macintosh
Magical Macintosh Key Sequences
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Magical Macintosh Key Sequences
All the magic key sequences to make your Mac do various things.
This is a collection of the (poorly documented) key-sequences that do things. It’s probably possible to find all this information within Apple’s Knowledge Base, but it’s currently scattered across multiple entries [update 14 May, 2003: There’s a knowledge-base article that lists many of the keys supported by Mac OS X that came out December 2002. I just noticed it now]. In any case, this came from a number of smart people, but Marc Pawliger started the list and Tim Hume collected the various responses. Miro, Andy, Darin, Chris, Barry, the other Marc, Greg, Jon and Ned offered clarifications. I just turned it into a web-page.
Also, thanks to all the other folks (too numerous to name) who sent in additions after the page initially appeared.
Update 27 December, 2004: I’ve added more keys that folks have sent in, plus there’s a Keyboard Shortcuts Quick Reference that Apple maintains that you may want to check plus Apple had a page for a couple months that’s gone already.
Thanks to Aaron Andrade, there’s now a PDF version available.
Last updated on Mon, 27 December 2004
It’s pretty sad that there are so many “hidden” things in an OS that’s supposed to be so easy to use. I hadn’t thought about it before, but the sheer volume of them has surprised me. I knew of the existence of a lot of these shortcuts myself, but I’d never tried to think of them all at once until I started compiling this page. Now that I have many of them in one place (there’s more to be added - I think there always will be), I find myself wondering about ease of use. Anyway, enjoy.
There have also been folks who’ve asked to translate this into other languages. Here are the ones I know about:
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) (PDF) (You’ll want issue #5).
Chinese (HTML)
Raccourcis clavier pour le Macintosh (French translation)
The Japanese Version
Croatian
Italian
See also the Keyboard Shortcuts under Mac OS X page that Westwind Computing maintains.
Apple also has an article about additional features of the Dock under Mac OS X 10.1 that you may find useful.
Contents
On Boot
After display of Happy Mac icon
As Finder starts
In Finder
On disk mount
After startup
In the sleep/restart dialog
In other dialogs
On keyboards with a function key
Clicks
Control Strip
On Boot
Key CombinationEffect
mouse down Eject removable media ( I think Boot ROMs prior to 2.4f1 excluded the CD drive )
opt Bring up OF system picker on New World machines - boot to 9 on pre-New World machines
F8Bring up Mac OS X boot partition selector (DTKs only?)
cmd-periodWhen OF system picker is active, open the CD tray
cmd-opt Hold down until 2nd chime, will boot into Mac OS 9 ?
cmd-x (or just x?) Will boot into Mac OS X if 9 and X are on the same partition and that’s the partition you’re booting from.
cmd-opt-n-d prevent native drivers from loading (System 7 until 9.x?)
cmd-opt-shift-delete Bypass startup drive and boot from external (or CD). This actually forces the system to NOT load the driver for the default volume, which has the side effect mentioned above. For SCSI devices it searches from highest ID to lowest for a partition with a bootable system. Not sure about IDE drives.
cmd-opt-shift-delete-# Boot from a specific SCSI ID # (# = SCSI ID number)
cmd-opt-p-r Zap PRAM. Hold down until second chime.
cmd-opt-n-v Clear NV RAM. Similar to reset-all in Open Firmware.
cmd-opt-o-f Boot into open firmware
cmd-opt-t-v Force Quadra AV machines to use TV as a monitor
cmd-opt-x-o Boot from ROM (Mac Classic only)
cmd-opt-a-v Force an AV monitor to be recognized as one
c Boot from CD. If set to boot to X and no CD is present, may boot to 9.
d Force the internal hard disk to be the startup device
n Hold down until Mac logo, will attempt to boot from network server (using BOOTP or TFTP)
r Force PowerBooks to reset the screen
t Put FireWire machine into FireWire Target Disk mode
z Attempt to boot using the devalias zip from first bootable partition found
ctl-cmd-shift-powerReset power manager (with computer off)
shift (Classic only) Disable Extensions
shift (OS X, 10.1.3 and later) Disables login items. Also disables non-essential kernel extensions (safe boot mode)
cmd (Classic only) Boot with Virtual Memory off
cmd-v (OS X only) show console messages (verbose mose) during boot. Also invokes Safe Mode
cmd-s (OS X only) boot into single user mode
cmd-opt-c-i(Mac IIci only) Set date to 20 Sep 1989 to get a graphical easter egg
cmd-opt-f-x(Mac IIfx only) Set date to 19 Mar 1990 to get a graphical easter egg
cmd-opt-shift-tab-deleteErase startup disk under 7.1(?)
Back to Contents
After display of Happy Mac icon
Key CombinationEffect
space (Classic only) Invoke Extensions Manager
shift (Classic only) Disable Extensions including MacsBug
shift-opt (Classic only) Disable exetensions, except MacsBug
ctrl (Classic only) Break into MacsBug as soon as it is loaded
Back to Contents
At login window
Key CombinationEffect
shift (10.x only) Disable auto-login, forcing login window
As Finder Starts
Key CombinationEffect
cmd-opt (whenever Classic Finder sees a new disk) Rebuild Desktop
opt (Mac OS 9) Do not open Finder windows
shift (Mac OS X) Do not launch startup items. Do not open Finder windows when launching Finder. The windows’ states aren’t changed to closed, as they will be reopened if you reboot again.
shift (Mac OS 9) Do not launch anything from the "Startup Items" folder.
Back to Contents
In Finder
opt-click close box (or cmd-opt-w) Close all open finder windows (except popup windows)
cmd-shift-opt-w Close all open finder windows (including popup windows)
cmd-right arrow Open folder in list view
cmd-opt-right arrow Recursively open folder and nested folders in list view
cmd-left arrow Close folder in list view
cmd-opt-left arrow Recursively close folder and nested folders in list view
cmd-up arrowOpen parent folder. On Mac OS X, when nothing is selected and no windows are open, open User directory
cmd-opt-up arrowOpen parent folder, closing current folder
cmd-opt-shift-up arrowMake desktop the active window, select parent volume
cmd-down arrowOpen selected item. On Mac OS X, when nothing is selected and no windows are open, open the desktop folder
cmd-opt-down arrowOpen selected item, closing current folder
cmd-opt-oOpen selected item, closing current folder
opt-double-clickOpen selected item, closing current folder
opt-click(In disclosure triangle) expand or collapse all folders within that window
tabselect next icon alphabetically
shift-tabselect previous item alphabetically
cmd-deletemove selection to trash
cmd-shift-deleteempty trash
spacewhile navigating, opens folder under mouse immediately (with spring-loaded folders enabled)
In Finder Window Menu
cmd-selectClose window
cmd-shift-selectPut away popup window
cmd-opt-selectExpand selected window and close all others
ctl-selectExpand selected window and collapse all others
ctl-opt-selectActivate selected window and expand all others
Back to Contents
On disk mount
cmd-opt (whenever Classic Finder sees a new disk) Rebuild Desktop
opt (Mac OS 9) Add session numbers (;1, ;2, etc) to ISO-9660 CD filenames
opt (Mac OS X) Show each session on an ISO-9660 CD as a volume
cmd-opt-iForce-mount ISO-9660 partition of a CD, rather than a Mac partition
Back to Contents
After startup
Key CombinationEffect
On machines with a power key
power Bring up dialog for shutdown, sleep or restart (see next table)
cmd-ctrl-power Unconditionally reboot (sometimes referred to as “control flower power” to easily remember) (dirty reboot - may corrupt disk)
ctrl-cmd-opt-power Fast shutdown
cmd-power Bring up debugger (if debugger installed). Really old macs (mac ii era) needed Paul Mercer’s debugger init to do this, then it got folded into the firmware, around 040 timeframe.
cmd-opt-power Put late model PowerBooks & Desktops to sleep
cmd-opt-ctrl-power (PowerBook 500) Reset Power Manager
shift-fn-ctrl-power (PowerBook G3, G4) Reset Power Manager
On machines without a power key
ctrl-ejectBring up dialog for shutdown, sleep or restart (see next table)
cmd-ctrl-eject Unconditionally reboot
ctrl-cmd-opt-eject Fast shutdown
cmd-eject Bring up debugger (if debugger installed). Really old macs (mac ii era) needed Paul Mercer’s debugger init to do this, then it got folded into the firmware, around 040 timeframe.
cmd-opt-eject Put late model PowerBooks & Desktops to sleep
On all machines
cmd-opt-esc Force quit current app
cmd-shift-0 Put late model PowerBooks & Desktops to sleep No longer work in OS X. On Macs with three floppy drives (Mac SE) they eject the third floppy disk.
cmd-shift-1 or 2 Eject internal or external floppy. Not sure which is which on dual floppy machines (Mac SE, Mac II, etc.)
cmd-shift-3 Screen shot
cmd-shift-4 Abstract user defined area screen shot (hold control while selecting to direct it to the clipboard on Mac OS 9)
cmd-shift-capslock-4 (Classic only) User selectable window screen shot
cmd-ctl-shift-3 Screen shot to clipboard
cmd-ctl-shift-4 Abstract user defined area screen shot to clipboard
cmd-ctl-shift-capslock-4 (Classic only) User selectable window screen shot to clipboard (classic only)
cmd-tab Switch apps (possible to change key in Mac OS 8-9)
cmd-shift-tabSwitch apps in reverse order
cmd-space Switch keyboards/script systems (if more than one is installed)
cmd-opt-space switch through all keyboards in keyboards menu
opt-f3, opt-f4 or opt-f5bring up the system preferences (Mac OS X only - maybe powerbooks only? only if system preferences isn’t already running)
cmd-f1toggle between video mirroring and extended desktop mode (works on Ti Powerbooks)
opt-f1open the displays preference (10.2 and later)
cmd-f2auto-detect a newly-connected display (works on Ti Powerbooks)
opt-f2open the displays preference (10.2 and later)
opt-f3, f4, or f5open the Sounds preference (10.2 and later)
opt-f8, f9, or f10open the Keyboard and Mouse preference (10.2 and later)
f12Eject CD/DVD (must be held down on 10.1.2 or later). If the device can be dismounted, it is. If not, nothing happens.
f14dim display (cubes/g4 iMacs/others?)
f15brighten display (cubes/g4 iMacs/others?)
cmd-ctl-shift-0Spin down HD (when possible) on machines running OS 9
cmd-`cycle through current application’s windows (Mac OS X 10.2 only?)
cmd-~cycle through current application’s windows (reverse order) (Mac OS X 10.2 only?)
opt-"Empty Trash"Emptry trash without locked file or contents summary alert. Empties locked items, as well
cmd-opt-D(Mac OS X only) toggle dock
cmd-opt (when opening chooser)(Mac OS 9 only) rebuild chooser cache of printer driver information
(See Universal Access System Preference for more on following)
cmd-opt-ctl-8(Mac OS X, 10.2 or later) Turn on "Inverse Mode" via accessbility.
cmd-opt-8(Mac OS X, 10.2 or later) Turn on "Zoom Mode" via accessbility.
cmd-opt-plus(Mac OS X, 10.2 or later) Zoom In via accessbility.
cmd-opt-minus(Mac OS X, 10.2 or later) Zoom Out via accessbility.
Back to Contents
In the sleep/restart dialog
Key Effect
S Sleep
R Restart
esc cancel
cmd-. (period) cancel
Return or Enter Shut Down
PowerCancel (9.2.x only?)
Back to Contents
In other dialogs
KeyAction
escCancel
command-. (period)Cancel
enterDefault button
returnDefault button (if there are no text fields that use return
cmd-dDon’t save (in save/cancel/don’t save dialog)
cmd-rReplace (in "Do you want to replace this file" dialog, Mac OS X only)
Back to Contents
On keyboards with a function key
Key Combination Effect
fn-backspace forward delete
fn-left arrowhome
fn-right arrowend
fn-up arrowpage up
fn-down arrowpage down
Back to Contents
Clicks
click / modifierEffect
option-click in another applicationSwitch to that application and hide previous app
cmd-drag (window)Drag window without bringing it to front (requires application support to work behind dialogs)
cmd-drag (window background)Pan contents of window with hand (Finder)
cmd-opt-drag (window background)Option may be needed to pan contents of window with hand (Finder) on 10.3 and later
cmd-drag (Mac OS X)Rearrange menu extras
opt-drag (file)Copy file
cmd-opt-drag (file)Make alias of file
cmd-click window titlePop-up menu showing path to current folder/document (in some applications)
option-windowshadeWindowshade all windows of application (classic only)
option-zoomZoom window to full-screen
option-yellowDock all windows of application (Mac OS X only)
option-greenZoom window to fill screen (in some applications)
Mac OS X only - items in dock
cmd-clickReveal in Finder
cmd-opt-clickActivate app and hide other apps
ctl-click (or click and hold)contextual menu
cmd-drag into dockFreeze current dock items from moving so icon
can be dropped onto an app
cmd-opt-drag into dockForce application you’re dropping onto to open dropped item
Back to Contents
Control Strip
opt-drag control strip Move control strip
opt-drag CS module within stripreorders CS modules
opt-drag CS module to trashuninstalls a module
opt-drag CS module elsewherewhatever dragging the module file itself would
Back to Contents
Copyright 2008, Dave Polaschek.
Last updated on Sat, 31 Dec 2005 10:07:00.
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