Whatever you are doing, efficiency helps and what better way to be more efficient than with keyboard shortcuts? MacOS has dozens of keyboard shortcuts that help you perform simple tasks with a quick combination of clicks, rather than a long search through menus to perform the same function.

But even experienced users may not know everything. Here is a list of the best keyboard shortcuts for MacOS to help you improve your efficiency and reduce the amount of time you spend on work.

I previously wrote a list of useful keyboard shortcuts for MacOS, but that was over 9 years ago. Surprisingly, all the shortcuts in that article still work!

1. Spotlight (command + space)

Let’s face it: Spotlight is one of the best features of MacOS. The ability to search for any file, any application, and even recommended websites makes it one of the most powerful tools available for Mac users. To open Spotlight, press Command and then the Space bar.

If you find yourself using Spotlight to figure out which folder a particular file is in, simply highlight the file in Spotlight search and press Command + log into to open it in the folder that hosts it.

2. Cut, Copy, Paste (Command + X Command + C, Command + V)

Copy + paste is probably the most used function on a keyboard. Let’s be honest: nobody wants to type the same thing over and over again. If you’re editing a document, it’s crucial to move text from one section and insert it into another.

Sure, you could use your mouse or trackpad to do this, but the easiest way is to select a line of text and press Command + X cut and then strike Command + V. paste. If you don’t want to remove the text but still need to copy it, Command + C. it will do just the trick.

If you make a mistake during the process, a quick tap of Command + Z it will be under your most recent action.

If you have to select a large amount of text all at once, Command + A is the “Select All” shortcut. And if you want to copy and paste the text without losing its current style, hit Command + Move + V.. This will paste the text into the new document with the same font, effects and size.

3. Swap between apps (command + tab)

When you need to switch between tabs (for example, a Word document and a web browser for searching), clicking gets boring. The simplest way is to hit Command + Tab to switch between the two most recently used apps.

On the other hand, if you need to switch to an open but not recently used app, hold down Command and press Tab to move between all open openings. If you want to go back, press Command + Move + Tab.

4. Take a screenshot (Command + Shift + 3)

Windows users are familiar with the Print Screen feature, but taking screenshots on Mac isn’t that simple. To take a screenshot of the entire screen, press Command + Move + 3.

If you just want to take a screenshot of a specific section of the screen, press Command + Move + 4. This causes this cursor to turn into a lattice. Click and drag the box to surround the area you want to screenshot. When you release the click, it will take a photo and send it (by default) to your desktop.

5. Close Windows (Command + Q)

When you want to close a window without moving the mouse over the red “X” at the top left of the screen, tap Command + Q. This is especially useful at the end of a long work day when you want to quickly close many apps.

On the other hand, if the app is frozen or unresponsive, it hits Command + Option + Leak will display the Force Quit menu, similar to the Windows Task Manager.

6. Quick Save (Command + S)

There is no worse feeling than losing a lot of progress on a topic or task because you haven’t saved it in a while. The key to avoiding this is to make a habit of saving quickly. Just hit Command + S. to save the file you are currently working on. If you haven’t already given it a filename, you’ll be given the option to do so the moment you enter the command.

If you have already assigned a file name but need to assign a new one, the “Save As” shortcut is Command + Move + S..

7. Find (Command + F)

When reading large amounts of text, it can be difficult to locate exactly the section you need. If you know a specific keyword or phrase that will narrow it down, simply hit Command + F. and enter the text. The screen will automatically jump to the first instance of the entered phrase and highlight it for easy localization.

Custom keyboard shortcuts

Mac OS has a huge number of keyboard shortcuts already built in, but if you find they don’t measure up to what you need, fear not. There are ways to create custom keyboard shortcuts. Here’s how to do it.

1. First, click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen.

2. Select System Preferences.

3. Open Keyboard.

4. Go to Shortcuts form.

5. Select App shortcuts At bottom.

6. Click on “+”Sign just below the box.

7. Select the application you want to link to. (All apps are an option.)

8. Enter the menu item for which it will create a shortcut.

9. Select the shortcut box and enter the key sequence.

10. Congratulations! You now have a custom shortcut.

A few things to keep in mind: You need to be precise in syntax and spelling when specifying the menu item to change. Otherwise, the link will not work. In the specified application menu, you should see your new custom link displayed next to the action for easy reference.