
* CTRL+A (Select all)
* F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)
* ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)
* ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)
* ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)
* ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)
* CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
* ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)
* ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)
* F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)
* F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
* SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)
* ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)
* CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)
* ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)
* Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)
* F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)
* RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)
* LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)
* F5 key (Update the active window)
* BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
* ESC (Cancel the current task)
* SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)
* CTRL+SHIFT+ESC (Open Task Manager)
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
If you press SHIFT+F8 in extended selection list boxes, you enable extended selection mode. In this mode, you can use an arrow key to move a cursor without changing the selection. You can press CTRL+SPACEBAR or SHIFT+SPACEBAR to adjust the selection. To cancel extended selection mode, press SHIFT+F8 again. Extended selection mode cancels itself when you move the focus to another control.
* CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)
* CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)
* TAB (Move forward through the options)
* SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)
* ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)
* ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)
* SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)
* Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)
* F1 key (Display Help)
* F4 key (Display the items in the active list)
* BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)
Microsoft natural keyboard shortcuts
* Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)
* Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)
* Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)
* Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)
* Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)
* Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)
* Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)
* CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)
* Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)
* Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)
* Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)
* Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)
Accessibility keyboard shortcuts
* Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)
* Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)
* Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)
* SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)
* NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)
* Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager)
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
* END (Display the bottom of the active window)
* HOME (Display the top of the active window)
* NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder)
* NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) (Display the contents of the selected folder)
* NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) (Collapse the selected folder)
* LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder)
* RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder)
Shortcut keys for Character Map
After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:
* RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)
* LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)
* UP ARROW (Move up one row)
* DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)
* PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)
* PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)
* HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)
* END (Move to the end of the line)
* CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)
* CTRL+END (Move to the last character)
* SPACEBAR (Switch between Enlarged and Normal mode when a character is selected)
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) main window keyboard shortcuts
* CTRL+O (Open a saved console)
* CTRL+N (Open a new console)
* CTRL+S (Save the open console)
* CTRL+M (Add or remove a console item)
* CTRL+W (Open a new window)
* F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
* ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the MMC window menu)
* ALT+F4 (Close the console)
* ALT+A (Display the Action menu)
* ALT+V (Display the View menu)
* ALT+F (Display the File menu)
* ALT+O (Display the Favorites menu)
MMC console window keyboard shortcuts
* CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)
* ALT+Minus sign (-) (Display the window menu for the active console window)
* SHIFT+F10 (Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item)
* F1 key (Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item)
* F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
* CTRL+F10 (Maximize the active console window)
* CTRL+F5 (Restore the active console window)
* ALT+ENTER (Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item)
* F2 key (Rename the selected item)
* CTRL+F4 (Close the active console window. When a console has only one console window, this shortcut closes the console)
Remote desktop connection navigation
* CTRL+ALT+END (Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box)
* ALT+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)
* ALT+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)
* ALT+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)
* ALT+HOME (Display the Start menu)
* CTRL+ALT+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen)
* ALT+DELETE (Display the Windows menu)
* CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-) (Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
* CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+) (Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
Microsoft Internet Explorer navigation
* CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)
* CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)
* CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)
* CTRL+H (Open the History bar)
* CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)
* CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)
* CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address)
* CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)
* CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)
* CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)
* CTRL+W (Close the current window)
Updated to include shortcuts for Mac OS X. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343
Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts
- Last Modified: January 18, 2010
- Article: HT1343
- Old Article: 75459
Summary
Learn about common Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts. A keyboard shortcut is a way to invoke a function in Mac OS X by pressing a combination of keys on your keyboard.
To use a keyboard shortcut, or key combination, you press a modifier key with a character key. For example, pressing the Command key (the key with a 
symbol) and the "c" key at the same time copies whatever is currently selected (text, graphics, and so forth) into the Clipboard. This is also known as the Command-C key combination (or keyboard shortcut).
A modifier key is a part of many key combinations. A modifier key alters the way other keystrokes or mouse clicks are interpreted by Mac OS X. Modifier keys include: Command, Control, Option, Shift, Caps Lock, and (on portable Macs) the fn key.
Here are the modifier key symbols you can see in Mac OS X menus:
(Command key) - Sometimes called the "Apple key"; on Apple keyboards this key also has an Apple logo (
)
(Control key)
(Option key) - "Alt" may also appear on this key
(Shift key)
(Caps Lock) - Toggles Caps Lock on or off
fn (Function key) - Located in the lower left corner of built-in keyboards on portable Macs
Products Affected
Mac OS X 10.4, Mac OS X 10.3, Mac OS X 10.2, Mac OS X 10.1, Mac OS X 10.0, Mac OS X 10.5, Mac OS X 10.6
Startup keyboard shortcuts
Press the key or key combination until the expected function occurs/appears (for example, hold Option during startup until Startup Manager appears, or Shift until "Safe Boot" appears). Tip: If a startup function doesn't work and you use a third-party keyboard, connect an Apple keyboard and try again.
| Key or key combination | What it does |
| Option | Display all bootable volumes (Startup Manager) |
| Shift | Perform Safe Boot (start up in Safe Mode) |
| C | Start from a bootable disc |
| T | Start in FireWire target disk mode |
| N | Start from NetBoot server |
| X | Force Mac OS X startup (if non-Mac OS X startup volumes are present) |
| Command-V | Start in Verbose Mode |
| Command-S | Start in Single User Mode |
Finder keyboard shortcuts
| Key combination | What it does |
| Command-A | Select all items in the front Finder window (or desktop if no window is open) |
| Option-Command-A | Deselect all items |
| Shift-Command-A | Open the Applications folder |
| Command-C | Copy selected item/text |
| Shift-Command-C | Open the Computer window |
| Command-D | Duplicate selected item |
| Shift-Command-D | Open desktop folder |
| Command-E | Eject |
| Command-F | Find any matching Spotlight attribute |
| Shift-Command-F | Find Spotlight file name matches |
| Option-Command-F | Navigate to the search field in an already-open Spotlight window |
| Shift-Command-G | Go to Folder |
| Shift-Command-H | Open the Home folder of the currently logged-in user account |
| Command-I | Get Info |
| Option-Command-I | Show Inspector |
| Control-Command-I | Get Summary Info |
| Shift-Command-I | Open iDisk |
| Command-J | Show View Options |
| Command-K | Connect to Server |
| Shift-Command-K | Open Network window |
| Command-L | Make alias of the selected item |
| Command-M | Minimize window |
| Option-Command-M | Minimize all windows |
| Command-N | New Finder window |
| Shift-Command-N | New folder |
| Option-Command-N | New Smart Folder |
| Command-O | Open selected item |
| Shift-Command-Q | Log Out |
| Option-Shift-Command-Q | Log Out immediately |
| Command-R | Show original (of alias) |
| Command-T | Add to Sidebar |
| Shift-Command-T | Add to Favorites |
| Option-Command-T | Hide Toolbar / Show Toolbar in Finder windows |
| Shift-Command-U | Open Utilities folder |
| Command-V | Paste |
| Command-W | Close window |
| Option-Command-W | Close all windows |
| Command-X | Cut |
| Option-Command-Y | Slideshow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command-Z | Undo / Redo |
| Command-1 | View as Icon |
| Command-2 | View as List |
| Command-3 | View as Columns |
| Command-4 | View as Cover Flow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command-, (Command and the comma key) | Open Finder preferences |
| Command-` (the Grave accent key--above Tab key on a US English keyboard layout) | Cycle through open Finder windows |
| Command-Shift-? | Open Mac Help |
| Option-Shift-Command-Esc (hold for three seconds) - Mac OS X v10.5, v10.6 or later only | Force Quit front-most application |
| Command-[ | Back |
| Command-] | Forward |
| Command-Up Arrow | Open enclosed folder |
| Control-Command-Up Arrow | Open enclosed folder in a new window |
| Command-Down Arrow | Open highlighted item |
| Command-Tab | Switch application--cycle forward |
| Shift-Command-Tab | Switch application--cycle backward |
| Command-Delete | Move to Trash |
| Shift-Command-Delete | Empty Trash |
| Option-Shift-Command-Delete | Empty Trash without confirmation dialog |
| Spacebar (or Command-Y) | Quick Look (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command key while dragging | Move dragged item to other volume/location (pointer icon changes while key is held--see this article) |
| Option key while dragging | Copy dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held--see this article) |
| Option-Command key combination while dragging | Make alias of dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held--see this article) |
Application and other Mac OS X keyboard commands
Note: Some applications may not support all of the below application key combinations.
| Key combination | What it does |
| Command-Space | Show or hide the Spotlight search field (if multiple languages are installed, may rotate through enabled script systems) |
| Option-Command-Space | 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 |
| Shift-Command-Tab | Move backward through a list of open applications (sorted by recent use) |
| Shift-Tab | Navigate through controls in a reverse direction |
| Control-Tab | Move focus to the next grouping of controls in a dialog or the next table (when Tab moves to the next cell) |
| Shift-Control-Tab | Move focus to the previous grouping of controls |
| Command-esc | Open Front Row (if installed) |
| Option-Eject | Eject from secondary optical media drive (if one is installed) |
| Control-Eject | Show shutdown dialog |
| Option-Command-Eject | Put the computer to sleep |
| Control-Command-Eject | Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then restart the computer |
| Control Option-Command-Eject | Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then shut down the computer |
| fn-Delete | Forward Delete (on portable Macs' built-in keyboard) |
| Control-F1 | Toggle full keyboard access on or off |
| Control-F2 | Move focus to the menu bar |
| Control-F3 | Move focus to the Dock |
| Control-F4 | Move focus to the active (or next) window |
| Shift-Control-F4 | Move focus to the previously active window |
| Control-F5 | Move focus to the toolbar. |
| Control-F6 | Move focus to the first (or next) panel |
| Shift-Control-F6 | Move focus to the previous panel |
| Control-F7 | Temporarily override the current keyboard access mode in windows and dialogs |
| F9 | Tile or untile all open windows |
| F10 | Tile or untile all open windows in the currently active application |
| F11 | Hide or show all open windows |
| F12 | Hide or display Dashboard |
| Command-` | Activate the next ope n window in the frontmost application |
| Shift-Command-` | Activate the previous open window in the frontmost application |
| Option-Command-` | Move focus to the window drawer |
| Command- - (minus) | Decrease the size of the selected item |
| Command-{ | Left-align a selection |
| Command-} | Right-align a selection |
| Command-| | Center-align a selection |
| Command-: | Display the Spelling window |
| Command-; | Find misspelled words in the document |
| Command-, | Open the front application's preferences window (if it supports this keyboard shortcut) |
| Option-Control-Command-, | Decrease screen contrast |
| Option-Control-Command-. | Increase screen contrast |
| Command-? | Open the application's help in Help Viewer |
| Option-Command-/ | Turn font smoothing on or off |
| Shift-Command-= | Increase the size of the selected item |
| Shift-Command-3 | Capture the screen to a file |
| Shift-Control-Command-3 | Capture the screen to the Clipboard |
| Shift-Command-4 | Capture a selection to a file |
| Shift-Control-Command-4 | Capture a selection to the Clipboard |
| Command-A | Highlight every item in a document or window, or all characters in a text field |
| Command-B | Boldface the selected text or toggle boldfaced text on and off |
| Command-C | Duplicate the selected data and store on the Clipboard |
| Shift-Command-C | Display the Colors window |
| Option-Command-C | Copy the style of the selected text |
| Control-Command-C | Copy the formatting settings of the selected item and store on the Clipboard |
| Option-Command-D | Show or hide the Dock |
| Command-Control D | Display the definition of the selected word in the Dictionary application |
| Command-E | Use the selection for a find |
| Command-F | Open a Find window |
| Option-Command-F | Move to the search field control |
| Command-G | Find the next occurrence of the selection |
| Shift-Command-G | Find the previous occurrence of the selection |
| Command-H | Hide the windows of the currently running application |
| Option-Command-H | Hide the windows of all other running applications |
| Command-I | Italicize the selected text or toggle italic text on or off |
| Option-Command-I | Display an inspector window |
| Command-J | Scroll to a selection |
| Command-M | Minimize the active window to the Dock |
| Option-Command-M | Minimize all windows of the active application to the Dock |
| Command-N | Create a new document in the frontmost application |
| Command-O | Display a dialog for choosing a document to open in the frontmost application |
| Command-P | Display the Print dialog |
| Shift-Command-P | Display a dialog for specifying printing parameters (Page Setup) |
| Command-Q | Quit the frontmost application |
| Command-S | Save the active document |
| Shift-Command-S | Display the Save As dialog |
| Command-T | Display the Fonts window |
| Option-Command-T | Show or hide a toolbar |
| Command-U | Underline the selected text or turn underlining on or off |
| Command-V | Paste the Clipboard contents at the insertion point |
| Option-Command-V | Apply the style of one object to the selected object (Paste Style) |
| Option-Shift-Command-V | Apply the style of the surrounding text to the inserted object (Paste and Match Style) |
| Control-Command-V | Apply formatting settings to the selected object (Paste Ruler Command) |
| Command-W | Close the frontmost window |
| Shift-Command-W | Close a file and its associated windows |
| Option-Command-W | Close all windows in the application without quitting it |
| Command-X | Remove the selection and store in the Clipboard |
| Command-Z | Undo previous command (some applications allow for multiple Undos) |
| Shift-Command-Z | Redo previous command (some applications allow for multiple Redos) |
| Control-Right Arrow | Move focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table |
| Control-Left Arrow | Move focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table |
| Control-Down Arrow | Move focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table |
| Control-Up Arrow | Move focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table |
| Shift-Command-Right Arrow | Select text between the insertion point and the end of the current line (*) |
| Shift-Command-Left Arrow | Select text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line (*) |
| Shift-Right Arrow | Extend text selection one character to the right (*) |
| Shift-Left Arrow | Extend text selection one character to the left (*) |
| Shift-Command-Up Arrow | Select text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document (*) |
| Shift-Command-Down Arrow | Select text between the insertion point and the end of the document (*) |
| Shift-Up Arrow | Extend text selection to the line above, to the nearest character boundary at the same horizontal location (*) |
| Shift-Down Arrow | Extend text selection to the line below, to the nearest character boundary at the same horizontal location (*) |
| Shift-Option-Right Arrow | Extend text selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of the following word if pressed again (*) |
| Shift-Option-Left Arrow | Extend text selection to the beginning of the current word, then to the beginning of the following word if pressed again (*) |
| Shift-Option-Down Arrow | Extend text selection to the end of the current paragraph, then to the end of the following paragraph if pressed again (*) |
| Shift-Option-Up Arrow | Extend text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then to the beginning of the following paragraph if pressed again (*) |
| Control-Space | Toggle between the current and previous input sources |
| Option-Control-Space | Toggle through all enabled input sources |
| Command-Left Arrow | Change the keyboard layout to current layout of system script |
| Command-Right Arrow | Change the keyboard layout to current layout of Roman script |
| Option-Command-esc | Force Quit |
(*) Note: If no text is selected, the extension begins at the insertion point. If text is selected by dragging, then the extension begins at the selection boundary. Reversing the direction of the selection deselects the appropriate unit.
Universal Access - VoiceOver keyboard commands
For information about VoiceOver key combination differences in Mac OS X v10.6, see this article.
| Key combination | What it does |
| Command-F5 or fn Command-F5 |
Turn VoiceOver on or off |
| Control Option-F8 or fn Control Option-F8 |
Open VoiceOver Utility |
| Control Option-F7 or fn Control Option-F7 |
Display VoiceOver menu |
| Control Option-; or fn Control Option-; |
Enable/disable VoiceOver Control Option-lock |
| Option-Command-8 or fn Command-F11 |
Turn on Zoom |
| Option-Command-+ | Zoom In |
| Option-Command- - (minus) | Zoom Out |
| Option-Control-Command-8 | Invert/revert the screen colors |
| Control Option-Command-, | Reduce contrast |
| Control Option-Command-. | Increase contrast |
Note: You may need to enable "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard keys" in Keyboard preferences for the VoiceOver menu and utility to work.
Universal Access - Mouse Keys
When Mouse Keys is turned on in Universal Access preferences, you can use the keyboard or numeric keypad keys to move the mouse pointer. If your computer doesn't have a numeric keypad, use the Fn (function) key.
| Key combination | What it does |
| 8 | Move Up |
| 2 | Move Down |
| 4 | Move Left |
| 6 | Move Right |
| 1 | Move Diagonally Bottom Left |
| 3 | Move Diagonally Bottom Right |
| 7 | Move Diagonally Top Left |
| 9 | Move Diagonally Top Right |
| 5 | Press Mouse Button |
| 0 | Hold Mouse Button |
| . (period on number pad) | Release Hold Mouse Button |
See also: Shortcuts for Mouse Keys.