Mac Tips: Keyboard Shortcut Basics
Using the keyboard in a few simple ways saves hours of time.
Keyboard shortcuts are a great place to start becoming more efficient when using your Mac. They may be the single best productivity improvement you can try; using the keyboard is faster than the mouse, particularly when using it for common tasks because:
- Every time your hands leave the keyboard, especially during a typing intensive activity, you lose time. The half second gained using a keyboard shortcut compared to a mouse click quickly adds up to hours.
- It can break concentration. The more smooth and efficient you become, the less small tasks like opening a new tab or switching between apps gets in the way of focusing on the main reason you’re at the computer.
Start using these immediately - don’t worry about other Mac tips/tricks, until these are part of your daily routine.
The following keyboard shortcuts will give you the most mileage for your minute. The + sign indicates the keys should be pressed together to activate the shortcut.
| Keyboard shortcut | Task |
|---|---|
Cmd + C |
Copy the selected text, document, or other item. |
Cmd + V |
Paste the previously-selected text, document, or other item, making a copy. |
Cmd + shift + V |
Paste the previously-selected document or other item, moving the item to the new location, turning the copy command into a cut command. |
Cmd + tab |
Activate the app switcher. Hold Cmd and continue tapping tab to cycle apps. Release all keys to switch to the selected app. |
Cmd + space |
Launch spotlight. Type the name of an app to open. Hit enter to select/open the app. |
Cmd + W |
Close the current window or tab. |
Cmd + Q |
Completely quit the current app. |
Cmd + T |
Open a new tab. |
See the Mac Tips post for links to other tips in the series.
