The keyboard shortcuts, useful to perform all those operations “fast” that we perform every day without having to necessarily resort to mouse and trackpad, are certainly a great convenience. We must say that now have become very many, and often is not easy to remember them all. That's why I want to offer an overview “almost” complete with all the abbreviations used on Mac.
Keyboard Shortcuts during startup
| Key or key combination | Function |
| Option | Displays all bootable volumes (Startup Manager) |
| Shift | Perform Safe Boot (Boot secure mode) |
| C | Allows you to boot from a bootable disk (DVD, CD) |
| T | Allows you to boot into FireWire Target Disk Mode |
| N | Lets start from the NetBoot server |
| X | Allows you to force the boot of Mac OS X (if there are different drives from the boot disk of Mac OS X) |
| Command-V | Allows you to boot into verbose mode |
| Command-S | Allows you to boot into Single-User Mode |
Keyboard Shortcuts for Finder
| Keystroke | Function |
| Command-A | Selects all the items in the Finder window in the foreground (or the desktop, if they are not open other windows) |
| Option-Command-A | Deselect all items |
| Shift-Command-A | Opens the Applications folder |
| Command-C | Copies the item or selected text to the clipboard |
| Shift-Command-C | Opens the Computer window |
| Command-D | Allows you to make a copy of the selected |
| Shift-Command-D | Opens the Desktop folder |
| Command-E | Allows you to eject the media |
| Command-F | Finds all attributes corresponding Spotlight |
| Shift-Command-F | Finds correspondence between file names Spotlight |
| Option-Command-F | Jumps to the search field in a Spotlight window is already open |
| Shift-Command-G | Jumps to a specific folder |
| Shift-Command-H | Opens the current home folder of the user |
| Command-I | Allows you to obtain information |
| Option-Command-I | Displays settings |
| Ctrl-Command-I | To obtain summary information |
| Shift-Command-I | Opens iDisk |
| Command-J | Displays the View Options |
| Command-K | Allows you to connect to the server |
| Shift-Command-K | Opens the Network window |
| Command-L | Create an alias of the selected |
| Command-M | Allows you to minimize the window |
| Option-Command-M | Allows you to minimize all windows |
| Command-N | Open a new Finder window |
| Shift-Command-N | Create a new folder |
| Option-Command-N | Create a new Smart Folder |
| Command-O | Opens the selected item |
| Shift-Command-Q | Allows you to log out |
| Option-Shift-Command-Q | Allows you to log out immediately |
| Command-R | Displays the original (Aliases) |
| Command-T | Adds the item to the sidebar |
| Shift-Command-T | Allows you to add the item to your Favorites |
| Option-Command-T | Allows you to hide or display the toolbar in the Finder window |
| Shift-Command-U | Allows you to open the Utilities folder |
| Command-V | Pastes the item |
| Command-W | Close the window |
| Option-Command-W | Closes all windows |
| Command-X | Allows you to cut the item |
| Option-Command-Y | Starts a slideshow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command-Z | Allows you to undo / redo operation |
| Command-1 | Switch to display as icons |
| Command-2 | Switch to display as a list |
| Command-3 | Switch to display as columns |
| Command-4 | Switch to Cover Flow view as (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command-, (Control key together with the “comma”) | Opens Finder Preferences |
| Command-` (key “grave accent”, located above the Tab key in the keyboard layout U.S. English) | Allows you to scroll through open windows in the Finder |
| Command-Shift-? | Opens Mac Help |
| Option-Shift-Command-Escape (Press and hold for three seconds), solo in Mac OS X v10.5, v10.6 or later | Allows’Force Quit dall’applicazione in primo piano |
| Command-[ | Back |
| Command-] | Forward |
| Command-freccia their | Opens the folder attached |
| Ctrl-Command-freccia their | Opens the folder enclosed in a new window |
| Command-Down Arrow | Opens the highlighted item |
| Command-Tab | Allows you to switch to another application (runs out) |
| Shift-Command-Tab | Switches to another application (scroll back) |
| Command-Delete | Move to Trash |
| Shift-Command-Delete | Allows you to empty the Recycle Bin |
| Option-Shift-Command-Delete | Allows you to empty the Recycle Bin without displaying the dialog box |
| Space bar (or Command-Y) | Allows you to use the Quick (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command key while dragging | Move the dragged item to another volume or path (while the button is pressed, the pointer shape is changed; consultation this article) |
| Option key while dragging | Allows you to copy the dragged element (while the button is pressed, the shape of the pointer is changed; consultation this article) |
| Key combination Command-Option while dragging | Lets you create aliases of dropped items (while the button is pressed, the shape of the pointer is changed; consultation this article) |
Comandi applicazione e altri comandi da tastiera Mac OS X
Note: some applications may not support all combinations of application buttons.
| Keystroke | Function |
| Command-Spacebar | Allows you to display or hide the Spotlight search field (If multiple languages are installed, may alternate the different alphabets) |
| Ctrl-A | Move to the start of the paragraph or line |
| Ctrl-B | Moves back one character |
| Ctrl-D | Deletes the character before the cursor |
| Ctrl-E | Moves to the end of the paragraph or line |
| Ctrl-F | Moves forward one character |
| Ctrl-H | Deletes the character behind the cursor |
| Ctrl-K | Deletes the character before the cursor at the end of the paragraph or line |
| Ctrl-L | Allows you to center the cursor / selection in the visible |
| Ctrl-N | Moves to the next line |
| Ctrl-O | Insert a new line after the cursor |
| Ctrl-P | Returns to the previous line |
| Ctrl-T | Reverses the character behind the cursor and the character before the cursor |
| Ctrl-V | Switch to next page |
| Option-Delete | Deletes the word to the left of the cursor and any space or punctuation mark after the word |
| Option-Command-Spacebar | Displays the Spotlight search results window (If multiple languages are installed, could switch between various keyboard layouts and input methods within the same alphabet) |
| Command-Tab | Allows you to move forward, application through the later of those used recently, in a list of active applications |
| Shift-Command-Tab | Moves backward in a list of active applications (sorted by time of last use) |
| Shift-Tab | Allows you to move through the commands in the opposite direction |
| Ctrl-Tab | Moves to the next grouping of controls in a dialog box or the next table (When you move to the adjacent cell by pressing the Tab key) |
| Shift-Ctrl-Tab | Jumps to the previous grouping of controls |
| Command-Escape | Front Row Starts (if it is installed) |
| Option-Eject button | Ejects the optical drive secondary (if installed) |
| Ctrl-eject button | Close the dialog box |
| Option-Command-Eject button | Lets go to sleep |
| Control-Command-Eject button | Allows you to exit all applications (before the exit allows you to save changes to documents in use), then restart the computer |
| Control-Option-Command-Eject button | Allows you to exit all applications (before the exit allows you to save changes to documents in use), then shut down the computer |
| Fn-Delete | Erases elements forward (built-in keyboard on the Mac laptops) |
| Ctrl-F1 | Enable or disable the full access to the keyboard |
| Ctrl-F2 | Moves to the menu bar |
| Ctrl-F3 | Lets go to the Dock |
| Ctrl-F4 | Switch to the active window or the next |
| Maiuscole-Ctrl-F4 | Returns the window that was active before |
| Ctrl-F5 | Switch to toolbar |
| Ctrl-F6 | Jumps to the first or next frame |
| Maiuscole-Ctrl-F6 | Returns to the previous pane |
| Ctrl-F7 | Allows you to temporarily change the current mode of access to the keyboard in windows and dialog boxes |
| F9 | Allows you to combine all the windows open or put them back as before |
| F10 | Allows you to combine all the open windows in the currently active or reposition them as before |
| F11 | Allows you to hide or show all open windows |
| F12 | Allows you to hide or display the Dashboard |
| Command-` | Activates the next open window in the foreground |
| Shift-Command-` | Activates the previous open window in the foreground |
| Option-Command-` | To switch to the window design |
| Command- – (sign “less”) | Reduces the size of the selected |
| Command-{ | Left aligns the selected elements |
| Command-} | Aligns the selected elements on the right |
| Command-| | Aligns selected elements to the center |
| Command-: | Display the Spelling window |
| Command-; | Allows you to find misspelled words in the document |
| Command-, | Opens the Preferences dialog in the foreground application (If the keyboard shortcut is supported by the) |
| Command-Option-Control-, | Reduces the contrast of the screen |
| Command-Option-Control-. | Increases the screen contrast |
| Command-? | Opens the Help Viewer application help in |
| Option-Command-/ | Enable or disable the font smoothing |
| Shift-Command-= | Increase the size of the selected |
| Shift-Command-3 | Allows you to record a snapshot of the screen to a file |
| Ctrl-Shift-Command-3 | Allows you to record a snapshot of the screen to the Clipboard |
| Shift-Command-4 | Allows you to record your selection in a file |
| Ctrl-Shift-Command-4 | Allows you to record your selection to the Clipboard |
| Command-A | This highlights all the elements in a document or in a window or all the characters in a text field |
| Command-B | Apply or remove bold formatting to selected text |
| Command-C | Copies the selected data to the clipboard |
| Shift-Command-C | Display the Colors window |
| Option-Command-C | Allows you to copy the style of selected text |
| Control-Command-C | Copies the formatting of the selected settings and save them to the clipboard |
| Option-Command-D | Allows you to display or hide the Dock |
| Command-Control-D | Displays the definition of the selected word in the Dictionary |
| Command-D | Allows you to select the Desktop folder in the Open and Save dialog boxes Allows you to select “Do not save” dialog boxes that contain the appropriate button in Mac OS X v10.6.8 and earlier versions |
| Command-Delete | Allows you to select “Do not save” dialog boxes that contain the appropriate button in OS X Lion |
| Command-E | Enables users to search for a selection |
| Command-F | Opens the Search window |
| Option-Command-F | Jumps to the commands of the search |
| Command-G | Searches for the next occurrence of the selected part |
| Shift-Command-G | Allows you to find the previous occurrence of the selected part |
| Command-H | Hides the currently running application windows |
| Option-Command-H | Hides the windows of all other applications running |
| Command-I | Apply or remove italic |
| Option-Command-I | Displays a settings window |
| Command-J | Allows you to scroll to your selection |
| Command-M | Allows you to minimize the active window in the Dock |
| Option-Command-M | Allows you to minimize all windows in the Dock of the active |
| Command-N | Create a new document in the foreground |
| Command-O | Displays a dialog box to choose a document to open in the foreground |
| Command-P | Displays the Print dialog box |
| Shift-Command-P | Displays a dialog box to specify printing parameters (Print format) |
| Command-Q | Exits the foreground |
| Command-S | Saves the active document |
| Shift-Command-S | Displays the Save As dialog box |
| Command-T | Displays the Fonts window |
| Option-Command-T | Allows you to display or hide the toolbar |
| Command-U | Allows you to highlight the selected text or turn on / turn off the underlining of the text |
| Command-V | Pastes the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point |
| Option-Command-V | Apply the style of an element selected item (Paste Style) |
| Option-Shift-Command-V | Apply the style of the text that surrounds the inserted element (Paste and Match Style) |
| Control-Command-V | Apply formatting settings to the selected item (Paste Ruler) |
| Command-W | Close the window to the front |
| Shift-Command-W | Closes the file and its associated windows |
| Option-Command-W | Closes all windows without exiting the application |
| Command-X | Removes the selection and store it to the clipboard |
| Command-Z | Reverses the last command (Some applications allow you to undo a series of commands) |
| Shift-Command-Z | Restores the last command (Some applications allow you to restore a series of commands) |
| Ctrl-freccia destra | Switches to another value or cell within a view of another, for example in a table |
| Ctrl-left arrow | Switches to another value or cell within a view of another, for example in a table |
| Ctrl-Down Arrow | Switches to another value or cell within a view of another, for example in a table |
| Ctrl-freccia their | Switches to another value or cell within a view of another, for example in a table |
| Command-right hand freccia | Moves the text insertion point at the end of the current line |
| Command-left arrow | Moves the text insertion point to beginning of current line |
| Command-Down Arrow | Moves the text insertion point at the end of the document |
| Command-freccia their | Moves the insertion point at the beginning of the document text |
| Shift-Command-Right Arrow | Selects the text between the insertion point and the end of the current line (*) |
| Shift-Command-Left Arrow | Selects the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line (*) |
| Shift-right arrow | Extend the selection one character to the right (*) |
| Shift-left arrow | Extend the selection one character to the left (*) |
| Shift-Command-Up Arrow | Selects the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document (*) |
| Shift-Command-Down Arrow | Selects the text between the insertion point and the end of the document (*) |
| Shift-up arrow | Extend the selection to the previous line, closer to the end of the character occupying the same horizontal position (*) |
| Shift-Down Arrow | Extend the selection to the next line, closer to the end of the character occupying the same horizontal position (*) |
| Shift-Option-Right Arrow | Extend selection to end of current word then, by pressing, until the end of next word (*) |
| Shift-Option-Left Arrow | Extend selection to the beginning of the current word, then, by pressing, until the beginning of the next word (*) |
| Shift-Option-Down Arrow | Extend selection to end of current paragraph, then, by pressing, until the end of the next paragraph (*) |
| Shift-Option-Up Arrow | Extend selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then, by pressing, until the beginning of the next paragraph (*) |
| Ctrl-Spacebar | Toggle between the current input source to the previous one and vice versa |
| Ctrl-Option-Spacebar | Jumps from one activity to another input source |
| Option-Command-Escape | Force Quit |
(*) Note: if no text is selected, extension begins at the insertion point. If the text is selected by dragging, extension begins at the selection of. By reversing the direction of selection, deselects the appropriate unit.
Universal Access: keyboard commands VoiceOver
Per informazioni sulle differenze nelle combinazioni di tasti di VoiceOver in Mac OS X v10.6, consultation this article.
| Keystroke | Function |
| Command-F5 or Fn-Command-F5 |
Enable or disable the VoiceOver Utility |
| Control-Option-F8 or Fn-Control-Option-F8 |
Opens the VoiceOver Utility |
| Control-Option-F7 or Fn-Control-Option-F7 |
Displays the VoiceOver menu |
| Control-Option-; or Fn-Control-Option-; |
Enable or disable VoiceOver Control-Option lock |
| Option-Command-8 or Fn-Command-F11 |
Enables zooming |
| Option-Command- | Allows you to zoom in |
| Option-Command- – (sign “less”) | Allows you to zoom out |
| Option-Control-Command-8 | Reverses and restore screen colors |
| Control-Option-Command-, | Reduces the contrast |
| Control-Option-Command-. | Increases the contrast |
Note: may be necessary to enable the “Use all F1, F2, etc.. as standard function keys” Keyboard preferences, to the menu and the VoiceOver utility function properly.
Universal Access: Mouse Keys
When Mouse Keys is enabled in Universal Access preferences, You can move the mouse pointer using the keyboard or numeric keypad. If your computer does not have a numeric keypad, using the Fn key (function).
| Keystroke | Function |
| 8 | Moves up |
| 2 | Moves down |
| 4 | Moves to the left |
| 6 | Moves to the right |
| 1 | Moves diagonally downward to the left |
| 3 | Moves diagonally downward to the right |
| 7 | Moves diagonally upwards to the left |
| 9 | Moves diagonally upwards to the right |
| 5 | Allows you to press the mouse button |
| 0 | Allows you to hold down the mouse button |
| . (point in the numeric keypad) | Release the mouse button |
