Can you customize hotkeys on macOS to suit your workflow?

Yes, you can customize hotkeys on macOS to suit your workflow. Here's how you can do it:Go to the Apple menu and select 'System Preferences.'Click on 'Keyboard' and then go to the 'Shortcuts' tab.In the left sidebar, you will see different categories such as 'App Shortcuts,' 'Mission Control,' 'Spotlight,' etc.Click on the category you want to customize hotkeys for.To add a new shortcut, click on the '+' button at the bottom of the window.Enter the exact menu title of the command you want to create a shortcut for, and then specify the key combination you want to use.Click 'Add' to save the new shortcut.You can also modify existing shortcuts by clicking on them and entering a new key combination. Customizing hotkeys can help you work more efficiently and quickly access frequently used commands.

What are some essential default hotkeys every macOS user should know?

Command + C: CopyCommand + V: PasteCommand + X: CutCommand + Z: UndoCommand + S: SaveCommand + A: Select AllCommand + F: FindCommand + N: New WindowCommand + W: Close WindowCommand + Q: Quit ApplicationCommand + Tab: Switch between open applicationsCommand + Space: Open Spotlight searchCommand + Shift + 3: Take a screenshot of the entire screenCommand + Shift + 4: Take a screenshot of a selected areaCommand + Shift + 4 + Space: Take a screenshot of a specific window

How do hotkeys contribute to efficient navigation and multitasking on macOS?

Hotkeys allow users to quickly and easily access commonly used functions or applications without the need to navigate through menus or use a mouse. This can greatly improve efficiency by reducing the amount of time it takes to perform tasks.In macOS, hotkeys can be used to switch between applications, open new windows, close windows, and perform various other functions. This allows users to quickly navigate between different tasks or applications, making it easier to multitask.By memorizing and using hotkeys regularly, users can streamline their workflow and perform tasks more quickly and efficiently. This can be especially helpful for power users who frequently switch between applications or perform repetitive tasks.Overall, hotkeys contribute to efficient navigation and multitasking on macOS by providing a quick and convenient way to access commonly used functions, reducing the need for manual navigation and improving overall productivity.

Are there any hidden or lesser-known hotkeys in macOS that users should be aware of?

Yes, there are several hidden or lesser-known hotkeys in macOS that users should be aware of:Command + Option + D: Show or hide the DockCommand + Option + Control + Eject: Put your Mac to sleepCommand + Option + Control + Power button: Force restart your MacCommand + Shift + 3: Take a screenshot of the entire screenCommand + Shift + 4: Take a screenshot of a selected areaCommand + Shift + 5: Open the screenshot toolbarCommand + Option + Control + V: Paste and match styleCommand + Option + Control + T: Show or hide the toolbar in FinderCommand + Option + Control + M: Minimize all windowsCommand + Option + Control + F: Toggle full screen mode for the active appThese are just a few examples, and there are many more hidden or lesser-known hotkeys in macOS that can help improve your productivity and efficiency.

How can users create their own custom hotkeys for specific actions or applications on macOS?

Users can create their own custom hotkeys for specific actions or applications on macOS by using third-party software such as Keyboard Maestro or BetterTouchTool. These applications allow users to easily set up custom keyboard shortcuts for various tasks, such as launching applications, opening files, or executing specific commands.To create custom hotkeys using Keyboard Maestro, users can follow these steps:Download and install Keyboard Maestro from the official website.Launch the application and create a new macro by clicking on the '+' button.Assign a name to the macro and set a trigger for the hotkey (e.g., Command + Option + T).Add actions to the macro by clicking on the '+' button and selecting the desired action (e.g., launching an application).Save the macro and test the hotkey to ensure it works as expected.Similarly, users can create custom hotkeys using BetterTouchTool by following these steps:Download and install BetterTouchTool from the official website.Launch the application and go to the Keyboard tab.Click on the '+' button to create a new keyboard shortcut.Assign a name to the shortcut and set the trigger key combination (e.g., Command + Option + T).Add an action to the shortcut by selecting the desired action from the dropdown menu (e.g., launching an application).Save the shortcut and test it to ensure it works as expected.By using these third-party applications, users can easily create custom hotkeys for specific actions or applications on macOS, making it more convenient to perform common tasks with just a few keystrokes.

Mac Users’ Essential Toolkit: A Deep Dive into macOS Hotkeys

Author: Vladimir Artiukh
Editor: Oleg Afonin
Updated: 26.11.2024 15:38

Read this article to find out how to make your life easier if you are using macOS. Today we will explore key shortcuts to help you use your Mac more efficiently: not only basic combinations of keys for copy and paste operations, but also some advanced tricks that will speed up your work in various apps.

Mac Users’ Essential Toolkit: A Deep Dive into macOS Hotkeys

Contents

MacOS has a lot of functions, and using its keyboard shortcuts is an excellent way to master this operating system, improve its performance and make your work process more convenient.

Today we will explore not only basic combinations of keys for copy and paste operations, but also some advanced tricks that will speed up your work in various apps.

Using hotkeys for navigation, switching between apps, managing their windows and many other things, you’ll be able to change the way you work with your Mac and make the most of its hidden potential. All of that, because using keyboard shortcuts is not only a quick way to save your time, but also an effective method to optimize your working routine.

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Boost Your Speed Using Hotkeys in MacOS

Main keyboard shortcuts in macOS

For starters, let’s consider basic shortcuts, to make your everyday tasks easier. We’ll find out how to copy and paste things, open new tabs in your browser, and switch between running applications.

For example, to copy files or text, use the shortcut Command (⌘) + C. It will help you copy any selected file or text.

To paste the copied file elsewhere, press the key combination Command (⌘) + V. This way, you can quickly transfer a file from one directory to another.

To cut a file or text, press the key shortcut Command (⌘) + X. After that, this file or text can be pasted somewhere else by pressing Command (⌘) + V which performs the “insert” action.

These keyboard shortcuts will help you when dealing with text, files and other data.

Another combination is Command (⌘) + T. Use it to open a new tab in a browser or application.

It is especially helpful when you work with web browsers or applications where new windows need to be opened quickly.

If you have several applications running, you can switch between them using this combination Command (⌘) + Tab– it quickly takes you from one app to another.

To switch between windows of the same application, use the keyboard shortcut Command (⌘) + ‘(tilde). It will take you from one task or app to another in no time.

Finally, to close a running application press Command (⌘) + Q. When you want to stop working with an app, this shortcut will help you close it immediately and free up some system resources.

If you need to find a specific app, open the search window in Spotlight: press the key shortcut Command (⌘) + Space. This search will help you find files, apps and other items on your Mac.

Spotlight gives you quick access to files and functions on your computer, which makes it a powerful tool for everyday use in macOS.

All right, we have had a look on basic keyboard shortcuts, and now it’s time to explore more advanced options.

Function	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Copy	Cmd + C	Copies the selected text or item to the clipboard.
Cut	Cmd + X	Cuts the selected text or item and copies it to the clipboard.
Paste	Cmd + V	Pastes the contents from the clipboard.
Undo	Cmd + Z	Undoes the last action.
Redo	Cmd + Shift + Z	Redoes the last undone action.
Select All	Cmd + A	Selects all text or items in the current window.
Save	Cmd + S	Saves the current document or file.
Open	Cmd + O	Opens a file or document.
Close Window	Cmd + W	Closes the active window.
Quit Application	Cmd + Q	Closes the active application.
Switch Between Applications	Cmd + Tab	Switches between open applications.
Minimize Window	Cmd + M	Minimizes the active window to the dock.
Show Desktop	Cmd + F3	Minimizes all open windows and shows the desktop.
Search in Spotlight	Cmd + Space	Opens Spotlight search for quick access to applications, files, etc.
Lock Screen	Cmd + Ctrl + Q	Locks the screen and shows the login screen.
Shut Down or Restart	Cmd + Ctrl + Eject	Shuts down or restarts the Mac.

Navigation and windows

Let’s find out how to quickly switch between application windows, use Mission Control for effective navigation of the desktop, and how to manage windows size and location.

To open Mission Control use this shortcut: F3 or Control (⌃) + Up Arrow (↑). When you press it, Mission Control opens and shows you thumbnails of all opened windows and desktops on your computer.

Mission Control makes it easier to navigate and organize your workspace, which is especially useful when dealing with a number of opened windows and running apps.

If you tend to use multiple applications at the same time, the function to switch from one desktop to another will help you put things to rights. Use the keyboard shortcut Control (⌃) + ←/→ to switch between desktops.

Control (⌃) + ←/→ - switch between desktops

To close the current window of a running application, press Command (⌘) + W. This combination will help you save the time when working with application windows.

Another shortcut will come in handy when you need to move or resize windows.

To switch a window to full screen mode, press the three keys – Control (^) + Command (⌘) + F, and if you press them again, the window will revert to its original size.

To open a new window in the active application, press Command + N.

To minimize a window, press the keyboard shortcut Command (⌘) + M.

The combination Command + H hides the current window.

And if you press Command + Option + H it will hide all windows except the active application.

Press Command + Q to close the window or an app.

With the help of these combinations, managing your app windows becomes more convenient and quicker.

Function	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Minimize All Windows	Cmd + Option + M	Minimizes all open windows of the active application.
Switch Between Open Windows of the Same App	Cmd + ` (tilde)	Switches between open windows of the current application.
Go to Next Desktop	Ctrl + → (right arrow)	Switches to the next desktop in Mission Control.
Go to Previous Desktop	Ctrl + ← (left arrow)	Switches to the previous desktop in Mission Control.
Show All Open Windows of an App	Ctrl + ↓ (down arrow)	Shows all open windows of the active application in Mission Control.
Enter Full Screen	Cmd + Ctrl + F	Expands the active window to full screen.
Minimize All Windows and Show Desktop	Cmd + F3	Minimizes all open windows, showing the desktop.
Open Launchpad	F4 or Cmd + Space	Opens Launchpad for launching applications.
Switch Between Applications	Cmd + Tab	Quickly switches between open applications.

Text processing and editing

There are also certain keyboard shortcuts for text processing, which will speed up your work with it. For example, you can move from word to word, or from line to line using the following combinations:

Option (⌥) + ←/→ – to move between words.
Command (⌘) + ←/→ – to jump to the beginning or end of the line.
If you need to add special symbols and emojis to the text, press Control (⌃) + Command (⌘) + Space to open the panel of symbols and emojis. You’ll be able to add a bit of creativity to your text.
If you need to change your keyboard layout quickly, press the key shortcut Control + Space.

We’ve already mentioned such operations as copy, cut and paste, and you can access them with the following shortcuts:

Command (⌘) + A – select all.
Command (⌘) + C – copy.
Command (⌘) + X – cut.
Command (⌘) + V – insert.

To find text in a system utility or application, press – Command + F.

To save changes in a document, use Command + S.

Another shortcut is meant to cancel the last action Command (⌘) + Z. For example, this shortcut can restore a deleted piece of text, a cut file, or cancel the last thing you did in this or another application.

On the other hand, the shortcut Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + Z will repeat the last action.

These keyboard shortcuts will make your text processing and editing easier in any app you can run on your Mac.

Function	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Select All	Cmd + A	Selects all text or elements in the window.
Copy	Cmd + C	Copies the selected text or elements to the clipboard.
Paste	Cmd + V	Inserts copied text or elements from the clipboard.
Cut	Cmd + X	Cuts the selected text or elements and copies them to the clipboard.
Undo	Cmd + Z	Undoes the last editing action.
Redo	Cmd + Shift + Z	Redoes the last undone editing action.
Find	Cmd + F	Opens the search field to find text in the document.
Replace	Cmd + Option + F	Opens the search and replace field in the document.
Go to Beginning of Document	Cmd + ↑ (up arrow)	Moves the cursor to the beginning of the document.
Go to End of Document	Cmd + ↓ (down arrow)	Moves the cursor to the end of the document.

System commands

Now let’s have a look at some system commands:

Command + Space — open Spotlight to find and quickly launch applications.
Command + , — opens Finder settings.
To shut down a specific application, use the shortcut – Command + Option + Escape, and you will see the window called Force Quit Applications.
Option + Command + D – will help you hide and restore the dock panel.
Control + Command + Q will lock the screen.
And Option + Shift + Command + Q will sign you out of the current macOS user account.
The combination Command + Option + Eject (or Power, if your keyboard has this physical button) is used to put Mac into sleep mode. It sends the signal for the computer to go to sleep, which is the same as if you were pressing the power button.

If your Mac doesn’t respond to this shortcut, please make sure that the Eject (or Power) button works properly, and check the selected options in System Settings to see if this shortcut has not been modified or disabled.
To restart your computer, use the shortcut Command + Control + Eject (or Power).

Remember that exact combinations of keys may differ depending on a specific Mac model and the keyboard that is used. For example, MacBooks with Touch ID sensor panel use the Touch ID button instead of the power button. If your device has Magic Keyboard, the shortcuts can also differ.

Function	Key Combination	Description
Shut Down Computer	Cmd + Option + Control + Power	Shuts down the computer without warning.
Restart Computer	Cmd + Control + Power	Restarts the computer without warning.
Lock Screen	Cmd + Control + Q	Locks the computer screen and goes to the login screen.
Log Out	Cmd + Shift + Q	Logs out of the current user account.
Go to Launchpad	F4 or Ctrl + F3	Opens Launchpad to view installed applications.
Show All Windows of Active Application	Cmd + F3	Switches to Exposé mode to view all windows of the active application.
Reopen Closed Window	Cmd + Shift + T	Reopens the last closed window in the active application.
Open Terminal Window	Cmd + Space, then type “Terminal”	Opens the Terminal application to execute commands.
Enable Multitasking Mode	Cmd + Tab	Opens the menu to switch between running applications.
Go to Desktop	Cmd + F3	Moves all windows and shows the desktop.

Commands in Finder

Here are some useful commands in Finder:

Command + N opens a new Finder window.
To create a new folder, press Command + Shift + N.
The shortcut Command + Delete will move a folder or file to Trash.
Command (⌘) + Z cancels the last action.

How to create hotkeys on Mac

If they wish, Mac users can create their own keyboard shortcuts for specific apps in macOS.

Here’s how you do it:

Open System Settings.
Go to Keyboard – Keyboard Shortcuts.
Go to Keyboard – Keyboard Shortcuts.
Choose the tab App Shortcuts.
Choose the app for which you want to create a shortcut.
In the Menu title line, give the name of the command for which the keyboard shortcut must be created, and in the Keyboard Shortcut field, set the combination of keys.

How to see all hotkeys for any app on Mac

Every application on Mac has a number of various hotkeys. You can find them in MacOS system settings.

Go to System Settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts.

Here, you can see both global shortcuts and shortcuts for specific apps.

Also, such information can be found in the preferences of a certain app.

Conclusion

Today we have reviewed important and useful keyboard shortcut in macOS operating system that will help you make your working routine more effective and convenient. We have explored basic shortcuts for copy, paste and undo operations, and checked more advanced hotkeys for navigation, app management and text editing.

Remember that these combinations may slightly differ in various applications, and it’s always useful to have a look at the shortcuts used in a specific app by checking its user manual or menu items.

All in all, using shortcuts could be an excellent way to speed up your everyday tasks and improve work productivity.