macOS

⌘

Command (Cmd)

⌥

Option (Alt)

⇧

Shift

⌃

Control (Ctrl)

⎋

Escape (Esc)

⌫ / ⌦

Delete / Fwd Delete

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Category	Scope / Context	Shortcut / Name	Key Combination / Syntax	Key Modifiers	Usage Example	Description & Notes
1. System	Global	Spotlight Search	`⌘ + Space`	Command, Space	`⌘ + Space → "Terminal"`	Launches Spotlight for instant file search, calculations, conversions, and app launching.
1. System	Global	App Switcher	`⌘ + Tab`	Command, Tab	`Hold ⌘, tap Tab`	Switches between active applications. Press `Q` while switching to quit highlighted app.
1. System	Global	Force Quit Apps	`⌥ + ⌘ + ⎋`	Option, Command, Esc	`⌥ + ⌘ + ⎋ → Select Unresponsive App`	Opens the Force Quit Applications dialog window to terminate frozen software instantly.
1. System	Global	Lock Screen	`⌃ + ⌘ + Q`	Control, Command, Q	`⌃ + ⌘ + Q`	Immediately locks your Mac display screen for security when stepping away.
2. Screen Captures	Capture Utility	Screenshot Toolbar	`⇧ + ⌘ + 5`	Shift, Command, 5	`⇧ + ⌘ + 5 → Record Screen`	Opens interactive screen capture & video recording HUD with custom options and timers.
2. Screen Captures	Screenshot	Selected Region Capture	`⇧ + ⌘ + 4`	Shift, Command, 4	`⇧ + ⌘ + 4 + Space (Window)`	Drag crosshairs to capture screen area. Press Spacebar to snap an individual window.
3. Finder Operations	Finder	Quick Look Preview	`Spacebar`	Spacebar	`Select File → Spacebar`	Previews images, PDFs, videos, or documents instantly without opening the associated application.
3. Finder Operations	Finder	Move File (Cut & Paste)	`⌥ + ⌘ + V`	Option, Command, V	`⌘ + C → Navigate → ⌥ + ⌘ + V`	Moves copied items from original location to target folder instead of duplicating them.
3. Finder Operations	Finder	Toggle Hidden Files	`⇧ + ⌘ + .`	Shift, Command, Dot	`⇧ + ⌘ + . in Finder`	Shows or hides invisible files (dotfiles like `.zshrc` or hidden `.Trash` directory) in Finder.
3. Finder Operations	Finder	Go to Folder Path	`⇧ + ⌘ + G`	Shift, Command, G	`⇧ + ⌘ + G → ~/Library/`	Opens path navigation box to directly enter absolute file paths or system directories.
4. Text Editing	Text Fields	Word-by-Word Jump	`⌥ + Left / Right`	Option, Arrow Keys	`⌥ + → or ⌥ + ←`	Moves text insertion cursor forward or backward one whole word at a time.
4. Text Editing	Text Fields	Line Beginning / End	`⌘ + Left / Right`	Command, Arrow Keys	`⌘ + → (End of line)`	Jumps text cursor directly to the start or end of the current line.
4. Text Editing	Text Fields	Emoji & Symbols Palette	`⌃ + ⌘ + Space`	Control, Command, Space	`⌃ + ⌘ + Space → 🚀`	Opens native macOS Emoji and Character Viewer picker panel.
5. Terminal CLI	zsh / bash	List Open Ports & Processes	`lsof -i :<port>`	Terminal Command	`lsof -i :3000`	Identifies which application process PID is listening on a specific network port (e.g., local dev servers).
5. Terminal CLI	zsh / bash	Flush macOS DNS Cache	`sudo dscacheutil -flushcache...`	Sudo Command	`sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder`	Resets system local DNS cache when website domain changes or network resolution fails.
5. Terminal CLI	zsh / bash	Restart macOS Finder	`killall Finder`	Terminal Command	`killall Finder`	Restarts the macOS Finder application process without requiring a system reboot.
5. Terminal CLI	zsh / bash	Prevent Sleep Mode	`caffeinate -u -t <sec>`	Terminal Command	`caffeinate -u -t 3600`	Prevents display or CPU from going to sleep for a designated duration (e.g., long downloads/renders).

macOS Pro Tips & Workflow Hacks

Spotlight Instant Math & FX

Spotlight is an instant calculator and currency converter. Press ⌘ + Space and type arithmetic directly, or currency rates like $100 to EUR or unit conversions like 100 C to F.

Precise Volume & Brightness

Hold ⌥ + ⇧ while pressing volume or display brightness keys to adjust levels in fine-grained quarter-step increments instead of full block jumps.

Paste Without Formatting

When copying text with unwanted styling, fonts, or web backgrounds, use ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + V to strip all formatting and paste plain text matching your destination file.