Mac keyboard shortcuts

By pressing a combination of keys, you can do things that normally need a mouse, trackpad, or other input device.

To use a keyboard shortcut, hold down one or more modifier keys while pressing the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use the shortcut Command-C (copy), hold down Command, press C, then release both keys. Mac menus and keyboards often use symbols for certain keys, including the modifier keys:

• Command ⌘
• Shift ⇧

• Option ⌥
• Control ⌃

• Caps Lock ⇪
• Fn

If you're using a keyboard made for Windows PCs, use the Alt key instead of Option, and the Windows logo key instead of Command. Some Mac keyboards and shortcuts use special keys in the top row, which include icons for volume, display brightness, and other functions. Press the icon key to perform that function, or combine it with the Fn key to use it as an F1, F2, F3, or other standard function key. 

To learn more shortcuts, check the menus of the app you're using. Every app can have its own shortcuts, and shortcuts that work in one app may not work in another. 

Cut, copy, paste, and other common shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
Command-X	Cut: Remove the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
Command-C	Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.
Command-V	Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.
Command-Z	Undo the previous command. You can then press Command-Shift-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands.
Command-A	Select All items.
Command-F	Find: Open a Find window, or find items in a document.
Command-G	Find Again: Find the next occurrence of the item previously found. To find the previous occurrence, press Command-Shift-G.
Command-H	Hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Command-Option-H.
Command-M	Minimize the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the front app, press Command-Option-M.
Command-N	New: Open an new document or window.
Command-O	Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open.
Command-P	Print the current document.
Command-S	Save the current document.
Command-W	Close the front window. To close all windows of the app, press Command-Option-W.
Command-Q	Quit the app.
Option-Command-Esc	Force Quit: Choose an app to force quit. Or press Command-Shift-Option-Esc and hold for 3 seconds to force just the front app to quit.
Command–Space bar	Spotlight: Show or hide the Spotlight search field. To perform a Spotlight search from a Finder window, press Command–Option–Space bar. If you use multiple input sources to type in different languages, these shortcuts change input sources instead of showing Spotlight.
Space bar	Quick Look: Use Quick Look to preview the selected item.
Command-Tab	Switch apps: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.
Shift-Command-Tilde (~)	Switch windows: Switch to the next most recently used window of the front app.
Shift-Command-3	Screenshot: Take a screenshot of the entire screen. Learn more screenshot shortcuts.
Command-Comma (,)	Preferences: Open preferences for the front app.

Sleep, log out, and shut down shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
Power button	Tap to turn on your Mac or wake your Mac from sleep.
	Hold for 1.5 seconds while your Mac is awake to display a dialog asking if you want to restart, sleep, or shut down. If you don't want to wait 1.5 seconds, press Control–Power button or Control–Media Eject  .
	Hold for 5 seconds to force your Mac to turn off.
Control–Command–Power button	Force your Mac to restart.
Control–Shift–(Power button or Media Eject )	Put your displays to sleep.
Control–Command–Media Eject	Quit all apps, then restart your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you'll be asked whether you want to save them.
Control–Option–Command–(Power button or Media Eject )	Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you'll be asked whether you want to save them.
Shift-Command-Q	Log out of your OS X user account. You'll be asked to confirm.
Option-Shift-Command-Q	Log out of your OS X user account immediately, without being asked to confirm.

Document shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
Command-B	Boldface the selected text, or turn boldfacing on or off.
Command-I	Italicize the selected text, or turn italics on or off.
Command-U	Underline the selected text, or turn underlining on or off.
Command-T	Show or hide the Fonts window.
Command-D	Select the Desktop folder from within an Open dialog or Save dialog.
Control-Command-D	Show or hide the definition of the selected word.
Shift-Command-Colon (:)	Display the Spelling and Grammar window.
Command-Semicolon (;)	Find misspelled words in the document.
Option-Delete	Delete the word to the left of the insertion point.
Control-H	Delete the character to the left of the insertion point. Or use Delete.
Control-D	Delete the character to the right of the insertion point. Or use Fn-Delete.
Fn-Delete	Forward delete on keyboards that don't have a Forward Delete  key. Or use Control-D.
Control-K	Delete the text between the insertion point and the end of the line or paragraph.
Command-Delete	Select Delete or Don't Save in a dialog that contains a Delete or Don't Save button.
Fn–Up Arrow	Page Up: Scroll up one page.
Fn–Down Arrow	Page Down: Scroll down one page.
Fn–Left Arrow	Home: Scroll to the beginning of a document.
Fn–Right Arrow	End: Scroll to the end of a document.
Command–Up Arrow	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the document.
Command–Down Arrow	Move the insertion point to the end of the document.
Command–Left Arrow	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current line.
Command–Right Arrow	Move the insertion point to the end of the current line.
Option–Left Arrow	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
Option–Right Arrow	Move the insertion point to the end of the next word.
Shift–Command–Up Arrow	Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document.
Shift–Command–Down Arrow	Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the document.
Shift–Command–Left Arrow	Select the text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line.
Shift–Command–Right Arrow	Select the text between the insertion point and the end of the current line.
Shift–Up Arrow	Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line above.
Shift–Down Arrow	Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line below.
Shift–Left Arrow	Extend text selection one character to the left.
Shift–Right Arrow	Extend text selection one character to the right.
Option–Shift–Up Arrow	Extend text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then to the beginning of the following paragraph if pressed again.
Option–Shift–Down Arrow	Extend text selection to the end of the current paragraph, then to the end of the following paragraph if pressed again.
Option–Shift–Left Arrow	Extend text selection to the beginning of the current word, then to the beginning of the following word if pressed again.
Option–Shift–Right Arrow	Extend text selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of the following word if pressed again.
Control-A	Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
Control-E	Move to the end of a line or paragraph.
Control-F	Move one character forward.
Control-B	Move one character backward.
Control-L	Center the cursor or selection in the visible area.
Control-P	Move up one line.
Control-N	Move down one line.
Control-O	Insert a new line after the insertion point.
Control-T	Swap the character behind the insertion point with the character in front of the insertion point.
Command–Left Curly Bracket ({)	Left align.
Command–Right Curly Bracket (})	Right align.
Shift–Command–Vertical bar (|)	Center align.
Option-Command-F	Go to the search field.
Option-Command-T	Show or hide a toolbar in the app.
Option-Command-C	Copy Style: Copy the formatting settings of the selected item to the Clipboard.
Option-Command-V	Paste Style: Apply the copied style to the selected item.
Option-Shift-Command-V	Paste and Match Style: Apply the style of the surrounding content to the item pasted within that content.
Option-Command-I	Show or hide the inspector window.
Shift-Command-P	Page setup: Display a window for selecting document settings.
Shift-Command-S	Display the Save As dialog, or duplicate the current document.
Shift–Command– Minus sign (-)	Decrease the size of the selected item.
Shift–Command– Plus sign (+)	Increase the size of the selected item. Command–Equal sign (=) performs the same function.
Shift–Command– Question mark (?)	Open the Help menu.

Finder shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
Command-D	Duplicate the selected files.
Command-E	Eject the selected disk or volume.
Command-F	Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.
Command-I	Show the Get Info window for a selected file.
Shift-Command-C	Open the Computer window.
Shift-Command-D	Open the desktop folder.
Shift-Command-F	Open the All My Files window.
Shift-Command-G	Open a Go to Folder window.
Shift-Command-H	Open the Home folder of the current OS X user account.
Shift-Command-I	Open iCloud Drive.
Shift-Command-K	Open the Network window.
Option-Command-L	Open the Downloads folder.
Shift-Command-O	Open the Documents folder.
Shift-Command-R	Open the AirDrop window.
Shift-Command-T	Add selected Finder item to the Dock (OS X Mountain Lion or earlier)
Control-Shift-Command-T	Add selected Finder item to the Dock (OS X Mavericks or later)
Shift-Command-U	Open the Utilities folder.
Option-Command-D	Show or hide the Dock. This often works even when you're not in the Finder.
Control-Command-T	Add the selected item to the sidebar (OS X Mavericks or later).
Option-Command-P	Hide or show the path bar in Finder windows.
Option-Command-S	Hide or show the Sidebar in Finder windows.
Command–Slash (/)	Hide or show the status bar in Finder windows.
Command-J	Show View Options.
Command-K	Open the Connect to Server window.
Command-L	Make an alias of the selected item.
Command-N	Open a new Finder window.
Shift-Command-N	Create a new folder.
Option-Command-N	Create a new Smart Folder.
Command-R	Show the original file for the selected alias.
Command-T	Show or hide the tab bar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.
Shift-Command-T	Show or hide a Finder tab.
Option-Command-T	Show or hide the toolbar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.
Option-Command-V	Move: Move the files in the Clipboard from their original location to the current location.
Option-Command-Y	View a Quick Look slideshow of the selected files.
Command-Y	Use Quick Look to preview the selected files.
Command-1	View the items in the Finder window as icons.
Command-2	View the items in a Finder window as a list.
Command-3	View the items in a Finder window in columns.
Command-4	View the items in a Finder window with Cover Flow.
Command–Left Bracket ([)	Go to the previous folder.
Command–Right Bracket (])	Go to the next folder.
Command–Up Arrow	Open the folder that contains the current folder.
Command–Control–Up Arrow	Open the folder that contains the current folder in a new window.
Command–Down Arrow	Open the selected item.
Command–Mission Control	Show the desktop. This works even when you're not in the Finder.
Command–Brightness Up	Turn Target Display Mode on or off.
Command–Brightness Down	Turn display mirroring on or off when your Mac is connected to more than one display.
Right Arrow	Open the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
Left Arrow	Close the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
Option–double-click	Open a folder in a separate window and close the current window.
Command–double-click	Open a folder in a separate tab or window.
Command-Delete	Move the selected item to the Trash.
Shift-Command-Delete	Empty the Trash.
Option-Shift-Command-Delete	Empty the Trash without confirmation dialog.
Command-Y	Use Quick Look to preview the files.
Option–Brightness Up	Open Displays preferences. This works with either Brightness key.
Option–Mission Control	Open Mission Control preferences.
Option–Volume Up	Open Sound preferences. This works with any of the volume keys.
Command key while dragging	Move the dragged item to another volume or location. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
Option key while dragging	Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
Option-Command while dragging	Make an alias of the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
Option-click a disclosure triangle	Open all folders within the selected folder. This works only when in list view.
Command-click a window title	See the folders that contain the current folder.

How to create password-protected Notes in iOS 9.3

The first step is simply to create or select a regular Note, unsecured note in the app, since notes can only be secured after the fact.

Type some matter on a new note.

Once this is done, tap the Share icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.This is where the "Lock Note" option is hidden, alongside other choices like Copy and Print.

Selecting it brings up a panel asking you to create a password and retype it to verify. For the best security, avoid reusing an existing password, and make the new one either a phrase or a complex assortment of characters. Optionally you can enter a hint in case you forget, and/or use Touch ID to make logins faster.

At this point, a note's contents will still be visible to anyone able to unlock your device. Protection only takes effect once you tap the padlock icon, again in the upper-right corner.

Finally, the note is secure. To see inside, you'll have to tap "View Note" or the padlock icon, and either enter your password or use Touch ID.

How to Uninstall Built-in System Applications on a Mac: Everything You Need to Know

Mac OS X offers no “Uninstall a program” interface like the one available in Windows. You have to uninstall applications by dragging their icons around — but what about applications that don’t have shortcuts, built-in system apps, and other corner cases?

Uninstalling most Mac applications is a simple process. But, for some applications, uninstalling them is much harder than it is on Windows. 

Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan protects system files and processes with a new feature named System Integrity Protection. SIP is a kernel-level feature that limits what the “root” account can do.

What is System Integrity Protection?

On Mac OS X and other UNIX-like operating systems, including Linux, there’s a “root” account that traditionally has full access to the entire operating system. Becoming the root user — or gaining root permissions — gives you access to the entire operating system and the ability to modify and delete any file. Malware that gains root permissions could use those permissions to damage and infect the low-level operating system files.

Type your password into a security dialog and you’ve given the application root permissions. This traditionally allows it to do anything to your operating system, although many Mac users may not have realized this.

System Integrity Protection — also known as “rootless” — functions by restricting the root account. The operating system kernel itself puts checks on the root user’s access and won’t allow it to do certain things, such as modify protected locations or inject code into protected system processes. All kernel extensions must be signed, and you can’t disable System Integrity Protection from within Mac OS X itself. Applications with elevated root permissions can no longer tamper with system files.

How to Disable System Integrity Protection?

The System Integrity Protection setting isn’t stored in Mac OS X itself. Instead, it’s stored in NVRAM on each individual Mac. It can only be modified from the recovery environment.

• To boot into recovery mode, restart your Mac and Hold “Command+R” as it boots. you’ll enter the recovery environment.

• Click the “Utilities” menu and select “Terminal” to open a terminal window.
• Type the following command into the terminal and press enter to check the status:
•  "csrutil status" (you’ll see whether system Integrity protection is enabled or not).
• To disable system Integrity protection, run the following command:        “ csrutil disable “
• To enable system Integrity protection, run the following command:        “ csrutil enable “

Restart your Mac and your new System Integrity Protection setting will take effect. The root user will now have its full, unrestricted access to the entire operating system and every file..

Remove Built-in System Apps.

Macs also have no way to uninstall or install operating system features, so there’s no way to easily remove the many applications Apple included with your Mac.

On OS X 10.10 Yosemite and earlier, it was possible to open a terminal window and issue commands to delete these system apps, which are located in the /Applications folder. For example, running the following command in a terminal window would delete the built-in Chess app. Be very careful when typing the following command:

sudo rm -rf /Applications/app name.app

eg: sudo rm -rf /Applications/chess.app

or

Select the application you want to delete from the Application folder right click.

• click on Get info.
• application info window will open.
• under sharing & Permissions (unlock the lock icon).
• make > you have custom access everyone to "Read & write".
• close the info window.
• Now you will be able to delete the application.

                                                                                                                    please do it at your own risk.

How to Completely Disable Notification Center in Mac OS X

Follow the following steps:

 First, launch the Terminal app from /Applications/Utilities

    Enter the following command, and press Return: 

    To Disable:

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.notificationcenterui.plist

To restore Notification Center:

    launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.notificationcenterui.plist

try this at your own risk. 

How To Create Bootable Windows 10 USB Flash Drive

Step 1: Download Windows 10 media creation tool for 32-bit machines | 64-bit machines.
Step 2: Once downloaded, run the tool. When asked “What do you want to do?“, select the “Create installation media for another PC” and click “Next“.
Step 3: Select the relevant language and Windows 1o version from the selection field. There’s also an option to select 32-bit or 64-bit variant of Windows. Select your desired choices and Click “Next“.

Step 4: Insert the necessary USB flash drive into a free USB port on the computer. Make sure the drive is formatted correctly and has at least 4GB of available storage space. It’s best to actually use an entirely empty drive for this process as all the existing content will be overwritten.

Step 5: Make sure that “USB flash drive” is selected, and click “Next“.

Step 6: Point the tool at the relevant USB drive when prompted.

Step 7: The tool will then download the relevant files and create a USB bootable version of Windows 10. Hit the “Finish” button when done to end the process.

You can now use this USB flash drive during initial boot of your PC and do a fresh clean install of Windows 10.

Alternatively, in case of the need to perform an upgrade to a PC that is already running Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 Update, or technical previews of Windows 10, simply accessing the flash drive within Windows and running setup.exeshould begin the upgrade process.

This should be enough to create an extremely handy bootable version of Windows 10 via USB for those instances where an upgrade or fresh installation is required.

http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-create-bootable-windows-10-usb-flash-drive-guide/

How to control automatic downloads for music, books, and apps.

If you have an iPhone and iPad, or a Mac, iCloud can automatically download any music, books, or apps you buy on one device onto any or all of the others. For example, if you downloaded a hot new game on your iPad, you can have it automatically appear on your iPhone (assuming the game is also iPhone-compatible). Purchase a classic song while out and about on your iPhone? You can make sure it's on your Mac when you get home.

It's incredibly convenient if you want everything anywhere and like living on automatic. If you use your devices differently and prefer to keep the distinct, however, you may want to set things to manual.

Luckily, the choice is yours—all you have to do is flick a few switches in Settings.

Automatic download details

iOS offers several types of automatic downloads:

• Music: If you purchase a song from iTunes, it'll automatically be available on any compatible iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Mac that supports iCloud and is authorized to use your iTunes account.
• Apps: Apps downloaded on one device are automatically downloaded to any other compatible device that has an active connection to the internet. Some iOS apps are universal and will download to both iPhone and iPad. Mac and iOS apps, on the other hand, aren't cross-compatible and will never automatically download to both.
• Books: If you download a book in iBooks, it should automatically appear in your other instances of iBooks on iOS and OS X.
• Updates: Updates are a little different, and will only apply on a per-device basis. Turn updates on if you want App Store updates to install automatically, without you having to first approve them via the App Store app. 

How to turn on automatic downloads for music, books, and apps on your iPhone and iPad

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. 
2. Tap on iTunes & App Store.
3. Under the Automatic Downloads section, turn On the options for the types of content you'd like to download automatically.
   
   

To disable Automatic Downloads, follow the same steps, but turn the appropriate switch Off.

How to turn off automatic downloads over cellular data

Having your automatic downloads happen no matter where you are, even off Wi-Fi and out and about on LTE or 3G can be incredibly convenient, but it can also eat away at your data plan. If that's something you want to avoid, you can easily turn off automatic downloads over cellular.

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. 
2. Tap on iTunes & App Store.
3. Under the Automatic Downloads section, turn Off the option for Use Cellular Data. 

Automatic downloads will still happen, but only when you're on Wi-Fi.

How to downgrade from OS X El Capitan back to OS X Yosemite

If you decide the OS X El Capitan public beta just isn't for you, you can downgrade to OS X Yosemite.

The OS X El Capitan public beta is a way to test the next generation of Mac software. If it turns out you don't enjoy the process, or would prefer to wait and try again later, you can go back to OS X Yosemite. Downgrading is a simple process, but it's also a bit of a chore. Don't worry, though, we'll walk you through it!

Note: If you're reading this article on the Mac you want to revert, either print it out first, or open it on iPhone, iPad, or another Mac so you can read along as you go.

If you made a bootable OS X Yosemite install drive before you went on the El Capitan beta, then simply plug it in, reboot, hold down the Option key, and you'll be on your way.

If not, you'll need to erase OS X El Capitan first, and then re-install.

• How to erase OS X El Capitan
• How to reinstall OS X Yosemite
• How to restore your data from Time Machine

How to erase OS X El Capitan

1. Make sure your Mac is connected to the internet over W-Fi or Ethernet.
2. Go to the  menu and select Restart....
3. Hold down Command+R while your Mac reboots.
4. Click on Disk Utility in the OS X Utilities selector.
5. Click Continue.
   
   
6. Select your Startup Disk.
7. Click on the Erase tap.
8. Type in Macintosh HD for the name (or whatever you like.)
9. Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled)* from the **Format list, if it isn't selected already.
10. Click Erase.
    
    

Once it's done, quit Disk Utility and get ready to reinstall.

How to reinstall OS X Yosemite

1. Click on Reinstall OS X in the OS X Utilities selector.
2. Click Continue on the OS X Yosemite Installer.
   
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From this point on it's the same as a standard update, simply continue on and agree to the licensing terms as you go. When you're done, your Mac will reboot into OS X Yosemite.

Note: Depending how old your Mac is, you may get an older version of the installer—typically the one that originally shipped on your Mac (That's especially true if you end up in Internet Recovery mode).

If that happens, complete the installation of Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, or whichever version you're offered, and when you're done and rebooted, go to the Mac App Store and re-run the OS X Yosemite update.

How to restore your data from Time Machine

You should be asked if you want to restore from Time Machine as part of the reinstallation process. If not, or if you choose not to, you can restore at any time.

1. Power up or restart your Mac.
2. Hold down Command+R while your Mac boots.
3. Click Restore from Time Machine Backup from the OS X Utilities menu.
4. Click Continue.
5. Read the  Restore Your System page and click Continue.
6. Select your Time Machine backup
7. Click Continue.
8. Select the most recent backup of your drive and click Continue. 

Your Mac will then restore from Time Machine and reboot. The process can take a while so, depending on network speeds and the amount of data, so be patient.

If you run into any trouble or have any questions, ask away in the comments!