Topics Map > OS and Desktop Applications > Operating Systems > Mac OS X

Mac OS X - Keyboard Shortcuts

This document lists the following helpful keyboard shortcuts that can be used on a Macintosh running OS X:

Startup Keystrokes

Keys Result
X If pressed during startup, will force Mac OS X to run
Option If pressed during startup, allows user to select between multiple startup volumes. This is particularly useful when machine has been partitioned in Boot Camp into Windows and OS X partitions
Option-Command-O-F If pressed during startup, boots into Open Firmware. Useful for ejecting disks stuck in the optical drive and changing the default startup volume
Option-Command-Shift-Delete If pressed during startup the system will bypass the primary startup volume and seek a different startup volume (such as a CD or external disk)
Mouse Button If pressed down on startup, will eject any disk currently in optical drive
C If pressed during startup, system will boot from a CD that has a system folder
N If pressed during startup, system will attempt to start up from a compatible network server (NetBoot)
R If pressed during startup, will Force PowerBook screen reset
T If pressed during startup, system will startup in FireWire Target Disk mode
Shift If pressed during startup, system will go into Safe Boot mode and temporarily disable login items and non-essential kernel extension files (Mac OS X 10.2 and later)
Command-V If pressed during startup, system will startup in Verbose mode
Command-S If pressed during startup, system will startup in Single-User mode (command line)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keys Result
Command-W Close Window
Option-Command-W Close all Windows
Option-Command-ESC Force Quit Application
Command-Right Arrow Expand folder (list view)
Option-Command-Right Arrow Expand folder and nested subfolders (list view)
Command-Left Arrow Collapse Folder (list view)
Option-Command-Up Arrow Open parent folder and close current window

Menu Command Shortcuts

Keys Result
Shift-Command-Q Apple Menu Log out
Shift-Option-Command-Q Apple Menu Log out immediately
Shift-Command-Delete Finder Menu Empty Trash
Option-Shift-Command-Delete Finder Menu Empty Trash without dialog
Command-H Finder Menu Hide Finder
Option-Command-H Finder Menu Hide Others
Command-N File Menu New Finder window
Shift-Command-N File Menu New Folder
Command-O File Menu Open
Command-S File Menu Save
Shift-Command-S File Menu Save as
Command-P File Menu Print
Command-W File Menu Close Window
Option-Command-W File Menu Close all Windows
Command-I File Menu Get Info
Option-Command-I File Menu Show Attributes Inspector
Command-D File Menu Duplicate
Command-L File Menu Make Alias
Command-R File Menu Show original
Command-T File Menu Add to Favorites
Command-Delete File Menu Move to Trash
Command-E File Menu Eject
Command-F File Menu Find
Command-Z Edit Menu Undo
Command-X Edit Menu Cut
Command-C Edit Menu Copy
Command-V Edit Menu Paste
Command-A Edit Menu Select All
Command-1 View Menu View as Icons
Command-2 View Menu View as List
Command-3 View Menu View as Columns
Command-B View Menu Hide Toolbar
Command-J View Menu Show View Options
Command - [ Go Menu Back
Command - ] Go Menu Forward
Shift-Command-C Go Menu Computer
Shift-Command-H Go Menu Home
Shift-Command-I Go Menu iDisk
Shift-Command-A Go Menu Applications
Shift-Command-F Go Menu Favorites
Shift-Command-G Go Menu Goto Folder
Command-K Go Menu Connect to Server
Command-M Window Menu Minimize Window
Option-Command-M Window Menu Minimize All Windows
Command-? Help Menu Open Mac Help

Universal Access Keyboard Shortcuts

Keys Result
Option-Command-* (asterisk) Turn on Zoom
Option-Command-+ (plus) Zoom in
Option-Command-- (minus) Zoom out
Control-Option-Command-* (asterisk) Switch to White on Black
Control-F1 Turn on Full Keyboard Access

When Full Keyboard Access is turned on (Control-F1), you can use the following key combinations listed in the table below from the Finder

For instructions on how to take screenshots see our documentation at Mac OS - How can I take Screenshots?

Keys Result
Control-F2 Full Keyboard Access Highlight Menu
Control-F3 Full Keyboard Access Highlight Dock
Control-F4 Full Keyboard Access Highlight Window (active) or next window behind it
Control-F5 Full Keyboard Access Highlight Toolbar
Control-F6 Full Keyboard Access Highlight Utility window (palette)


Keywordsmac os x 10 keyboard shortcuts startup keystroke   Doc ID2934
OwnerJeff W.GroupDoIT Help Desk
Created2004-06-02 19:00:00Updated2022-07-18 08:07:27
SitesDoIT Help Desk
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