macOS shortcuts that change how you work
The moves that separate putting up with a Mac from actually driving one.
Switch apps
Holding ⌘Tab walks the list; letting go picks whatever you landed on.
Preview without opening
Space on a selected file: Quick Look shows it without launching the app.
Search everything
⌘Space opens Spotlight: apps, files, sums, unit conversions.
Capture an area
⌘⇧4, then Space to grab a whole window along with its shadow.
Capture the whole screen
⌘⇧3. Adding ⌃ to either one sends the image to the clipboard.
Open the capture options
⌘⇧5: a timer, the choice of folder, and screen recording.
Show the hidden files
⌘⇧period in the Finder, a toggle that saves touching any setting.
Go to a folder
⌘⇧G in the Finder, then the path — the only way to reach /usr or /etc.
Switch windows inside one app
⌘ and the key just above Tab. The one thing ⌘Tab will not do for you.
See every window
⌃Up opens Mission Control; ⌃Down shows only the active app’s windows.
Move between desktops
⌃Left or ⌃Right, or three fingers across the trackpad.
Force quit
⌘⌥Esc opens the list of running apps, with no reboot at the end of it.
Lock the screen
⌃⌘Q, immediately, without going through the Apple menu.
Open an app’s settings
⌘comma works in very nearly every app on the Mac.
Move to the Trash
⌘Delete. ⌘⇧Delete then empties the Trash for good.
Move instead of copy
⌘C then ⌘⌥V moves the file — something no Finder menu offers anywhere.
Hide the active app
⌘H hides it without quitting; ⌘⌥H hides every other one instead.
See a file’s information
⌘I. Holding ⌥ turns the window into an inspector that follows the selection.
Insert an emoji
⌃⌘Space opens the character picker in any text field on the system.