Printable Keyboard Shortcuts: Windows and Mac on One Page

The keyboard shortcuts worth printing are the ones you use every hour: Ctrl + C to copy, Ctrl + V to paste, Ctrl + Z to undo, Ctrl + F to find and Alt + Tab to switch apps. On a Mac, Cmd takes the place of Ctrl in almost all of them. The sheet puts 26 everyday shortcuts for Windows and Mac on one page, checked against the official lists from Microsoft, Apple and Google.

Copy, paste, undo

• Ctrl + C - Copy (Mac: Cmd + C)
• Ctrl + X - Cut (Mac: Cmd + X)
• Ctrl + V - Paste (Mac: Cmd + V)
• Ctrl + Shift + V - Paste as plain text, in most apps (Mac: Option + Shift + Cmd + V)
• Ctrl + Z - Undo (Mac: Cmd + Z)
• Ctrl + Y - Redo (Mac: Shift + Cmd + Z)
• Ctrl + A - Select all (Mac: Cmd + A)
• Ctrl + F - Find (Mac: Cmd + F)

Files and windows

• Ctrl + S - Save (Mac: Cmd + S)
• Ctrl + P - Print (Mac: Cmd + P)
• Ctrl + N - New window (Mac: Cmd + N)
• Ctrl + W - Close the tab or window (Mac: Cmd + W)
• Alt + F4 - Close the active window (Mac: Cmd + Q quits the app)
• Alt + Tab - Switch between apps (Mac: Cmd + Tab)

Browser

• Ctrl + T - New tab (Mac: Cmd + T)
• Ctrl + Shift + T - Reopen the closed tab (Mac: Cmd + Shift + T)
• Ctrl + Tab - Next tab (Mac: Cmd + Option + Right Arrow)
• Ctrl + L - Jump to the address bar (Mac: Cmd + L)
• Ctrl + R - Reload the page (Mac: Cmd + R)

System and screenshots

• Win + S - Search (Mac: Cmd + Space opens Spotlight)
• Win + L - Lock the screen (Mac: Ctrl + Cmd + Q)
• Win + . - Emoji panel (Mac: Ctrl + Cmd + Space)
• Win + V - Clipboard history, once turned on (Windows only)
• Win + D - Show the desktop (Windows only)
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc - Task Manager (Mac: Option + Cmd + Esc force quits an app)
• Win + Shift + S - Screenshot of an area (Mac: Shift + Cmd + 4)

Pro tip

Learn three new shortcuts a week, not 26 at once. Pin the sheet next to your screen, circle the three, and use only the shortcut for those actions until your hand does it without thinking.

Matching sheets

For writing, the keyboard shortcuts to type faster cover deleting and jumping word by word. Full system lists: Windows keyboard shortcuts and Mac keyboard shortcuts. Shortcuts save the most time when the typing in between is fast too: check yours with the free typing speed test.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most useful keyboard shortcuts?

Copy, paste and undo (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + Z), find (Ctrl + F) and switching apps (Alt + Tab). On a Mac, use Cmd instead of Ctrl and Cmd + Tab to switch apps.

Are keyboard shortcuts the same on Windows and Mac?

Mostly the same letter, a different modifier: Ctrl on Windows is Cmd on a Mac. A few differ completely, such as redo (Ctrl + Y and Shift + Cmd + Z) and locking the screen.

Why does Ctrl + Shift + V not work everywhere?

Microsoft notes that paste as plain text may not work in all applications. Apple calls the Mac version Paste and Match Style.

Sources

• Keyboard shortcuts in Windows - Microsoft Support.
• Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support.
• Chrome keyboard shortcuts - Google Chrome Help, browser shortcuts for Windows and Mac.