Keyboard shortcuts on mac. Mac OS hotkeys. The Option key on Mac: where it is and how to use it

Despite the most convenient trackpads and mice, experienced Mac developers prefer to use hotkeys. Over time, you will learn dozens of different combinations, but for now, remember the most basic ones.

To begin with, let's recall the names and designations of the modifier keys on the Mac keyboard, the symbols of which are slightly different in different generations of computers and may be unfamiliar to beginners.

• ⌘ - Command, Cmd.
• ⌥ - Option, Alt.
• ⌃ - Control, Ctrl.
• ⎋ - Escape, Esc.
• ⏏ - Eject.

Application termination

Unlike Windows, macOS applications can have multiple windows, so closing a window does not mean leaving the application. The keyboard shortcut ⌘Q is used to terminate any application on macOS.

Close the active window

For the same reason, there is a shortcut ⌘W. It allows you to close the current program window without stopping the application as a whole.

Opening a new tab

Many applications support multiple tabs. Thus, you can not clutter the screen and open just a tab instead of new windows. The key combination ⌘T is responsible for this action.

Switching applications

To switch between running applications on macOS uses the shortcut ⌘⇥. A single press will return you to the previous app, and pressing ⇥ while holding ⌘ will open the toggle panel itself. Use the navigation arrows to switch between applications within the panel.

Spotlight call

Spotlight search is rightfully considered one of the most useful features of macOS X. You can open it from the menu bar, but it's much more convenient to do it with the space bar keyboard shortcut.

Force Quit Application

It is not common, but it happens that applications freeze. In this case, they can be terminated forcibly by calling the exit menu by pressing the ⎋⌥⌘ keys, which are analogous to Ctrl + Alt + Delete in Windows.

Copy, paste, cancel input

⌘X, ⌘C, ⌘V, ⌘Z

The shortcuts for cut, copy, paste and undo in macOS differ only in the modifier key - instead of Ctrl, you use ⌘. Otherwise, the keyboard shortcuts are the same: ⌘X, ⌘C, ⌘V, ⌘Z.

Search in a document or site

In macOS, it is very common to search for specific words or phrases in applications - this can be an open page in Safari or any document. To find text within a document or site, you must use the combination ⌘F.

Quick View in Finder

Quickly viewing documents and images is probably the simplest, yet incredibly useful feature of macOS is. It works just as easily. To view the file, you just need to select it and press the "Space".

Completion of work

You can put your Mac to sleep, boot, or shut down from the  menu. But it is much faster to do this from the shutdown menu, which is invoked by the keyboard shortcut ⌃⏏. However, on your MacBook, press the power button instead of the клавиши key.

Keyboard shortcuts, in everyday life, "hot keys" are necessary to speed up the process of working with the system and programs. There are also certain keyboard shortcuts, but not all of them are known to every user.

In contact with

Some of the "hot keys" for the desktop platform Apple:

Useful Shortcut Keys for macOS User

1. Ctrl + ⌘Cmd + Space - displays a full emoji keyboard.
2. ⌘Cmd + C and ⌘Cmd + V - "copy" and "paste" respectively.
3. ⇧Shift + ⌥Option (Alt) - will allow you to adjust the sound volume in more detail.
4. ⌘Cmd + Tab - switching between running applications.
5. When selecting multiple files and pressing keys ⌘Cmd + ⌥Option (Alt) + Y - the slideshow starts in full screen mode.
6. ⌘Cmd + L - highlighting the address bar in the browser.
7. ⌘Cmd + ⇧Shift + 3 - will allow you to take a screenshot.
8. ⌘Cmd + ⇧Shift + 4 + Space - screenshot of a separate window.
9. ⌘Cmd + ⇧Shift + 4 - screenshot of the selected part of the screen.
10. While holding ⇧Shift when the window is reduced, the slo-mo effect of this action will appear.
11. ⌥Option (Alt) + Backspace - removes not individual letters, but entire words.
12. ⌥Option (Alt) + one of the keys responsible for the brightness and volume of the sound - will allow you to configure these functions.
13. Ctrl + Space - allows you to quickly bring up Spotlight.
14. ⌘Cmd + H - will allow you to minimize the current window or application.
15. Highlight a few items, then hit the space bar - this will show them in Quick Look.
16. ⌘Cmd + Q - close the active application.
17. ⌘Cmd + W - close the active window in the application.
18. ⌘Cmd + T - open a new tab in an application (for example, Safari or Finder).

A little more about hotkeys in Safari:

19. ⌘Cmd + ⇧Shift + Point - enable the mode of viewing hidden files.
20. ⌘Cmd + ⇧Shift + G - if you press this key combination in the Finder, then a window for transition to the folder will appear.
21. ⌘Cmd + ⌥Option (Alt) + H - allows you to hide all windows and applications except the active one.
22. ⌘Cmd +, (comma) - allows you to open the settings of the active application.
23. ⌘Cmd + ⌥Option (Alt) + ⇧Shift + Escape - holding these keys for 2-3 seconds, the current program will forcibly terminate its work.
24. ⌘Cmd + ⌥Option (Alt) + Escape - when pressed, a window appears, analog "Task Manager" in Windows, which allows you to close "frozen" programs.
25. Ctrl + ⌘Cmd + ⌥Option (Alt) + Power / Eject - shutdown of all programs and shutdown of the Mac, and the user will not be required to confirm this action.
26. Ctrl + ⌘Cmd + Power / Eject - computer restart.
27. Ctrl + ⇧Shift + Power / Eject - turn off the display, while the computer continues to work.

Probably every even more or less advanced Windows user knows that instant access to the desktop (desktop) in Windows is done by the Win + D keyboard shortcut. But on Mac, there are at least 3 ways to minimize windows. What kind?

In contact with

First you need to check the settings - open the application on the Mac System settings and select item Mission control.

Make sure that opposite the inscription Show Desktop a hot button is assigned. By default, the key is set there F11, but you can change it to any other.

Now we can proceed directly to the execution of the command.

To do this, press any of these keyboard shortcuts at the same time:

• ⌘Cmd + F3
• Fn + F11

You will immediately find yourself on the desktop of your Mac, and all open windows will be minimized.

But you can make everything and even easier - by pressing a single button F11... To do this, go to another section of System Preferences called Keyboard, and check the box next to Use function keys F1, F2, etc. as standard.

Done! Click F11 - and calmly go to the desktop at the touch of just one button.

The function allows you to assign certain macOS system commands to move the cursor (arrows) to the corners of the screen. Turns on function along the way System settings → Mission control → Active corners.

Thus, for example, you can assign the command "Desktop" (minimize all windows) to move the cursor to the upper left corner of the screen.

The use of keyboard shortcuts allows you to improve the usability of the operating system by reducing the time for performing various operations. Instead of searching the menu for the item responsible for some action, you press several buttons and execute it instantly. In this article, we will talk about the main macOS hotkeys that work in system applications.

The Mac keyboard is different from the standard PC keyboard. It has fewer keys and no function block. The navigation buttons, "Printscreen" and Delete included in it, are replaced by combinations. The standard keys that are present on the PC are shown in green in the screenshot. Specific ones, available only on the Apple keyboard, are marked in red:

• Option ⌥. System-wide modifier. In many menus, pressing this button changes items, opening up additional functionality.
• Command ⌘. Analogue of the Win key. Most keyboard shortcuts on a MacBook require it.

The screenshot below shows how the OS menu items change when the Option button is pressed. On the left is standard command output and on the right is expanded.

Finder

In the Apple operating system, the Finder serves the same role as Windows Explorer. It is a constantly running file manager. Most of the operations performed in it require the use of the Command key and have a logical rationale in English:

• ⌘ + C (Copy) - create a copy of a file or document in the clipboard;
• ⌘ + V - paste from the clipboard;
• ⌘ + X (Excise) - cut the selected object from the current window. In practice, the Finder does this by default for files. The selected object is immediately transferred to the new window.
• ⌘ + A (All) - select all files in the current window;
• ⌘ + Z (Zero) - return to the initial (zero) state. Undoes the last action the user took.
• ⌘ + E (Eject) - eject or disconnect the selected external media;
• ⌘ + T (Tab) - create a new tab in the current window;
• ⌘ + F (Find) - starts the search dialog in Finder;
• ⌘ + I (Inspector) - displays the properties of the selected file in a separate window;
• ⌘ + Y - launch quick view. Acts the same as the space bar;
• ⌘ + M (Minimize) - minimizes the current window to the Dock;
• ⌘ + O (Open) - open the selected file in the default program.

To save screen space, you can shorten the side menu, leaving only frequently used folders in it, and use keyboard shortcuts to navigate to the rest of the sections. Clicking on Option gives you access to the default hidden system library.

Likewise, you can use keyboard shortcuts to change the display style of files in the Finder window.

The following screenshot shows the Cover Flow preview mode, invoked by pressing the combination ⌘4.

Useful combinations

Any MacBook, regardless of version (Air or Pro), uses the same keyboard and operating system. There is no separation between home and professional versions in macOS. Therefore, keyboard shortcuts will work exactly the same on any model.

Screen lock

Sleep mode works well on Mac. Moving away from the laptop, you can close the lid and, upon returning, continue working from the same place without worrying about the safety of files. However, sometimes just locking the screen is enough. For example, if you break away from work for a few minutes, but don't want to show it to anyone.

The shortcut Control + Command + Q gives you this opportunity. The lock window is displayed on the monitor, and after the prescribed time, the screen saver will start. The Shift + Control + Power keyboard shortcut achieves a similar result. In this case, the monitor power is turned off and it turns off, bypassing the splash stage. If the specified checkbox is checked in the settings, it will be possible to access the laptop only with a password.

Force quitting programs

Any program, including one that has stopped responding, can be force terminated on a Mac. To do this, click on the apple logo in the menu bar and select the marked item. As you can see in the screenshot, this operation can also be performed using hotkeys.

Option + Command + Esc brings up a simplified analog of the task manager. In it we find the program that needs to be completed and press the marked button.

This is often the case with the built-in QuickTime video player. After closing the main window, it has the ability to remain in memory without being displayed in the Dock.

Fine tuning

Adjusting sound, key illumination, and screen brightness on an Air or other iMac has sixteen positions between “Min” and “Max” values. Management is carried out by the corresponding function keys of the upper row. If you hold down the Shift + Option keys while making an adjustment, then each of the control positions is divided into four parts.

Thus, you get not 16, but 64 points of adjustment. When the additional buttons are released, the system first fills in the incomplete division and then automatically switches to normal mode.

Screenshots

As we said earlier, Apple computers do not have a separate key for taking screenshots. The following combinations are used for screenshots:

• Command + Shift + 3. Screenshot of the entire desktop;
• Command + Shift + 4. Snapshot of the selected area;
• Command + Shift + 4 + Space. A snapshot of the selected window or menu item.

Boot modes

When you start macOS, before the first appearance of the apple logo, you can select the boot mode. These combinations can come in handy not only for reinstallation or troubleshooting:

• Option. Selecting a boot volume for systems with two OS installed. Thus, you can choose between macOS and Windows installed on the BootCamp partition;
• T. Starting the system in external volume mode. If you connect a problematic Mac to a working Mac, you can boot from its hard drive and perform initial diagnostics;
• Shift. Launches the OS in safe mode;
• Command + R. Recovery from hard drive;
• Option + Command + R. Internet Recovery Mode. Reinstall or restore macOS from Apple servers.

Completion of work

In normal mode, your MacBook can be shut down or rebooted using the system menu. To do this, it contains all the options available to the user.

For these purposes, you can also use various combinations:

• Control + Power. Calls the shutdown menu in a separate window;

• Control + Command + Power. Analogous to the "three-finger combination" for Windows. Causes a forced reboot;
• Option + Command + Power. Go to sleep mode without closing the lid;
• Shift + Command + Q. User session termination with warning;

• Shift + Option + Command + Q. User logs off without warning. The next time you log in, the previously opened windows are automatically restored.

Keyboard settings

In the Sierra version, Apple changed the language switching combination familiar to many Mac developers. Instead of Command, the Control key was used in combination with the spacebar. The first thing many users do is change this setting to a familiar and convenient one.

1. Open System Preferences and select the marked item.

1. We turn to the section "Keyboard shortcuts". In the navigation area, select the item of interest to us. Preset and possible, but not preset, combinations will open in the right part of the window. For example, launching Launchpad from the keyboard is possible, but the default shortcut is not set for it. Mark it with a tick and open the edit field. We enter a convenient combination.

1. If desired, hotkeys can be set independently. For example, the Finder has a Compress item that doesn't have a combination of its own. If the need for archiving arises constantly, then it can be created. Switch to the marked section. Using the "+" button we call up an additional menu. Choosing a program. Enter the exact name of the item and set the desired combination.

1. The result of the performed manipulations can be seen immediately, no reboot is required. Using this combination, you can quickly create archives.

1. In the first section of keyboard settings, you can set how the top row of function keys are used. By default, they are used to quickly access system options such as media or lighting controls. Their traditional role is activated by pressing the Fn key in the lower left corner. In some graphic editors, these buttons are used quite actively. To avoid using a combination of two keys each time, you can return them to their direct assignment. To do this, put a tick in the place indicated by the arrow. Now, to add volume, you need to use not F12, but Fn + F12.

1. Here, fans of experiments can independently reassign the role of modifier keys. Pressing the marked button will bring up an additional menu. Using the drop-down lists, you can set new values. For example, swap Command and Control.

Finally

Using different keyboard shortcuts is a matter of habit. If there is no direct need for this, then you can perfectly do without them. The convenience of macOS is that they are listed in the menu of each program and, if desired, are easy to remember.

Video instruction

If you are interested in this topic, the following video overview will help you learn more about hotkeys and find the most useful ones.

Each operating system has a number of its own characteristics. Some are useful, some are not. Apple's system is called Mac OS and has different versions, as well as the familiar to many Windows. And here, too, there are secrets. So, Mac OS hotkeys are somewhat different from Windows of any version.

Key designation

Apple products have a number of their own characteristics. In particular, this applies to the keyboard. In addition to the usual keys, there are several special ones, the designation of which is worth knowing. If you did not look at the instructions in time, then it will be useful for you to know what is called and how.

So, the Ctrl key in the operating system from Apple is called control. This will come in handy later, since Mac Os hotkeys are described only through their full names. And in the instructions too. The Alt key is called option. There is another button that is only found on Apple products. CMD keyboard designation. Its name is command.

Now, knowing all the notation, you can start memorizing the most useful and hot keys. By the way, without them, it is simply impossible to perform some actions or it is too tedious and time-consuming.

Basics of basics

Mac OS hotkeys have a very extensive list. However, there are such combinations, without which it is impossible to work on a computer. You need to know them, because they save time and effort. During work, do not neglect them, and then it will be easier and easier for you to complete all your tasks.

What will definitely come in handy

Remember the shortcut keys CMD and C. This allows you to copy information to the clipboard. After this information, the file or element can be inserted into the desired place using a combination of CMD and V. This is the basis of the basics, since performing all these actions through the context menu is quite long and tedious. Especially on the Mac operating system. Hotkeys that will also be useful: CMD and space. This combination allows you to quickly change the language layout on the keyboard.

Everyone should remember this

Combinations such as CMD and S allow you to quickly save the action on the computer. This happens under the standard name that the system has chosen. As well as CMD, Shift and S. This combination allows you to save the document or file with a name change to whatever you like. Another useful combination is CMD and Z. This allows you to undo the last action.

Not everyone will need

A combination like CMD and F may not be necessary for everyone, but it is useful to know it. This means doing a quick search. That is, the combination performs the function "find" in a document or on a page, in a folder or in the entire system. In the search dialog box, you can enter any required search parameters.

To create a new folder, it is enough to remember such keys as CMD, Shift and N. With this combination, you can quickly create a folder in the right place, into which you will later save various files. The same action is performed through the context menu, but here it is a matter of convenience and habit.

A useful, but not all, combination is CMD + H. The Mac OS hotkeys in this combination allow you to hide an application that is currently running, but not needed. If we draw an analogy with the Windows family, then this is the same as "minimize the window". Another useful combination is CMD + Alt + H. It allows you to minimize all applications, except for those that are currently open in front of your eyes.

There are other useful and not-so-hot keys on the Mac OS. Some of them:

Windows hotkeys

The Windows operating system also has a number of shortcuts that help you to work, like individual keys. So, for example, every user knows that Backspace allows you to erase text in a document. Not every keyboard has a signature on this key, but it's always easy to find: it sits above the Enter button and is indicated by a long arrow pointing to the left.

The Delete button is also familiar to many. Even for those who are just starting to work on the computer. The key allows you to delete an item, file or folder with one click. If it was accidentally touched, there is a chance to restore what you need from the basket. But you can completely and irrevocably delete from the system by a combination of Delete and Shift. Then the files will not end up in the trash, but will be destroyed forever. Use this combination with caution. Especially if you're not sure how useless files or objects are.

The Windows logo key opens the Start menu. However, there are little secrets with this button. So, for example, the combination "Start" + F1 calls up the system guide. This is useful at first, when you are just learning how to work with a computer. Start + D allows you to quickly and show only the desktop. It is always useful when you need to quickly find a shortcut, and there are too many different programs open.

To refresh the window, which is useful for those who always have multiple browser bookmarks, press F5. The currently open workspace will only show the latest information.

The Ctrl key combination with various buttons should be in the memory of every Windows operating system user. What's what here:

• Ctrl + A - allows you to select the entire open area. So, for example, if you perform this action in a folder, then all files in it will be selected. If in a text document, then all text.
• Ctrl + C - makes it possible to copy information. Even in those documents or on Internet pages where this cannot be done through the context menu.
• Ctrl + V is a paste from the clipboard. By the way, this action can also be performed anywhere.
• Ctrl + Z - Undoes the last step. For example, if you accidentally deleted an element in a text document, then it will be easy to recover. As well as if the object was transferred from one folder to another not on purpose.
• Ctrl + X is scissors. That is, you can cut an object and save it to the clipboard. From there, it can be pasted anywhere.
• Ctrl + Alt + Delete - launches Double click restarts the system. This is useful when the computer starts to "hang" or "glitch" when the screen does not respond to mouse or keyboard presses.

However, all this, for the most part, applies to any version of Windows, except for the latest - "eight". Since all the previous ones have a very standard menu and list of commands, the combinations described above are universal. With the latest version, it is somewhat more complicated, since it is made inside a little differently. There is a Windows 8 hotkey, which is strikingly different from other operating systems. And everyone who already uses or is going to use this operating system needs to know it.

The G8 and its Secrets

The hottest key in Windows 8 is Alt. With it, you can perform a lot of actions, the implementation of which through the mouse and the context menu takes time. What the following combinations do:

• Alt and A - opens the list of accessibility features;
• Alt and D - removes the marked element;
• Alt and E - edits the selected file (name, for example);
• Alt and M - moves the object to the place of your choice (the cascading menu drops out);
• Alt and T are scissors that cut a file or area into the clipboard;
• Alt and V - Paste the copied or cut object.

Easy to remember

The peculiarity of such hot keys is that you do not need to press them at the same time. That is, first you click the Alt button, and then you select another desired letter on the keyboard. It is convenient, and most importantly, it is easy to remember. It makes no sense to fill your head with all possible options, it is enough to assimilate only what is really important and will be used by you.

If you press and F at the same time, the application search bar is called up. This is a very necessary function, especially in the early stages of using the operating system Windows 8. It is noteworthy that in any version of this operating system (Esc performs the same function - exits a program, file, window.

And one more thing...

In addition to all of the above, it is useful for laptop users to know what secrets are in their devices. In addition to the standard operating system-dependent combinations, there are also those created specifically for laptop owners. So, the keyboard shortcut on a laptop Fn + F2 disables the Wi-Fi module, for example. However, most of the hot buttons depend on the device model (in the manual for it, you can familiarize yourself with all the features of a particular model). However, the common thing is that all combinations occur via the Fn key. This is a functional button that is responsible for performing many actions in the system. Perhaps only Apple products do not have it on the keyboard. However, there is enough of the functionality that is available as standard. Regularly using hot keys, you can significantly increase your own productivity at the computer.