Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts for your MacBook
In the following list, the tip will be written in command form, showing you which keys to hit on the keyboard. The “+” symbol means to hit those keys at the same time, unless otherwise noted.
You can also always look up shortcuts for the program you are using by checking the menu bar at the top of the screen. Below is a chart of what the different symbols mean.
*Disclaimer: every trick will not work in every program. Sorry!*
Keyboard Tips
1. Control + D or Function + D
- This allows you to actually delete, not just backspace
- Control seems to work in web browsers, function seems to work in Word
2. Command + Shift + 3
- Screenshot of your entire screen
3. Command + Shift + 4
- Screenshot of the area you select
4. Command + Shift + 4 (+ Space Bar)
- Hit the space bar once the target crosshairs appear to take a screenshot of just the window you select
5. Command + Option + M
- Minimizes all the windows you have open
6. Command + Shift (+ Tab)
- Opens a bar of running applications; hitting “Tab” allows you to switch to whichever application you choose
7. Command + `
- Allows you to quickly switch between all open windows for the same program (i.e. if you have 2 firefox windows open, you can switch back and forth quickly)
8. Command + B
- Makes text bold (or turns bold off)
- You can also type an asterisk (*) before and after the text you want to be bold and it automatically changes
9. Command + I
- Makes text italic (or turns italics off)
10. Command + U
- Underlines text (or turns underline off)
11. Command + C
- Copy
12. Command + V
- Paste
13. Command + Option + V
- Paste without formatting
14. Command + Z
- Undo
15. Command + P
16. Command + T
- Opens a new tab in applicable programs (like web browsers)
17. Command + N
- Opens a new window in applicable programs (like web browsers, Word, Excel, etc)
18. Shift + Tab
- This allows you to “tab backwards”…like when you’re filing out an online form and you use “Tab” to switch to the next box, but then realize you need to go back…this is how you do it.
19. Command + F3
- Moves everything out of the way to show the desktop
20. Option + F1 or Option + F2
- Opens display preferences
21. Command + ]
- Increases size of an item/text in Word
- Moves forward a page in web browsers
22. Command + [
- Decreases size of an item/text in Word
- Moves you back a page in web browsers
23. Function + up arrow
- Scrolls up one page
24. Function + down arrow
- Scrolls down one page
25. Function + left arrow
- Scrolls to beginning of document
26. Function + right arrow
- Scrolls to end of document
27. Shift + arrow keys
- Selects text
28. Command + S
- Save what you’re working on
29. Command + Q
- Quit application
30. Command + any number
- Allows you to switch between open tabs (the first one is 1, second is 2, etc)
Trackpad (Mouse) Tips – Gestures with the trackpad tend to be a little more touchy, and may not always work
1. Selecting multiple items (when they are not beside each other)
- Press the “Command” key while selecting items
2. Selecting multiple items (when they are beside each other)
- Press “Shift” key to select first and last item, and all those in between will be selected too
3. Zooming In and Out
- Make the OK sign with your fingers (put your thumb and first finger together), put them on the keyboard, then push your fingers out (un-pinch) to zoom in
- Pinch your fingers back together to zoom out
4. Scrolling
- Place your first and middle finger together on the track pad and move them together
- Move both fingers up to scroll down
- Move both fingers down to scroll up
5. “Right Click” (get menu options)
- Place both fingers (first finger and middle finger) on the trackpad, and click with your middle finger (just hold your first finger on the trackpad, don’t click)
6. See all running applications, switch to dashboard
- Swipe up with three fingers
7. Go Forward in web browser
- Swipe to the left with two fingers
8. Go Back in web browser
- Swipe to the right with two fingers