Primer on Macintosh OS X keyboard shortcuts
Written by: hexley on Tuesday February 12th 2008, 1:35 am
Filed under: Applications, OS X 10.5
Find yourself doing the same things many times over with your computer? If that is the case, you are a prime candidate for learning some of the many keyboard shortcuts built into nearly every application on OS X.
Keyboard shortcuts are simply a way to invoke a command, without actually using your mouse and digging around in a menu. In most cases, it will result in timesaving.
The one aspect of keyboard shortcuts I would like to stress, is you need not feel burdened to learn them all. Pay attention to your own personal workflow; use the shortcuts that are applicable to saving you time. Not everyone will use the same one’s, all of you will use at least some.
There are basically three keys on your keyboard you need to learn. More than likely you already know some of them. Almost every single person I talk to is well aware of how to invoke copy, paste, and sometimes cut, via the keyboard.
This tutorial will do nothing more than expand on those same keyboard shortcuts. Keep in mind, some computers have full size keyboards, and some don’t, especially laptops, which are missing a few keys. There will also always be differences in some keyboard layouts, try to follow along. If you get stuck, drop a note in the comments and we can help you along.
Let’s start with the Command key.
Some people call this the ‘Apple Key’. This makes sense as Apple has always printed the Apple logo on this key. New Apple keyboards no longer print the Apple logo on the key, so we will for the foreseeable future, call it the command key.
The symbol looks like a four leaf clover: ⌘
There is actually a rather interesting history behind the creation of this symbol. It turns out the symbol is actually used to symbolize a Swedish campground or attraction. If you are at all a fan of Apple history, give it a read.
Next up is the Option key.
Some people will call the option key, an ‘alt’ key. While it does not matter, the point is you know what it looks like on your keyboard. Take a second to look for the second most left key: ⌥
Finally is the Control key
The control key will usually have a small open triangle on it: ⌃
One more key worth mentioning is the shift key: ⇧
It is a simple upwards-pointing arrow. You will often see this symbol in your menus. It simply means to press the shift key, along with whatever other keys you see represented by any of the above icons.
The idea is that pressing one or more of these keys, in combination with some other key, or mouse click, will allow you to perform a menu function. Years ago, as far as I can tell, there were internal Apple documents that mandated that for every set of keyboard commands, there had to be a menu item to select as well.
This seems to be the case most of the time, but not all. This means, there will be times when a keyboard shortcut is the only way to perform some action. These will be hard to find out about, and are usually hidden away in tech notes and documentation.
The important thing is to not become overwhelmed with trying to memorize and learn every single keyboard shortcut there is. What is important, is to notice when you are doing something repetitiously. This is your cue to take a step back and try to learn a faster and more convenient way.
Taking one of the most widely used keyboard shortcuts, which is used to quit an application. Most people will call this “command-Q’.
This means, to quit an application, rather than going to the menu to do so, you can simply press and hold the command key, then press the letter “Q” on your keyboard. This will send the same quit signal to the application as selecting quit from the menu.
If you look close to the menu, you will notice it looks like this:
Quit (Application Name) ⌘Q
If you take only one thing away from this tutorial, remember to look closely at the menus you are selecting. Nearly all of them will show you the equivalent keyboard shortcut.
Sure, you can look them up in a chart, and try to remember them all, or you can take note of them as you use the menu item, then next time, move to using the keyboard command.
If you are the type of person that wants to see all the commands at once, Apple has a document up called Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts. You can also look in your Keyboard and Mouse System Preferences, which has a list. The nice thing about these is you are free to change them to something else.
At this point, I would recommend you not change or customize your system settings. In a future post, we are going to show you the real power of how to change keyboard shortcuts, and even add your own custom shortcuts when none exists.
A final note of clarification. In most cases, a modern two-button mouse will have the right mouse button set to perform a control-click. This is the exact same as holding down the control key, and clicking once on something. Also, as stated before, remember, all keyboards are not printed alike, or even laid out in the same way. In these cases, you will need to improvise.
I know many of you are anxiously awaiting the Safari tutorials. I had to drop this post in first, since so much of the Safari tutorial is going to mention using the keyboard in conjunction with the mouse. Now you know, if I mention command-click, that means to hold the command key, and click once. If I mentioned right clicking, that means to use your right mouse button, and if you do not have one, to hold the control key and click once.
In closing, thanks to everyone. We have received hundreds of supportive emails. A number of great comments. Overall, lots of enthusiasm and appreciation. This is hugely motivating to both Caroline and myself, so keep them coming. Caroline even has a post of her very own, which you will see in a few days.
Thanks again for all the support.
“A final note of clarification. In most cases, a modern two-button mouse will have the right mouse button set to perform a command-click.”
That’s Control-click, not Command-click.
Comment by tom lopes 02.12.08 @ 10:37 amOn my MacBook Air there are new ways of right clicking by simply using 2 fingers it will generate a “right-click”. Of course when I use my other laptop, a ThinkPad, I find myself using the 2 finger trick to right click and it doesn’t work!
Comment by Dan Mosqueda 02.13.08 @ 9:27 amConsider using the words “modifier key/s” when referring to the shift/command/option/control operations.
From your tutorial above: “…then press the letter “Q” on your keyboard.”
The problem has been that many people will press the modifier then PRESS the operation key and (usually) get a toggle. Press then click is the rule.
Good site, I’m placing it on my Bookmarks Bar and will forward to other OS-X users.
Cordially – Michael
Comment by Michael 02.14.08 @ 8:30 am@Michael, Thanks for the clarification on modifier keys and operation keys. As I am sure you are noticing, I am a bit all over the board on how I refer to things. At times, I want to say URL, then I tend to lean on calling it a “web address”.
Moving forward, I am trying to establish some naming conventions. In the beginning, I try to refer to things in plain English, and follow that up with the real name in parentheses.
As we get deeper into the site, I can abandon the simple plain English terms in favor of more accurate terms.
If you are a reader, this is why it is so very important to start at the beginning of the site, and work your way forward to the current posts. If you do not, there is a chance you will get a little lost in the terminology.
Comment by Scott Haneda 02.15.08 @ 5:45 amIn your “Leave a comment” area, you have/provide three fill in the blanks, I know this is a very basic procedure, but I am not sure what goes where. could you please modify your site instructions to perhaps include a “sample” of what is to be inputed into the blank areas. ie, is the first blank for title?, the second our E-mail (so &so @mac.com etc, and the third URI stands for what?
Comment by Leaving comments 02.21.08 @ 12:31 pmOff to the right of each field should say “name, “e-mail”, and “URI”, are you not seeing those? If you do not see them, please let us know what browser you are using so we can look into it.
Actually, since you mentioned “URI”, that would imply you can in fact see those labels on the fields. URI is just another way to say website address. Name and email should be visible and understood. Can you please clarify your problem so we can look into it?
Comment by Scott Haneda 02.21.08 @ 2:42 pmHi Scott. First, many thanks for your fine tutorials on OS X. I’ve been using a Mac now for about 10 months and am still learning. Your tutorials have sure helped. One tip that I use all the time on a website is to tap the + key while pressing the command key to increase the size of the font for easier reading… I’m ready for your next post, so get busy 
……Thanks again….Jim
I have used MACs for about 14 years and OS10.4 for about 2 years.
I still have a lot to learn.
How do you support yourself? Just by adds?
Good luck with this activity.
Fred
P.S. I learned about this site from MacNorth Computer Club.
[...] users take for granted. A visit to the site confirms that it shows some promise, including this handy primer on keyboard shortcuts…. A topic always of interest to [...]
Pingback by MacLitigator » Blog Archive » Switch Hitter Help 02.25.08 @ 9:16 am@Jim, thanks for pointing out the increase font size shortcut. It is something we will cover in more detail, how it works, how to reset it, etc. Safari has a lot more to it than I figured. What was once going to be a 5 part series, is turning into much more. In the end, I think it is good, most people probably spend the most time in a browser.
Comment by Scott Haneda 02.25.08 @ 4:21 pm@Fred, The site is supported by love
Really, there are ads, as of yet, they do nothing for us. We started this as a way to help people, plain and simple. You can read a little about the history of it here.
I have a long history in this field, in part, I can now just pass a link onto a client, rather than typing up a long email. I happen to have a small ISP of my own, so setting up the server, email server, site etc, was something I just knew how to do, and saved a bit on the costs of that.
All in all, we are here to make computing easier and less frustrating to users. If it pays for itself in hosting costs, I will be plenty happy.
Comment by Scott Haneda 02.25.08 @ 5:26 pmIt’s interesting that as a prospective new Mac user, I find there is talk here on and on the Apple website about shift, control, option and command keys and their symbols, BUT … nowhere are the symbols shown linked to the words. So,that weird elongated backward Z looking thingy is command, option or what, for example?
Comment by Brett 02.28.08 @ 6:55 pm@Brett, right you are. I did my best to show you the basics in the post above, they may not have translated well in all browsers. In my tests they did though.
I did a quick search, and found this, later tonight, I will make up my own that is a little more explanatory and put it into the article, thanks for the suggestion.
Comment by Scott Haneda 02.28.08 @ 7:01 pmScott,
Did you post anything about ExpressCard?
if not, any idea where I can get info?
Antonio
@Antonio, no, we have not covered wireless cards as of yet. Those are pretty custom items at this point. We will talk about them in general in the future, but it will more than likely be some time down the road.
Comment by Scott Haneda 03.07.08 @ 1:21 pmGreat site. I have sent several here.
I have used macs for a few years, but never studied them in a systematic way.
So just working thru your prior posts on the finder menus was a good process. I never noticed the alias option before. Good work.
Here are a few “switcher” issues it has taken me surprisingly long to get right.
Getting used to the detached top main menu. I still look to the top of an app window to see its main menu – tho spending hours a day on M$ op sys does not help
The key which acts like PC backspace. I seldom seem to need a backspace (or maybe i do not notice it because it works like i expect). Instead I most frequently seem to need the forward deleted so
So had I started on macs would i be needing the forward delete so much
@gerry, you git the nail on the head with the menu bar issues. This is a hotly debated issue amongst switchers. It does go back to the oldest of Macintosh days though. It is just different, once you get used to it, it is not too bad. Thanks for writing in.
Comment by Scott Haneda 05.11.08 @ 3:11 amThanks to your reply to Brett, I finally know that what looks like a 1-handed clock pointing to 11 is the escape key
Hey! I’m really enjoying your blog! Im just now getting an iMac g3, the funny thing is that its faster then a dell from a year later! Anyway, you should make a series dedicated to themes, dock custimization, general aesthetics, ie, ie. Keep Posting, Cheerios and Cheers!
Comment by New Mac 08.17.09 @ 7:52 am@NewMac if the day comes when we have time to post more tutorials, they will still very much lean on the beginner. Themes will never be something we discuss, as they can cause instability if you do not know what you are doing. They also create a different situation for the user, making it much harder for everyone to be on the same page when trying to help and explain things.
If I want to point someone to the “green” button, and they have turned it purple, it makes it very hard to get anywhere in the way of helping people.
Thanks for the comments about the site.
Comment by Scott Haneda 08.17.09 @ 2:14 pm
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