Useful keyboard shortcuts for macOS that I use every day

Modern gadgets from year to year lose their usual functions: smartphones no longer have buttons, and tablets, fortunately, still cannot replace laptops and PCs for us. Gestures on touch screens are, of course, insanely convenient, but keyboard shortcuts that you can accurately press on your MacBook even in the dark to perform certain tasks. True, not everyone knows what keyboard shortcuts exist for convenient work on a Mac . We chose the 10 most convenient ones that will be useful to you for every day.

Keyboard shortcuts in macOS apps

Many new Mac users, especially when moving from Windows, habitually close, minimize, or switch to other windows using their mouse or trackpad. And there is nothing to be done about this habit, even though Windows 10 and 11 have both trackpad gestures and keyboard shortcuts for this. It’s time to relearn: here are some useful macOS app control hotkeys worth remembering.

• Command + W is a keyboard shortcut that closes the current tab. It works in different applications, so if the tabs are not used, then the windows are closed.
• Command + M – keystroke, after which the current application window is minimized. Useful if you want to stop working with it. To restore the window back, simply open the application from the Dock.
• Command + ` – keyboard shortcut helps you switch between windows of the same application. It’s much faster to press two keys side by side than to reach for a mouse or trackpad.
• Command + N – Press these keys to quickly create a new application window. For example, in the Finder when working with files, or a new document in Pages.

macOS text keyboard shortcuts

The MacBook is the perfect tool for working with text. So, if you often type something on your laptop, then enlist the support of macOS hotkeys – save both time and effort.

• Shift + left (right) arrow – select text to the left or right of the cursor character by character. It is useful when you need to replace several letters in one word. If you need to select whole words, then add Option (Alt) to the same combination after Shift.
• Option (Alt) + Left (Right) Arrow – Move the cursor quickly to the beginning or end of a word.
• Command+Left (Right) Arrow – Keyboard shortcut to quickly move the cursor to the beginning or end of a line.

And one more secret for beginners: selecting a piece of text from the cursor to the very beginning or end of the document can be done by pressing Shift + Cmd + up (down) arrow . It was with this combination that I began to slowly wean myself from using the mouse when typing.

Cool macOS Hotkeys

In addition to working with applications and working with documents, on the MacBook we use other programs every day with a mouse and trackpad, although this can be avoided. Here is a personal TOP of macOS hotkeys for every day .

• Command + Delete – The combination deletes files in many applications. After switching from Windows, it is rather unusual that the regular Delete key works exclusively in combination with Cmd.
• Command + Option + Esc – Force close the application. A sort of analogue of the task manager from Windows, launched by keys located nearby if the application is frozen.
• Command + Control + Space – a combination that adds various special characters, signs, emoji or Latin letters.
• Command + < – quick access to the application settings. Useful for those who often reconfigure settings instead of using a mouse or trackpad.
• Command + Shift + 3 are shortcuts for taking a screenshot in macOS. This will launch a separate application that will take a screenshot of the entire screen.
• Option + brightness key – Adjust screen settings. You can activate auto-brightness, turn on True Tone, or set up Night Shift if it makes the monitor turn too yellow.