We all remember the iconic figure of Steve Jobs (1955-2011), the American entrepreneur and inventor who co-founded Apple. From its earliest days in 1984 and still today, Mac OS delivers cutting-edge, easy-to-use functionality to users.
Instead of reaching for your mouse or trackpad, you can use combinations of keys to copy and paste text, switch between applications, find documents, take screenshots and more. Apple computers come with dozens of built-in shortcuts, and many work across different applications. Others are specific to programs such as Safari, Mail, Notes and Microsoft Office.
Here's a practical guide to the most useful Mac keyboard shortcuts, including how to customise them to suit the way you work.
🙋♂️ What Are Mac Keyboard Shortcuts?
Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys that allow you to perform actions without navigating through menus.
For example, rather than opening the Edit menu and selecting Copy, you can simply highlight some text and press Command + C.
Most Mac shortcuts use one or more modifier keys:
To activate a shortcut, hold down the modifier key or keys, press the final key, then release them. For example, Command + Shift + Z means holding Command and Shift while pressing Z.
A Note on Australian Mac Keyboards
Most Mac keyboards used in Australia have a QWERTY letter layout, but the positions of certain symbols can vary depending on the physical keyboard and the input source selected in macOS.
The shortcuts in this guide generally work regardless of your keyboard's regional layout. However, commands involving punctuation or special characters may differ.
If you're unsure which layout your Mac is using, open System Settings → Keyboard, then look under Text Input. You can also enable the Keyboard Viewer to see which characters correspond to each key.
⚡ Daily Use Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
The sooner you master using keyboard shortcuts, the faster you can bypass both the mouse and menus for many functions. And the faster your typing and productivity will get. Some keyboard shortcuts are useful almost every time you use your computer, such as the copy/paste commands mentioned above. You'll use at least one modifier key for each.
Command (⌘ or Cmd)
Control (Ctrl)
Option (Opt)
Function (Fn)
and Shift.
Whether you're composing an email, editing a document or moving between applications, these are the commands worth memorising first.
| Task | Mac shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Command + C | Copies selected text or items to the clipboard. |
| Cut | Command + X | Cuts selected text or content in supported applications. |
| Paste | Command + V | Pastes copied or cut content. |
| Select All | Command + A | Selects all content in the active area. |
| Find | Command + F | Searches within the current document, webpage or application. |
| Undo | Command + Z | Reverses the previous action. |
| Redo | Command + Shift + Z | Reverses an Undo action in many applications. |
| Save | Command + S | Saves the current document. |
| Command + P | Opens the print dialogue box. | |
| Close window or tab | Command + W | Closes the active window or tab. |
| Quit application | Command + Q | Quits the active application. |
| Switch applications | Command + Tab | Moves between open applications. |
| Open Spotlight | Command + Space | Opens Spotlight Search. |
| Force Quit | Option + Command + Esc | Opens the Force Quit Applications window. |
Copying, Pasting and Cutting
Copying and pasting are among the most frequently used keyboard commands.
To copy text, highlight the words you want and press Command + C. Move your cursor to the new location and press Command + V to paste them. If you want to remove text from its original position while copying it, use Command + X instead.
These commands work in many applications, including word processors, email programs and web browsers.
Undoing and Redoing Actions
Made a mistake while editing a document? Press Command + Z to undo your last action.
In many applications, you can press the shortcut repeatedly to reverse several recent changes.
To redo an action you've undone, use Command + Shift + Z. Some applications, including Microsoft Word for Mac, also support Command + Y.
Switching Between Applications
If you regularly work with several applications at once, Command + Tab is particularly useful.
Hold down Command and press Tab to move between open applications. Keep pressing Tab while holding Command to choose a different application.
Remember that switching applications isn't the same as switching between multiple windows within the same application.
😍 Emoji Keyboard Shortcut on Mac
Mac computers include a Character Viewer that lets you insert emoji, mathematical symbols, currency signs and other special characters.
Press: Control + ⌘ (Command) + + Space bar
You can then browse or search for the character you need.
Depending on your Mac model and keyboard settings, pressing the Fn or Globe key may also open the Character Viewer.
Typing Currency Symbols and Accented Letters
If you're preparing an invoice, writing a report or working with international currencies, you might need symbols such as $, €, £ or ¥.
Rather than memorising different combinations, you can use the Character Viewer to locate and insert them.
If you're learning a language such as French, Spanish or German, you may also need accented characters. In many Mac applications, you can press and hold a letter, such as E, to display its accented variations. Select the character you want from the pop-up menu.
You can also add different language keyboards through System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input. This can be particularly useful if you regularly write in more than one language.
🔎 macOS and Finder Keyboard Shortcuts
Earlier, we mentioned there's a difference between system-level and application-level shortcuts, and they may sometimes conflict. Here, we're covering the system-level shortcuts that can help you boost workflow productivity or just speed up your email writing.
At the app level, Finder shortcuts specialise in finding elements within the app.
At the system level, they deliver executive commands, such as opening a new folder or webpage.
The Mac operating system (macOS) gives users many built-in conveniences, not the least of which is the system-level Finder function. It works as the fundamental graphical user interface (GUI), allowing quick access to these common tasks.
Essential Finder Shortcuts
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Command + N | Opens a new Finder window when Finder is active. |
| Command + Shift + N | Creates a new folder in Finder. |
| Command + Shift + O | Opens the Documents folder. |
| Command + Delete | Moves selected items to the Bin. |
| Command + Down Arrow | Opens the selected item. |
| Command + I | Displays information about the selected file or folder. |
| Command + D | Duplicates selected items. |
| Command + C | Copies selected files. |
| Option + Command + V | Moves previously copied files into the current folder. |
| Space | Opens Quick Look to preview a selected file. |
Moving Files Between Folders
Unlike cutting text, moving files in Finder usually involves copying them first.
This moves the copied file from its original location to the new folder rather than creating a second copy.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for Screenshots
Taking screenshots can be useful when saving instructions, sharing information or explaining a computer problem.
No shortcut series demonstrates the MacBook's nested philosophy better than the commands for capturing screenshots. macOS includes several built-in shortcuts for capturing your screen.
By default, screenshots are usually saved to your desktop, although you can change the destination through the Screenshot toolbar.
If you want to paste a screenshot directly into a document or email, hold down Control while using the relevant screenshot shortcut.
For example, Control + Shift + Command + 4 allows you to select an area and copy the resulting image to your clipboard. You can then use Command + V to paste it into a compatible application.
💌 Safari, Mail, and Notes: Shortcuts for the Apps You Use
Surfing the web, sending emails, and writing documents: studies show these are the casual user's primary computer activities5. Like other applications, Mac offers shortcuts for all these functions.
Safari Keyboard Shortcuts
Safari is the macOS default web browser; it's pre-installed on every Mac device. To use it most efficiently, use these commands.
- ⌘ (Cmd) + T: opens a new tab.
- ⌘ (Cmd) + W: closes the current tab
- Shift + ⌘ (Cmd) + T: reopens the just-closed tab
- ⌘ (Cmd) + L: selects the address and search bar.
- ⌘ (Cmd) + F: Searches for text on the current webpage.
- ⌘ (Cmd) + R: Reloads the current webpage.
You can also launch Safari without using your mouse. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight, type Safari, then press Return.
Mail Shortcuts
With more instant communication happening via text message, email seems almost quaint. Still, this is a fundamental utility for which Mac offers several shortcuts.
- ⌘ (Cmd) + N: Creates a new email.
- ⌘ (Cmd) + R: Replies to the selected email.
- ⌘ (Cmd) +Shift + R: Replies to everyone included in the email.
- ⌘ (Cmd) + Shift + A: Opens the attachment selection dialogue.
- ⌘ (Cmd) + Shift + D: Sends the current email.
If you accidentally send a message too early, Mail also offers an Undo Send feature.
Pressing ⌘ (Cmd) + Z immediately after sending can undo the send action while the configured Undo Send delay is still active. You can also select Undo Send from the Mail interface.
The available time depends on your Mail settings, which can be adjusted under Mail → Settings → Composing.
Notes Keyboard Shortcuts
If you use Apple Notes to organise ideas, meeting notes or study materials, these commands can save time:
- Command + N: Creates a new note.
- Option + Command + F: Searches your notes.
- Shift + Command + L: Applies checklist formatting.
- Command + K: Inserts a link.
- Shift + Command + N: Creates a new folder.
These shortcuts are especially useful for keeping track of tasks, assignments and everyday information.
💼 Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Office
Many Australians use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint on their Macs for work and study. Although these applications support familiar macOS shortcuts, they also include commands specific to their functions.
| Application | Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Command + Option + 1 | Applies Heading 1 formatting. |
| Microsoft Word | Command + Option + 2 | Applies Heading 2 formatting. |
| Microsoft Word | Command + Option + A | Inserts a comment. |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Command + Shift + Return | Starts a presentation from the beginning. |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Command + Return | Starts a presentation from the current slide. |
| Microsoft Excel | Command + D | Fills selected cells down. |
| Microsoft Excel | Command + 1 | Opens the Format Cells dialogue box. |
Other familiar commands, such as Command + B for bold text, Command + I for italics and Command + S for saving, also work in many Office applications.
However, shortcuts aren't always identical across Apple and Microsoft software. For example, Command + D duplicates a file in Finder but fills cells down in Excel. The action depends on which application is active.
If a command isn't working as expected, check the application's menus or consult the relevant Microsoft Support documentation.
👷♀️ Resolving Conflicts and Customising Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
Sometimes, a keyboard shortcut may not work as expected. This can happen when an application uses the same combination as macOS, when a shortcut has been customised or when a different keyboard layout is selected.
Fortunately, macOS lets you review and change many keyboard shortcuts.
1. Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
2. Select Keyboard.
3. Click Keyboard Shortcuts.
4. Choose the relevant category.
5. Select an available shortcut and change its key combination, if supported.
To do this, select App Shortcuts, click the Add button and choose the application. Enter the menu command exactly as it appears in the application's menu, then assign a key combination.
Keep in mind that this feature is designed for existing menu commands. It doesn't let you create arbitrary actions or launch any application using a new shortcut. If a new combination conflicts with an existing shortcut, you may need to change one of them.
Rest assured that PC owners who use shortcuts run into the same conflicts, even though Microsoft created both their operating system and Office software. But regardless of the operating system, it takes just a bit to remember the shortcuts you use the most. Soon, you'll apply them without having to think about them.
To quickly memorise the most useful (to you) shortcuts, try the 3-2-1 method:
Memorise 3 global shortcuts, 2 app-specific shortcuts, and one power move each week.
Try using these commands during your normal computer activities throughout the week.
Once they become familiar, add a few more.
The goal isn't to memorise every possible combination. It's to become more comfortable navigating your Mac and spend less time searching through menus.
If you want to improve your wider digital skills, Superprof Australia connects learners with tutors who can help with everyday computer use, software applications and digital confidence. Whether you're learning to use a Mac for the first time or hoping to work more efficiently, personalised lessons can help you build practical skills at your own pace.
📃 References
- Apple. “Intro to Mac Keyboard Shortcuts.” Apple Support (Australia), n.d., support.apple.com/en-au/guide/mac-help/mchld6b9e240/mac. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.
- Apple. “Take a Screenshot on Mac.” Apple Support (Australia), n.d., support.apple.com/en-au/102646. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.
- Apple. “Keyboard Shortcuts and Gestures in Safari on Mac.” Apple Support (Australia), n.d., support.apple.com/en-au/guide/safari/cpsh003/mac. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.
- Apple. “Keyboard Shortcuts and Gestures in Notes on Mac.” Apple Support (Australia), n.d., support.apple.com/en-au/guide/notes/apd46c25187e/mac. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.
- Microsoft. “Keyboard Shortcuts in Word.” Microsoft Support, n.d., support.microsoft.com/en-au/accessibility/word/keyboard-shortcuts-in-word. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.
- 6. Microsoft. “Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel.” Microsoft Support, n.d., support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/excel/keyboard-shortcuts-in-excel. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.
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