This brief tutorial/overview will explain how to identify the keys on your Mac’s keyboard, and some of the most common keyboard shortcuts.

Apple Keyboard Symbols

Here’s a breakdown of the Apple Keyboard keys.

apple command key – also displayed as apple command key symbol = the Command key (also known as the “Apple key”).

 

apple control key = the Control (ctrl) key

 

apple option key = the Option key

 

apple shift key = the Shift key

 

apple escape key = the Escape key

Common Apple Keyboard Shortcuts

Here’s a list of some of the more common Apple Keyboard Shortcuts.

apple command key + Z (Command+Z) = Undo

apple command key + X (Command+X) = Cut

apple command key + C (Command+C) = Copy

apple command key + V (Command+V) = Paste

apple command key + A (Command+A) = Select All

apple command key + S (Command+S) = Save

apple command key + H (Command+H) = Hide Current Window

apple command key + N (Command+N) = New Window

apple command key + O (Command+O) = Open

apple command key + W (Command+W) = Close Window

apple command key + M (Command+M) = Minimize the current Appliction

apple command key + F (Command+F) = Find

apple command key + P (Command+P) = Print

apple command key + TAB (Command+Tab) = Tab through the open Applications so you can switch to one.

apple command key + Q (Command+Q) = Quit the current Application

apple command key + apple command key + apple escape key (Command+Option+Escape) = Brings up the Force Quit window

apple command key + SPACEBAR (Command+Spacebar) = Brings up Spotlight

apple command key + , (Command+,) = Brings up the Preferences of the current Application (usually, not always)

apple command key + apple shift key + 3 (Command+Shift+3) = Take screenshot of the entire screen

apple command key + apple shift key + 4 (Command+Shift+4) = Brings up ‘crosshairs’ which allows you to drag a rectangle/square to take a screenshot of that section. Add the Spacebar to the end of that keyboard combo and click on a window and you’ll take a screenshot of just that window.