I love my MacBook. I have had it for two years now. I remember when I took it out of the box and how anxious and excited I was to learn a new operating system. I immediately tried to transfer my PC knowledge to my new toy. Specifically, I was interested in learning all the new hotkeys that I could.
What’s a hotkey, you ask? It’s a keyboard shortcut that allows you to bypass the mouse and complete commands in a fraction of the time. That means you can save, open and close files; you can change font sizes, colors and styles; you can insert hyperlinks, print documents and quit programs – all without ever clicking the mouse.
Here is a list of the Command hotkey combinations that you can learn and take advantage of if you find yourself crunched for time while using a Mac.
- Command + a = selects all (highlights all text and/or selects all objects)
- Command + b = makes a text selection “bold”
- Command + c = copies a selected text, object, icon or file
- Command + d = in Word, this command allows you to customize your font
- Command + e = changes alignment to “centered”
- Command + f = “find” tool that lets you search an entire document or webpage for relevant words or phrases
- Command + g = in Word, allows you to “go” to a specific page, section, footnote or selection of your document
- Command + h = hides your window
- Command + i = makes selected text “italicized”
- Command + j = changes text alignment to “justified”
- Command + k = allows you to insert a hyperlink
- Command + m = minimizes your window
- Command + n = creates a “new” file, document or project once a program is opened
- Command + o = opens a file
- Command + p = prints your file
- Command + q = quits a program
- Command + r = changes text alignment to “right”
- Command + s = saves your file
- Command + t = creates a “quarter of an indent” for the selected paragraph
- Command + u = underlines your highlighted text
- Command + v = pastes your copied or cut text
- Command + w = closes your window without completely closing out of the program
- Command + x = “cuts” your text, image or selected object
- Command + y = redo function
- Command + z = undo function
- Shift + right or left arrow = allows you to highlight text to be able to manipulate it
- Control + Option + Command + 8 = Inverts your screen’s colors to make it easier on your eyes and save on your battery
Hotkeys are not just timesavers; they also allow users with digital-dexterity disabilities (problems making their hands move slowly to successfully navigate with a mouse) to perform functions with less of an importance on precise clicking.
I have worked as a Mental Health Support Specialist at a local counseling center for the last two years. I have actually been able to teach these shortcuts to some of my clients to help develop independent living skills. I can definitely see the importance of this universally designed feature in the classroom as well.
Students with certain disabilities are often allowed to use computers to complete writing assignments but are not usually taught how to customize their work with different alignments, font styles, sizes and colors or any other seemingly unimportant “cosmetic features.” What if these personalized adjustments could be made in less time than it takes to sharpen a pencil or even get one out of your backpack? Students without disabilities are allowed to use pens of different color ink when completing assignments, so why can’t students with disabilities be granted the opportunity to modify their work as well?
Well, with hotkeys, they can.
For more information on Mac hotkeys, check out these sites:
Mac OS Keyboard Shortcuts
Leopard Booster Keyboard Shortcuts
Magical Macintosh Key Sequences
