Finder Shortcuts for Your MacBook Keyboard
Keyboard shortcuts help you make quick, efficient use of the macOS Finder on your MacBook, providing all kinds of options for performing common tasks within Sonoma.
| Key | Function |
| ⌘+A | Selects all items in the active window (icon view), all items in the column (column view), or all items in the list (list view and Cover Flow view) |
| ⌘ +C | Copies the selected items |
| ⌘ +D | Duplicates the selected item or items |
| ⌘ +E | Ejects the selected volume |
| ⌘+F | Displays the Find controls in a new Finder window |
| ⌘+H | Hides All Finder windows |
| ⌘+I | Shows info for the selected item or items |
| ⌘+J | Shows the view options for the active window |
| ⌘+K | Displays the Connect to Server dialog |
| ⌘+L | Creates an alias for the selected item |
| ⌘+M | Minimizes the active window |
| ⌘+N | Opens a new Finder window |
| ⌘+O | Opens (or launches) the selected item |
| ⌘+R | Shows the original for the selected alias |
| ⌘+T | Opens a new Finder tab |
| ⌘+V | Pastes items from the Clipboard |
| ⌘+W | Closes the active window |
| ⌘+X | Cuts the selected items |
| ⌘+Z | Undoes the last action (if possible) |
| ⌘+, | Displays Finder Settings dialog |
| ⌘+1 | Shows the active window in icon mode |
| ⌘+2 | Shows the active window in list mode |
| ⌘+3 | Shows the active window in column mode |
| ⌘+4 | Shows the active window in cover flow mode |
| ⌘+[ | Moves back to the previous Finder location |
| ⌘+] | Moves forward to the next Finder location |
| ⌘+Delete | Moves selected items to the Trash |
| ⌘+Up Arrow | Shows the enclosing folder |
| ⌘+Tab | Cycles through windows |
| ⌘+/ | Shows/Hides Status bar |
| ⌘+? | Displays macOS Help search box |
| ⌘+Shift+A | Goes to your Applications folder |
| ⌘+Shift+C | Goes to the top-level Computer location |
| ⌘+Shift+G | Goes to the specified folder |
| ⌘+Shift+H | Goes to your Home folder |
| ⌘+Shift+Q | Logs you out |
| ⌘+Shift+N | Creates a new untitled folder in the active window |
| ⌘+Shift+P | Shows/Hides Preview pane |
| ⌘+Shift+T | Shows/Hides Tab bar |
| ⌘+Shift+U | Goes to your Utilities folder |
| ⌘+Shift+Del | Deletes the contents of the Trash |
| ⌘+Option+H | Hides all windows (except Finder windows) |
| ⌘+Option+I | Opens the Inspector for the selected items |
| ⌘+Option+N | Creates a new smart folder |
| ⌘+Option+T | Shows/Hides the Finder window toolbar and sidebar |
| ⌘+Space | Displays the Spotlight search box |
| Control+Up Arrow | Displays the Mission Control screen |
| Control+Down Arrow | Shows all open windows for the current application using Mission Control |
| ⌘+F3 | Hides all windows to display the Desktop using Mission Control |
| Spacebar | Displays the contents of a file using Quick Look |
Standard MacBook Function Keys You Should Know
Some MacBook keys (or buttons on the Touch Bar for older MacBooks) display symbols you may not have seen on a computer keyboard before. Here’s a handy reference for what functions those keys perform on your Apple laptop.
Too-Cool Function Keys
Startup Keys: More Power to Your MacBook Keyboard
Some keys and keyboard combinations on your MacBook were born for startup magic — either to get your Apple laptop booted up, help troubleshoot computer problems, or perform other technical tricks within Sonoma. This table lists the most common startup keys for both M-series Apple Silicon and older Intel MacBook models.
Note that you may need to use your MacBook’s internal keyboard to activate these startup sequences (due to connection lag that some wireless keyboards experience at startup).
| Key | Effect on Your Mac |
| Press and hold Power Button when turning on your MacBook | (Apple Silicon) Displays the available Startup Disks allowing you to choose the boot volume. Click the Options button to start in Safe Mode, open the Recovery system, launch Disk Utility, browse with Safari, reinstall macOS Sonoma and restore your system using your Time Machine backup. |
| Option | (Intel) Displays a system boot menu, allowing you to choose the boot volume. |
| Shift | (Intel) Runs your MacBook in Safe Mode, preventing your Login Items from launching; runs a directory check. |
| T | (Intel) Starts your laptop in Thunderbolt Target Disk mode. |
| ⌘+R | (Intel) Boots from the macOS Sonoma Recovery HD. |
| ⌘+V | (Intel) Show macOS Console messages. |
| ⌘+Option+P+R | (Intel) Resets Parameter RAM (PRAM). |
