Mac Shortcuts that will Speed You Up
So we showed you how to enhance your workflow in Windows by 22 useful shortcuts. Today, we’ll look at Mac shortcuts that can accelerate your work.
General Shortcuts
Cmd (the -key)+C Copy
Cmd+V Paste
Cmd+X Cut
Cmd+L Go to address bar (in web browsers)
Cmd+T Open new Tab
Cmd+P Print
Cmd+S Save
Finder Shortcuts
Cmd+] or [ Go back and forth within a Finder window
Cmd+Delete Move file or folder into trash. (Select multiple files to send them all to trash)
Cmd+Shift+Del Empty Trash
Cmd Click Select multiple files not adjacent to each other
Shift Click Select multiple files adjacent to each other
Cmd+I Show info (add option to show one-windowed inspector)
Cmd+F Search
Tap Space-bar Preview file in Quickview
Cmd+O Open file/window
Cmd+Opt+O Open file/window while closing former window
Cmd+W Close window/file
Cmd+Option+W Close all open windows
Cmd+A Select all
Cmd+N New Window
Cmd+Opt+N New folder
Cmd+D Copy (Duplicate) file(s) or folder(s)
Cmd+L Create alias (Shortcut)
Applications and Windows
Cmd+Q Quit Application
Cmd+H Hide current application
Cmd+Opt+H Hide all other windows/applications (other than current)
Cmd+Tab Allows you to switch between open applications.
Cmd+` This key, also known as the tilde-key located to the left of the '1' key, lets you within the application you are currently working in.switch between open windows
F9 Shows all windows open (using Exposé)
F10 Displays all open windows within your current application (similar to #2)
F11 Shows Desktop
F8 Shows Spaces
Command+Click Window When you hold down command, you can move windows in the background (windows not in focus). This is an extremely useful shortcut that allows you to move windows (say a youtube video) in the background without switching out of your current window.
Taking Screenshots
Cmd+Shift+3 Take screenshot of entire screen
Cmd+Shift+4 Take screenshot of certain area of the screen (If you press the space-bar at this stage, you can select which specific window to take a screenshot of.
Hold control with either of the two combination and you can copy it to your clipboard instead of making a file.
Power Options
Ctrl+Shift+Eject Turn display off
Ctrl+Eject Show Shutdown/Restart/Sleep dialog box
Cmd+Opt+Eject Put computer to sleep with no warning
Cmd+Ctrl+Opt+Eject Shutdown computer with no warning
—Ray S.
post scriptum - press ctrl+opt+cmd+8 =]
Categories: Featured, Tips and Tricks
Thanks for the tips Ray!
I will have to memorize those!
by Highlander37 on May 23, 2009 at 10:48 am
Thanks for the shortcuts.
I’ve got a question that’s a little off topic, but it does have to do with speeding up the mac workflow: What clipboard manager app would you recommend? I’ve tried JumpCut, but don’t like the GUI. I’d like something more like ClipX, which I use on my PC. Have any ideas?
Thanks!
by Michael on May 23, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Hi Michael,
There are several clipboard applications for the Mac.
CopyPaste Pro: http://www.scriptsoftware.com/copypaste/
Been around since system 8/9.
PTHPasteboard: (Free with paid Pro version) http://pth.com/products/pthpasteboard/
This one is quite customizable; essentially a hidden window that you can bring up when you need to use it.
Shadow Clipboard: http://www.stupidfish23.com/shadowclipboard/
This one has a GUI much like Quicksilver (which I personally use), but is designed specifically as a clipboard app. I haven’t tried this one.
Inventive’s iClip: http://inventive.us/iClip/
This one, I have tried. I believe Ben—the founder of this blog—uses it and likes using it. I found the GUI rather on the bulky side, but many people love this app so you can be the judge of that.
And then there’s Quicksilver: http://www.blacktree.com/
This one isn’t really built for anything in particular. It’s built for literally everything. While it’s main task is a quick app launcher, it has many other macro features including a clipboard. You can also create a document, attach it to an email, and send it… if you install the right plugins. I love this app, but it has a sharper learning curve. You either love it, or hate it.
by Ray on May 24, 2009 at 6:24 am