For many visually impaired people, the most effective way to use a computer is with keyboard commands.

We have put together a list of useful keyboard shortcuts for the Apple Mac operating system.

Generic Shortcuts

  • Command+X: Cut
  • Command+C: Copy
  • Command+V: Paste
  • Command+Z: Undo the previous command
  • Shift+Command+Z: Redo the previous command
  • Command+A: Select all items
  • Command+F: Find items in a document or open a Find window.
  • Command+M: Minimize the front window to the Dock
  • Command+O: Open
  • Command+P: Print
  • Command+S: Save
  • Command+T: Open a new tab
  • Command+W: Close the front window
  • Option+Command+Esc: Force quit an app
  • Command–Space bar: Show or hide the Spotlight search field
  • Control–Command–Space bar: Show the Character Viewer
  • Control+Command+F: Use the app in full screen
  • Command+Tab: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.
  • Shift+Command+3: Take a screenshot of the entire screen

Finder and System Shortcuts

  • Command+D: Duplicate the selected files.
  • Command+E: Eject the selected disk or volume.
  • Command+F: Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.
  • Command+I: Show the Get Info window for a selected file.
  • Shift+Command+C: Open the Computer window.
  • Shift+Command+D: Open the desktop folder.
  • Shift+Command+I: Open iCloud Drive.
  • Shift+Command+K: Open the Network window.
  • Option+Command+L: Open the Downloads folder.
  • Shift+Command+N: Create a new folder.
  • Shift+Command+O: Open the Documents folder.
  • Shift+Command+R: Open the AirDrop window.
  • Shift+Command+U: Open the Utilities folder.
  • Command+J: Show View Options.
  • Command+K: Open the Connect to Server window.
  • Option+Command+V: Move: Move the files in the Clipboard from their original location to the current location.
  • Command–Left Bracket ([): Go to the previous folder.
  • Command–Right Bracket (]): Go to the next folder.
  • Command–Down Arrow: Open the selected item.
  • Command+Delete: Move the selected item to the Trash.
  • Shift+Command+Delete: Empty the Trash.
  • Command–Brightness Up: Turn target display mode on or off.
  • Command–Brightness Down: Turn video mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.
  • Option–Brightness Up: Open Displays preferences. This works with either Brightness key.
  • Control–Brightness Upor Control–Brightness Down: Change the brightness of your external display, if supported by your display.
  • Option–Volume Up: Open Sound preferences. This works with any of the volume keys.
  • Option–Keyboard Brightness Up: Open Keyboard preferences. This works with either Keyboard Brightness key.
  • Command key while double+clicking: Open a folder in a separate tab or window.
  • Command key while dragging to another volume: Move the dragged item to the other volume, instead of copying it.
  • Option key while dragging: Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
  • Option+click a disclosure triangle: Open all folders within the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
  • Command+click a window title: See the folders that contain the current folder.

Document Shortcuts

  • Command+B: Boldface the selected text
  • Command+I: Italicize the selected text
  • Command+U: Underline the selected text
  • Command+D: Select the Desktop folder from within an Open dialogue or Save dialogue
  • Command+Semicolon (;): Find misspelt words in the document.
  • Option+Delete: Delete the word to the left of the insertion point.
  • Control+H: Delete the character to the left of the insertion point
  • Control+D: Delete the character to the right of the insertion point
  • Fn–Up Arrow: Page Up: Scroll up one page
  • Fn–Down Arrow: Page Down: Scroll down one page
  • Fn–Left Arrow: Home: Scroll to the beginning of a document
  • Fn–Right Arrow: End: Scroll to the end of a document
  • Control+A: Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph
  • Control+E: Move to the end of a line or paragraph
  • Control+F: Move one character forward
  • Control+B: Move one character backward
  • Control+P: Move up one line.
  • Control+N: Move down one line
  • Command–Left Curly Bracket ({): Left align
  • Command–Right Curly Bracket (}): Right align
  • Shift–Command–Vertical bar (|): Center align
  • Option+Command+F: Go to the search field
  • Option+Command+T: Show or hide a toolbar in the app
  • Shift+Command+P:  Page setup: Display a window for selecting document settings
  • Shift–Command–Minus sign (+): Decrease the size of the selected item
  • Shift–Command–Plus sign (+): Increase the size of the selected item
  • Shift–Command–Question mark (?): Open the Help menu

Download the Keyboard Shortcuts and Hot Keys for future use (Word file)

If you know a helpful shortcut that does not appear on the list above we would love to hear from you. Please email us at info@isightcornwall.org.uk with your suggestions.