Shortcut Flow
macOS Keyboard Shortcuts (System-Wide)
These are the system-wide shortcuts every Mac app inherits: window management, screenshots, Spotlight, text editing. 49 shortcuts that work almost everywhere.
Windows & apps
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Minimize window | ⌘M |
| Close window | ⌘W |
| Switch app | ⌘⇥ |
| Quit app | ⌘Q |
| Hide app | ⌘H |
| Toggle full screen | ⌃⌘F |
| Cycle app windows | ⌘` |
| Hide other apps | ⌥⌘H |
| Force Quit dialog | ⌥⌘⎋ |
System
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Spotlight search | ⌘Space |
| Screenshot selection | ⇧⌘4 |
| Screenshot whole screen | ⇧⌘3 |
| Screenshot tools | ⇧⌘5 |
| App settings | ⌘, |
| Mission Control | ⌃↑ |
| Move one space left | ⌃← |
| Move one space right | ⌃→ |
| Lock screen | ⌃⌘Q |
| Show or hide the Dock | ⌥⌘D |
Editing
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Copy | ⌘C |
| Paste | ⌘V |
| Undo | ⌘Z |
| Find | ⌘F |
| Select all | ⌘A |
| Cut | ⌘X |
| Redo | ⇧⌘Z |
Documents
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Save | ⌘S |
| New tab | ⌘T |
| New window | ⌘N |
| Open | ⌘O |
| ⌘P | |
| Zoom in | ⌘= |
| Zoom out | ⌘- |
Text navigation
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move to previous word | ⌥← |
| Move to next word | ⌥→ |
| Move to start of line | ⌘← |
| Move to end of line | ⌘→ |
| Move to start of document | ⌘↑ |
| Move to end of document | ⌘↓ |
| Move to start of paragraph | ⌥↑ |
| Move to end of paragraph | ⌥↓ |
| Select previous word | ⌥⇧← |
| Select next word | ⌥⇧→ |
| Select to start of line | ⇧⌘← |
| Select to end of line | ⇧⌘→ |
| Select to start of document | ⇧⌘↑ |
| Select to end of document | ⇧⌘↓ |
| Select to start of paragraph | ⌥⇧↑ |
| Select to end of paragraph | ⌥⇧↓ |
Stop memorizing lists
Shortcut Flow watches what you actually click in macOS and turns it into a one-minute daily drill. Think Duolingo, but for keyboard shortcuts.
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FAQ
How many macOS keyboard shortcuts are there?
This guide lists 49 macOS shortcuts as they work on macOS, read from the app itself and kept up to date by Shortcut Flow.
What is the shortcut for a screenshot on Mac?
Shift-Command-3 captures the whole screen, Shift-Command-4 a selection, and Shift-Command-5 opens the full screenshot toolbar with recording options.
What is the fastest way to learn macOS shortcuts?
Not by reading the full list. Shortcut Flow watches which commands you actually use in macOS and drills you on those first, one minute a day, so the shortcuts you need most stick within days.