⌨ The Most Important Thing
On Windows, you use Ctrl for most shortcuts. On Mac, you use the Command key (⌘) instead. The letter stays the same — only the modifier key changes.
fn
control
option
⌘
This key!
space
⌘
option
◀ ▲ ▼ ▶
The ⌘ (Command) key replaces Ctrl for almost everything. It sits right next to the spacebar.
Why does this make life easy?
If you already know Ctrl+C copies on Windows, you already know the Mac shortcut: ⌘+C. Same letter, different modifier. This pattern holds for Copy, Paste, Save, Undo, Print, Find, and dozens more.
⭐ Essential Shortcuts
These eight shortcuts cover most of what you do all day. Each card shows the Mac shortcut and what it replaced from Windows.
⌘+C
Copy — duplicate selected text, files, or images to the clipboard
Was: Ctrl+C on Windows
⌘+V
Paste — insert whatever you last copied
Was: Ctrl+V on Windows
⌘+X
Cut — copy and remove the selection (move instead of duplicate)
Was: Ctrl+X on Windows
⌘+Z
Undo — reverse your last action (press multiple times to keep undoing)
Was: Ctrl+Z on Windows
⌘+S
Save — save the current document
Was: Ctrl+S on Windows
⌘+P
Print — open the print dialog
Was: Ctrl+P on Windows
⌘+F
Find — search within the current page or document
Was: Ctrl+F on Windows
⌘+A
Select All — highlight everything in the current context
Was: Ctrl+A on Windows
Notice the pattern
Every single shortcut above is the same letter as Windows. Once your thumb learns to reach for ⌘ instead of Ctrl, you already know them all.
💻 App Management
Switching between apps, closing windows, and controlling what's on screen.
⌘+Tab
Switch apps — cycle through open applications
Was: Alt+Tab on Windows
⌘+Q
Quit the app — fully close the application and free memory
Was: Alt+F4 on Windows
⌘+W
Close window/tab — closes the current window but leaves the app running
Was: Ctrl+W on Windows
⌘+H
Hide the app — removes it from view but it stays running
⌘+N
New window/document — open a fresh window in the current app
Was: Ctrl+N on Windows
Closing Windows vs. Quitting Apps — This Catches Everyone
On Windows, clicking the red X closes the app entirely. On Mac, clicking the red X only closes the window. The app keeps running in the background.
❌
Clicking the Red X
Closes the window only.
App still running in background.
vs.
✅
Pressing ⌘+Q
Quits the app completely.
Frees up memory.
How to tell if an app is still running
Look at the Dock (the row of icons at the bottom of your screen). Apps with a small dot underneath their icon are still running, even if no windows are visible. Right-click a Dock icon and choose Quit, or click the app and press ⌘+Q.
This behavior is intentional: macOS keeps apps ready in the background efficiently. It's fine to leave frequently-used apps open. But if your Mac feels slow, quitting apps you're not using will free memory.
Screenshots
You'll use these constantly — for reporting issues, sharing your screen, or saving information.
⌘+
Shift+
3
Full screen — captures everything you see
⌘+
Shift+
4
Selected area — drag a crosshair to capture a region
⌘+
Shift+
4
then
Space
Single window — click any window to capture just that one
⌘+
Shift+
5
Screenshot toolbar — all options + screen recording
Screenshots save to your Desktop by default. A thumbnail appears in the bottom-right corner — click it to annotate or share immediately.
✍ Try These Now
The best way to learn shortcuts is to use them right now. Click each checkbox after you try it.
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✓
Try it now
Press ⌘+Space right now — Spotlight search opens. Type any app name, then press Escape to close it.
This is the fastest way to open anything on your Mac.
✓
Try it now
Press ⌘+Tab and hold ⌘ — you'll see all your open apps. Release to switch.
Keep holding ⌘ and press Tab again to cycle through apps.
✓
Try it now
Press ⌘+Shift+3 — you just took a screenshot. Check your Desktop for the image file.
You'll hear a camera shutter sound and see a thumbnail in the corner.
✓
Try it now
Open any app and press ⌘+, (comma) — it opens that app's Preferences/Settings.
This works in almost every Mac app. It's a universal shortcut.
✓
Try it now
Select some text on this page (click and drag), then press ⌘+C to copy and ⌘+V to paste it somewhere.
Same letters as Windows, just ⌘ instead of Ctrl.
✓
Try it now
Press Control+⌘+Q to lock your screen. Sign back in to continue.
Always lock your screen when stepping away from your desk.
🎓 Test Yourself
Click each card to reveal the answer. See how many you know before peeking.
How do you copy text on Mac?
How do you take a screenshot of a selected area?
How do you switch between open apps?
How do you fully quit an app (not just close its window)?
How do you open Spotlight search?
How do you lock your screen?
Click a card to reveal its answer