10 incredibly useful Mac keyboard shortcuts you should be using

Want to take screenshots or quickly hide apps on your desktop? There’s a quick macOS keyboard shortcut for that-and plenty of other things, too! In this video, Macworld’s Leif Johnson shows you 10 great shortcuts (and variations on them) that will save a lot of time.
Master them, and you’ll rarely need to reach for your mouse. Most of these are Mac-specific, so we’ve avoided familiar cross-system shortcuts for copying, pasting, and things of the sort (although you should totally learn those, too).
⌘+Space bar: Open the Spotlight search tool
⌘+Q: Immediately quit any app
⌘+Shift+5: Take screenshots or record the screen
⌘+H: Hide apps instantly
⌘+Tab: Quickly switch between active apps
⌘+~: Switch between different windows in an app
⌘+L: Quickly access the search/address bar in Safari
⌘+Option+Q: Force-quit an App
⌘+Control+Q: Immediately lock your Mac
Click+Space Bar: Use Quick Look to preview files
We’ve also got a text version of this story on the main Macworld site: www.macworld.c...
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[@MountainMama1]

Thank you! I'm 56 and not tech savvy. This has been helpful. I have a new youtube channel and my son is teaching me video editing. Part of my "homework" is watching videos like this one. Thanks, again!

[@abhayandroidkumar]

Mountain Mama - I really liked this comment. Happy KZbin mam. Good luck. 😊

[@staybusyb]

yeah i can tell you're 50

[@Jefleopard]

@@staybusyb dude, if that’s a compliment you need to clarify. If it’s an insult, don’t be an ass. If it’s just an observation then why bother?

[@lilylemoncake2091]

@@staybusyb ya you can tell they have lots of wisdom

[@arnavmotwani2198]

I recommend that everyone shift all the screen shortcuts to cmd + (3,4,5) instead of cmd + shift + (3,4,5). Also if you go into keyboard setting you can make a shortcut out of any menu item in any app.

[@shruthisivagnanam]

^^

[@Keanogray954]

i suggest Mac should give u the job!

[@gauravraheja5101]

Will do.. easy to remember..

[@stefanrobertsir6657]

@@shruthisivagnanam ?

[@valentinehill6138]

Also visibly showing the controls with the little keyboard picture helps so much

[@flaviusoxford]

this was brilliant: crisp, clear, and exhaustive. Thank you, dear Leif!

[@Jack-oi4pp]

This was very helpful, since I've switched from windows to MacOS.

[@JCourts2k23]

I agree, I just moved to Mac, and I’m pretty lost so far

[@chubbyBunny94]

Same just got ordered the m1, cramming in knowhow before it arrives :D

[@xJanay]

@@JCourts2k23 Same

[@parmusical]

How is your experience? I miss a lot of Windows shortcuts which don't exist in Mac. I will probably switch back to Windows...

[@CallMeQuietASMR]

is there a way to expand an app to full size(ie. instead of clicking on the green button)?

[@carthikvp]

Double-click the title bar, it does what do you want to do.

[@HydrateByAlna]

Your content is so straight forward🫶🫶🫶 , that’s what I look for when watching a video on KZbin. Most people just talk on circles and they don’t say anything!😅

[@MrAldoCM]

I absolutely loved your video. I've seen many videos like this and by far your charisma and communication style makes the difference. Thank you!

[@lema4198]

That was AMAZING thank you!! Especially the Command + Q & Command + Tab shortcuts!! I know I'll be using those a lot!

[@mrgurunsahara1987]

remember guys, command! not control.

[@Tejoz]

😂

[@MasryMotors]

this is like learning a new language. Thanks for the video!

[@myrabbitispink]

this was amazing, i already knew a couple of these but for instance had no idea about the possibility of recording screen-videos! thanks for your tips

[@navixaxa5023]

Knew all the shortcuts. But loved the way you smiled throughout the video. Great work! Subscribed!!

[@becoolbo]

This video is short quick to the point beating the competition. I only needed a quick tutor to get me started! This was great! Sub!

[@VeereshDammur-w4p]

@3:50 SPACE saves lots of time for me from now on. No need to use CMD + O anymore.. thank you ☺

[@pierrescj]

Thank you :) basics are so important and make the UX that much nicer

[@nikusita]

iOS newbie here. Thank you for making the windows-to-Mac shift smoother

[@iamrajsharma]

I recently switched from PC to Mac and this video is very helpful, thanks

[@paratrooperwife]

WOW! I cannot believe how many tips you've managed to squeeze into this 4.5 minute video. Very helpful!

[@jig1056]

This is fantastic, are you sure cut all the time however there a bunch of these and they want know about. Thanks

[@Maddie-rv6sp]

the preview thing is awesome!!!!!! saving me so much time!! i love it!

[@loganloechel2483]

Thanks for making this video. Helped me understand the Apple keyboard shortcut commands. I have been using Windows operating systems for 11 years and just now decided to switch over to Mac.

[@delosreyesangelasmodelg.2643]

Finally switched to MacBook Air. I'm not quite sure if it's the M1 chip or the MacBook experience alone but damn this thing is fast compared to my old laptop. I had my iPad Pro with the Smart Keyboard before but I still got a bit overwhelmed with the new ecosystem. Any tips for new a new MacOS user?

[@margaretryan358]

This was like taking a sip from a firehose for me--I've got to keep looking for teachers and classes that I can relate to

[@valentinehill6138]

Bro the screenshot short cut is awesome!!!! Thank you

[@mrsseasea]

Your a life saver. I’m new to mac from windows, but own ipad and iphone. And this is so confusing until your easy video for just normal people like me

[@AjayGaurangaDas]

what is keyboard short cut for mouse right click ?

[@winthaymanlwin206]

Thank you so much for sharing these time-saving shortcuts.

[@sjinzaar]

That opening picture reminds me so much of the Cape of Good Hope in Cape Town, South Africa... Home!

[@singhjasvinder]

Fantastic. Easy to understand. Thanks. Keep posting such videos

[@sugardoggie-r7j]

(listed mac shortcuts)*((for personal use))* to find apps & files - cmd + space bar shut down apps - cmd + q screenshot - cmd+shift+5 screenshot specific items- cmd+shift+4 to close an app instantly - cmd+h to minimize an app - cmd+m switching documents - cmd + ~ find - cmd+f

[@kevink2740]

Very helpful! Is there a keyboard shortcut to make the cursor jump between two screens (external monitors) instead of dragging it?

[@blowrhey1341]

Thank you, great content and very direct to the point.

[@WhyAnkurGautam]

the space bar to preview was really the thing I wanted to know

[@darthtater1469]

"Use command Q to shut down any app immediately" "huh, interesting" *accidentally closes video*

[@solomon9388]

xD

[@manjular6194]

🤣🤣🤣

[@kylevids3951]

dummy

[@darthtater1469]

@@kylevids3951 stfu wet blanket

[@YerbaMate101]

😂lol

[@Sunny-pg3ek]

you should become an actor. you have a great charisma

[@drmanminderanand2366]

Very appropriate. Excellent shortcuts. wonderful time savers

[@dparapid]

Very Well Explained. Thank you.

[@lusandasentane3517]

0:37 seconds, I liked and subscribed. This is too legit 🤯

[@Keanogray954]

Hey, the guy in the video looks like the mouse logo Macworld... 😊 Keep up the good work Leif

[@henrykhosasih8781]

Let's say I have 2 separate Chrome windows open, and I want to only close one of them. What's the keyboard shortcut for this?

[@ivanmendes9233]

I’m a new Mac user. This is amazing. Thank you very much

[@HuideYin-i9r]

Hi Leif, thanks for the wonderful video, really helpful for user from linux system! Do you have any suggestion if I can "ungroup" the chrome icon ( I have multiple profiles) from the dock? My os version is Sonoma 14.1. Tried google and youtube but no clues, really appreciate for any suggestions.

[@gibmir2004]

This was so helpful, thank you

[@anandb7313]

Thanks! As a long time Windows user I find it absurd that it has two different shortcuts for switching between apps and between two windows of the same app. Also these only seem to work when the windows are not full screen.

[@mrbee15]

I just bought a macbook air m1 today and this was a great video! Thank you!

[@mbalci07]

you should have warned us before force close youtube in the chrome web browser, I closed and came back to video again :)

[@pierrescj]

:p I almost did it too

[@prince-roblox5444]

HAHA LOL

[@mathilda6561]

thank you so much! going to your channel right now to see if there's anything else I can learn :)

[@awethagos2172]

Great educational Video! You just saved my time 👌🏼

[@rafaelcalderon6658]

I am a pc and Linux user and recently bought a new mac and I feelawkward adaptting me to the new OS. Visually is more than great, and I am in love with my new Mac. And this video was very helpful Thank you!!!

[@TheNbrit]

This was so helpful! Thank you!!!

[@keonehaling7963]

This is very helpful especially to a first time user of a macbook. Thank you.

[@abhyankaratharv]

Thank you very much, saved me from hating my new Mac! cheers

[@MrSereeus]

just bought a macbook today, loving it

[@DOMEG4]

You are awesome - thank you! After years I returned to Apple with the MacBook Pro M1. Your video helped me a lot!

[@victoriac.attorneyatlaw]

Hi. This looks exactly like the MAC I just bought yesterday. How do I get the labels to stay on the page i.e. "gmail" "youtube" "upwork" etc. To save me the steps of having to go in each time. Thanks, I know this is very basic.

[@jobagoat]

uh... wdym?

[@271830066]

LOVE the video. For some reason, I can not toggle between minimal apps that are not fully open on the screen with Command Tab. It only works with Apps that are currently shown on the screen and not Minimalmize. Any Ideals.

[@jennyhuang380]

Thank you so much! Save my life

[@TeresaCookMusic]

What if you want to see all tabs and point and drag. Mine seems to be stuck or not working

[@anissjade]

thank you, you saved my life

[@hypernikao1999]

Very helpful video. Thanks!

[@ayushagarwal6053]

Great video, just switched to mac and these will be helpful 🙌

[@extremelucky1]

Great video! I bought my first 16 inch M1 Pro MacBook after using Windows all my life. Thanks for the tips!

[@harshitht7957]

simply awesome for Mac M1 users😍

[@liambeckett-jones8685]

Thank you I found the app app switcher very useful 😅

[@jonshams]

To me having to remember 4 keys such as fn, control, option and command buttons is too much. I come from windows background and having control and alt was already more than enough especially when used with shift key. Owh, yeah. I forgot about shift key also.

[@abner699]

Great video! I was not using any of this shortcuts and have been very helpful since I started using them. Thanks a lot!

[@h3ct0rjs]

Thank you very much, this is very helpful for my day to day

[@harumigupta7301]

Very insightful! Thanks for making this :)

[@TheSingingCelebrant]

and tips please on the arrow keys I'm using a 2018 MB pro and when YT is open if I try to use the arrow keys, it turn s the volume up or down and will not scroll. Thank you in advance

[@mdoddbama]

How do I drop a file onto a flash drive? I can do the time machine for the entire machine but can't find the paste option for that

[@MTHR3E]

Great clean and concise

[@chakk0]

Ok that's good! I will go and make macos usable again and fit in all windows shortcuts

[@AntonioAlvarezMolina]

Hi, How can I open an app (Opera browser) with F5?

[@saurabmishra5563]

any shortcut for splitting two apps in mac?

[@ecomwithTrevor]

These were so helpful!

[@CheloC92]

Dude! 0:56 Thank you

[@ayushmanV]

How to close all apps in one go?? any shortcut plz

[@naveedalirehmani4135]

There is this one specific shortcut I came here looking for. On my 2015 I used to do cmd + f3 to move every window to the side to preview desktop, the same doesnot work on 2019

[@mmarjisr]

I always used windows in the past, About a year now I had gotten a keyboard for my iPad does the same keyboard tricks on the Imac works on the iPad too that has a keyboard as well

[@engpatrickkapoteshashangal8273]

Excellent tutorial

[@LL-qm3sl]

These are all great, I still have some questions about eh fn keys. Do you have a video about them? Thanks

[@dl2543]

How do you insert photos into your emails on a Macbook?

[@Elska-bee]

very well paced and informative video....by far the best video I have seen yet on Mac shortcuts. Thank you so much!

[@clarizmaarte4958]

Very helpful,thank you❤

[@abhayraj1281]

ooh wow man thanks you so much for making my life easier

[@jaykaira9939]

Could you please tell me where can I find alt key on the key board? Thanks

[@servetcelik1318]

Do you guys know how to minimize all the open windows at once?

[@NightLinks]

In windows I only knew 3 shortcuts "Cut, Copy and Paste". On my Mac I know about 20 shortcuts so far I started learning about 3 days ago.

[@devagnes829]

Thank you, sir. Cool shortcuts.

[@Echoj317]

whats the shortcut to search for keywords within a word document

[@lumosmaxima4881]

When I clicked this, I said that I don't need it all but guess what, I'm fool to say that LOL. thanks bud!

[@Fox3-x5p]

Press the Touch ID button to lock. Not sure if that’s available before 2020 macbooks

[@quah1220]

To preview multiple files at once, besides command + F, space bar also works.

[@thekksinca824]

Command ~ changed my life

[@sebastianolopez9856]

hi guysss ! I have an issue with slowing down playback speed of a Ytube videos using shortcuts... the only one working is "shift" + "

[@dianaandrade3758]

Great video..love it. Learned something

[@jermaja]

Thank you so much! 😊I'm a new mac user and this came in veryyyy handy n helpful!

[@luissplann2029]

Super helpful man ! I just got a macbook air and this helped me alot thank you !

[@MiTmite9]

With the new M1 MacBook Air, I tried setting up a shortcut (strikethrough) >Preferences>Keyboard>App>Shortcuts. Added my own command; named it. It didn't work. So frustrating. WTF.

[@diegocorredor2612]

thanks very much very help 🙏🏽