⌨️macOS shortcuts that change how you work

the ones I use daily, not the full apple support page. that page has like 200 entries and you will never need most of them.

Never miss an update

This list changes over time. Get a short email when it does.

At most one short email a week. Unfollow in one click.

Cmd+Space

Spotlight. type an app name or do quick math, it's a calculator too

Cmd+Tab

hold Cmd and tap Tab to cycle open apps

Cmd+`

cycles windows within the SAME app, not apps. people miss this one

Cmd+Shift+4

Cmd+Shift+5

Cmd+Option+Esc

force quit dialog, for when an app freezes

Cmd+Ctrl+Q

Cmd+,

opens preferences for whatever app is active

Cmd+H

Cmd+Option+H

hides every other app, leaves just the one you're in. good for screen sharing

Control+Up Arrow

Mission Control, shows every window and space at once

Cmd+Shift+N

Cmd+Delete / Cmd+Shift+Delete

move to trash, then empty it. you will look this up again the first ten times

Or start a list of your own. Free, it takes a minute.

Related lists