The 10 Best Time-Saving Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

Mac keyboard shortcuts are a convenient way to accomplish tasks and navigate using key combinations rather than a trackpad or mouse. Keyboard shortcuts are useful for iMac (desktop) and MacBook users. Apple shortcuts make it easier to take screenshots, copy, cut, and paste, minimize windows, and more.

Related: How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer (Mac, PC, iCloud & AirDrop)

We've already gone over Mac topics like Big Sur features and Apple's new M1 chip. For more great Apple device tutorials, check out our free Tip of the Day. Now, let's learn some of the top ten Mac keyboard shortcuts (sometimes called hotkeys). We'll go over select all, cut, copy, and paste shortcuts, how to take a screenshot on a Mac with a keyboard shortcut, the Force Quit shortcut, redo and undo shortcuts, and more! Let's get started.

Note: These shortcuts are up to date for macOS Big Sur.

Learn About the Mac Keyboard

Keyboard shortcuts won't do you much good if you don't know what the modifier keys look like or where they are! You'll need to know where the Command (Cmd) ⌘, Caps Lock ⇪Control (Ctrl) ⌃, Option (or Alt) ⌥, Escape (Esc), Function (Fn, sometimes shown with a globe icon), Tab, and Shift ⇧ keys are. These modifier keys may be in different locations, depending on which keyboard you have. If you're working with a PC keyboard, use the Windows logo key instead of the Command key.

How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts

To use any of the keyboard shortcuts below, press and hold the modifier key first, then the letter or number, then release the keys together. We'll go through the first two shortcuts in detail, reminding you how to execute the key combinations. Once you've gotten the hang of it, we'll speed things up.

How to Select All, Copy & Paste on a Mac: Command-A, Command-C, Command-V

1. To select all items on the page, press and hold the Command key, then press A, then release both.
2. To highlight just one area to copy and paste, click and drag with your mouse or trackpad, then release when the desired area is highlighted.
3. Now, press and hold the Command key, then press C and release both to copy everything highlighted.
4. Press and hold the Command key, then press V and release both to paste the highlighted items into your document.
5. You can also highlight the desired area, then press and hold the Command key, then press X and release both to simultaneously cut and save the highlighted area. Use Command-V to paste the content as before.

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How to Take a Screenshot on a Mac: Command-Shift-3, Command-Shift-4, Command-Shift-5

1. Locate the Command (or Cmd) ⌘ and Shift ⇧ keys on your keyboard. My keyboard has a Command key on both sides of the Space Bar, and the Shift key at the lower-left corner.
2. To take a full-page screenshot, press and hold the Command key, then press and hold the Shift key, then press 3, then release all three.
3. To screenshot one area of the screen, press and hold the Command key, then press and hold the Shift key, then press 4, then release all three. A plus-shaped snipping tool will appear; use it to outline the area to screenshot and release when finished to take the screenshot.
4. For Macs running macOS Mojave and later, use Command-Shift-5 to open a menu of screenshot options that include the entire screen, a selected window or portion, where the screenshot is saved, a start timer, and even the option to screen record all or a part of your Mac screen.
5. To find your screenshot, open the Finder and look in Recents (unless you specified a different location using Command-Shift-5).

How to Undo: Command-Z

If you've made a mistake, use this keyboard shortcut to undo the last action you took. Say, for example, I was working on part of this article and decided to delete a sentence, then changed my mind. I would:

1. Press and hold the Command key, then Z, then release both.
2. The deleted text would be restored to the document.

How to Save: Command-S

Here's another useful keyboard shortcut to make sure you don't lose your work. Rather than using the save option in the application or menu:

1. Press and hold the Command key, then S, then release both.
2. The first time you use this shortcut in a document, a Save As dialog box will open, allowing you to choose the name of your file and where it will be saved.
3. After that, your changes to the file will automatically be saved to the selected location whenever you use the shortcut.
4. Click Save but, be aware that if you're working on a webpage rather than a document, your work will be saved as a webpage!

How to Open a Find Window: Command-F

This keyboard shortcut can help you locate a word or phrase in a document or webpage.

1. Press and hold the Command key, then F, then release both.
2. Type the word or phrase you're looking for into the Find window that appears.
3. You'll see the number of times the word appears in the document or web page in the Find window, and the word will be highlighted throughout the document.

Open a New Window or Document: Command-N

I like using this keyboard shortcut when I'm working in Word.

1. Press and hold the Command key, then N, then release both.
2. A new document or window will appear, ready to be worked on!

Switch to the Most Recently-Used App: Command-Tab

If you have several tabs or apps open, use this keyboard shortcut to switch back and forth between them. This is especially useful if you're working on a laptop and don't have room to have all your apps open in full size. Just press and hold the Command key, then the Tab key, then release both each time you need to switch between tabs or apps.

How to Hide or Reveal Your Front App: Command-H & Command-Option-H

Here's another great set of keyboard shortcuts for when you're working on a small screen or just want some privacy!

1. Press and hold the Command key, then H, then release both.
2. The windows of the app you're working in will be hidden, but other apps will remain visible.
3. Press and hold the Command key, then the Option key, then H, then release all three.
4. Now only the app you're working in is visible; all other apps are hidden.

How to Switch Between Windows in the Same App: Command-~

Any time you want to switch between one or more windows open in the same app, press and hold the Command key, then the Tilda (the squiggly symbol that looks like this: ~, usually just below the Esc key, then release both.

How to Close a Frozen App: Command-Option-Escape

If the app you're working in freezes, you can Force Quit using this keyboard shortcut. (You can also quickly quit an app that isn't frozen by holding Command-Q.)

1. Press and hold the Command key, then the Option key, then the Escape key, then release all three.
2. Click on the application that you want to quit, then click Force Quit.
3. The frozen app will close, but you may lose unsaved work in that app.