Keyboard shortcuts for Windows and macOS: an overview

Basic keyboard shortcuts for Windows and macOS

3 min read · Updated 13.07.2026

Keyboard shortcuts save time, and after a few days you cannot do without them. It is enough to know the most used ones and working with a computer speeds up. Let us go through the basic shortcuts for both Windows and macOS clearly and in tables.

The most basic shortcuts

This is the absolute basics that work almost everywhere. On Windows you hold Ctrl, on Mac Cmd (⌘):

Action	Windows	macOS
Copy	`Ctrl + C`	`Cmd + C`
Paste	`Ctrl + V`	`Cmd + V`
Cut	`Ctrl + X`	`Cmd + X`
Undo	`Ctrl + Z`	`Cmd + Z`
Redo	`Ctrl + Y`	`Cmd + Shift + Z`
Select all	`Ctrl + A`	`Cmd + A`
Save	`Ctrl + S`	`Cmd + S`
Find	`Ctrl + F`	`Cmd + F`
Print	`Ctrl + P`	`Cmd + P`

Windows and applications

Action	Windows	macOS
Switch applications	`Alt + Tab`	`Cmd + Tab`
Close window	`Ctrl + W`	`Cmd + W`
Quit application	`Alt + F4`	`Cmd + Q`
New window	`Ctrl + N`	`Cmd + N`
Minimize	`Win + down arrow`	`Cmd + M`

Working with text

Action	Windows	macOS
By words	`Ctrl + arrow`	`Option + arrow`
To start/end of line	`Home` / `End`	`Cmd + arrow`
Delete a word	`Ctrl + Backspace`	`Option + Backspace`
Select by words	`Ctrl + Shift + arrow`	`Option + Shift + arrow`

System shortcuts

Action	Windows	macOS
Screenshot	`Win + Shift + S`	`Cmd + Shift + 4`
Lock the screen	`Win + L`	`Ctrl + Cmd + Q`
Task manager / force quit	`Ctrl + Shift + Esc`	`Cmd + Option + Esc`
Search	`Win` (Start)	`Cmd + space` (Spotlight)

Specific to Windows

Win + D shows the desktop.
Win + E opens the file explorer.
Win + arrows snaps a window to half the screen.
Win + V opens the clipboard history.
Win + number launches an app from the taskbar.

Specific to macOS

Cmd + space opens Spotlight search.
Cmd + , (comma) opens the settings of the active app.
Cmd + Shift + 4 takes a screenshot of a selected area, Cmd + Shift + 5 also offers screen recording.
Mission Control (an overview of windows) is invoked by a key or a gesture.

The main difference between Windows and Mac

The most important rule to remember: Mac uses the Cmd key where Windows uses Ctrl. When you move from one system to the other, most shortcuts work the same, you just swap this one key.

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This article is part of our Software and system overview.

Frequently asked questions

How do you switch between apps on a Mac instead of Alt+Tab?

On macOS you switch apps with Cmd + Tab, so the Windows Alt key becomes Cmd. To quit an app entirely use Cmd + Q, while closing just the window uses Cmd + W.

How do you take a screenshot on Windows and on a Mac?

On Windows you select part of the screen with Win + Shift + S. On a Mac, Cmd + Shift + 4 selects an area, or Cmd + Shift + 5 which also offers screen recording.

How do you quickly search for files and apps on both systems?

On Windows, just press the Win key and type the name of the app or file. On a Mac, Spotlight search opens with Cmd + space, which works in a very similar way.

What is the main difference between Windows and Mac shortcuts?

The most important rule is that Mac uses the Cmd key exactly where Windows uses Ctrl. Most other shortcuts work the same, you just need to remember this one swap.

How do you force quit a frozen program?

On Windows you open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and end the program there. On a Mac, Cmd + Option + Esc opens a window to force quit the app.

How do you move through text word by word?

On Windows you jump between words with Ctrl + arrow, on a Mac the same job is done by Option + arrow. Deleting a whole word to the left works as Ctrl + Backspace on Windows and Option + Backspace on a Mac.

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