I would also update this with the control+command+space shortcut added in OS X also has a 'technical' symbols added – Downgoat Jul 16 '15 at 5:14 1 link is broken:( – www139 Dec 26 '15 at 13:04. Alt Code symbols on Laptop keyboard Guide on making symbols by using Alt codes on laptop keyboard. Article shows where are number pad keys on laptops located and describes how to type Alt codes using it. You'll know how to do Alt-key codes on a laptop after reading this.
This is the ultimate guide for working with MacBook keyboards, including accessing special functions, characters, accents, and using keyboard shortcuts in Mac OS system. Click on the list below to jump to an appropriate section.
MacBook Keyboard Diagram / Map
MacBook keyboard has few distinctive sections: Function keys (in light blue), which provides access to various functions in MacBook itself or Mac OS system. By combining them with the FN key, you'll get access to F1 - F12 keys, which can be associated with particular application features (useful in Photoshop for example).
How To Type Hidden Mac Keyboard Symbols And Characters – Setapp
The second section is the modifier keys (in light yellow). Shift allows to type uppercase letters and other additional characters. Command and Alt/Option are used in keyboard shortcuts, as well as the Control key, which is used almost exclusively by Mac OS X and Apple programs.
Return and left Shift has two variants, one used in the US and Eastern Asia (horizontal Return and long Shift), and second, used in Europe, Middle East and Africa (vertical Return and short left Shift). On the diagram, this is shown by dashed lines. Of course, MacBook keyboards have lots of localizations, the most common - US English - is shown above. If you're unsure about the localization you have, go and check it with this guide.
MacBook Air 11' has slightly different keyboard, with smaller top and bottom row keys to accommodate smaller laptop size. Newest MacBooks Pro with TouchBar don't have upper F keys row, instead, they have a touchscreen which changes displayed options based on context.
MacBook Keyboard Symbols Chart
Symbol | Meaning | Notes |
Screen brightness down | ||
Screen brightness up | ||
Launches Mission Control | Icon available on MacBooks Unibody | |
Launches Mission Control | Icon available on MacBooks pre-unibody | |
Launches Dashboard | Icon available on MacBooks Unibody | |
Launches Dashboard | Icon available on MacBooks pre-unibody | |
Keyboard backlight down | ||
Keyboard backlight up | ||
Rewind | ||
Play / Pause | ||
Fast Forward | ||
Sound: mute | ||
Sound: volume down | ||
Sound: volume up | ||
Eject | Available on MacBooks with CD/DVD drive | |
Power | Available on MacBooks without CD/DVD drive | |
Command | On MacBooks 1st generation this is replaced by Apple logo | |
Alt / Option | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Tab | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Backspace | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Shift | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Caps Lock | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Return | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Enter | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts, accessed with FN key | |
Delete | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Clear | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Home | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing. Can be substituted by CMD + up arrow shortcut. | |
End | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing. Can be substituted by CMD + down arrow shortcut. | |
Page Up | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Page Down | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Arrows | Used to move things or pointer |
MacBook Keyboard Special Characters and Accents Map
If you want to type special characters or accents, change your keyboard language to US International PC (thanks, Steve!) and use the map below to get them. You can also check out our solution to the two languages on one keyboard problem.
Where is the Print Screen Button?
Unlike PC keyboard, there is no Print Screen key on MacBook keyboard. This functionality is accessed by keyboard shortcuts and - on Mac - you have greater flexibility:
- Command + Shift + 3 - captures entire screen;
- Command + Shift + 4 - captures selected region. Your cursor turns to crosshair and by clicking and dragging you can specify which area you want to capture;
- Command + Shift + 4 + Space - captures selected window. First press the shortcut from above, then - when you have crosshair - hit Space. The cursor will turn to the camera and the active window will have a blue overlay. Click on it to get it captured.
In some apps, like Photoshop, you need to add Control into the mix, to paste the screenshot into the app.
MacBook Keyboard Tricks
There's a lot you can do in Mac OS by using the keyboard only. Best time machine backup drive for mac. Here's a list of highly useful and not-so-useful keyboard shortcuts:
Shortcut | Action |
Command + W | Quickly closes the active window in Safari or any other browser. Works also with many applications, like Pages, Numbers, Photoshop. Great way to quickly close something when your boss is coming around :) |
Command + H | Hides the active application. Useful for hiding something quickly ;) |
Option + Shift + F11/F12 | Makes tiny changes in volume level instead of standard jumps. |
Control + Option + Command + 8 | Reverses colors on the screen. |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | When watching YouTube video, this will advance you to 10%, 20%, 30%.. of movie completion. |
Option + Delete | Deletes whole word in text editors |
Control + Command + V | Pastes copied text without formatting. Useful when copying something from Pages and pasting into eg. Wordpress :) |
Control + Command + Option + Eject/Shutdown | Shuts down the MacBook without the need to provide username and password. |
Command + Shift + A | Opens the Applications folder in Finder. |
Command + Shift + U | Opens the Utilities folder in Finder. |
Command + Shift + D | Opens the Desktop folder in Finder. |
Command + Shift + I | When in Safari, this shortcut copies the URL, opens Mail app and creates a new email with the copied URL pasted as a link in a message. |
Command + Option + M | Minimizes all open windows, showing Desktop. |
Command + Option + Shift + Esc | Hold for 3 seconds to force quit any app. |
Command + Tab | Cycle through opened apps from left to right. |
Command + Shift + Tab | Cycle through opened apps from right to left. |
Command + ` | Cycles through active app windows. |
Command + Q | Quit active app. |
Command + T | Opens a new tab in Finder. Opens a new tab in a web browser. |
Command + N | Creates new Finder window. |
Command + Shift + N | Creates new folder in Finder. |
Command + Space | Launches Spotlight. |
Command + Option + Space | Switches to next keyboard language (if you have more than one). |
Command + Control + Space | In some websites and apps this will give you the emoji keyboard. |
Command + Delete | Sends selected files/folders to trash. |
Fn + Delete | Deletes text from left to right. |
F10 + Shutdown | Hold while launching MacBook to get a silent start. |
Command + up arrow/down arrow | Jump to the beginning or end of a page. This is equivalent to PC's Home and End keys. |
Command + up arrow + L | Highlights the address bar in a web browser. |
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Mac Keyboard Symbol Shortcuts
- Most recent
Mac Keyboard Symbols List
Finder
Mac Option Key Symbol
Action | Keystroke |
---|---|
Open Sidebar item in a new Tab or Window (depending on Finder Preferences) | Cmd-Click |
Switch Finder views (Icon, List, Column, Gallery) | Cmd-1, Cmd-2, Cmd-3, Cmd-4 |
In List view, expand a folder | Right Arrow |
In List view, collapse a folder | Left Arrow |
Rename the selected file/folder | Press Return (or Enter) |
Go into selected folder or open the selected file | Cmd-Down Arrow |
Go to parent folder | Cmd-Up Arrow |
Go Back | Cmd-[ |
Go Forward | Cmd-] |
Select the next icon in Icon and List views | Tab (Shift-Tab reverses direction) |
Alternate columns in Column View | Tab (Shift-Tab reverses direction) |
Resize one column to fit the longest file name (Column View) | Double-Click column divider (or the resize widget at the bottom of the column divider, depending on your setup) |
Resize all columns to fit their longest file names (Column View) | Option Double-Click column divider (or the resize widget at the bottom of the column divider, depending on your setup) |
Copy and Paste files | Cmd-C, then Cmd-V |
Copy and Paste files Exactly (Keeps original ownership & permissions. Requires Admin username & password.) | Cmd-C, then Cmd-Option-Shift-V |
Cut and Paste files (Move files) | Cmd-C, then Cmd-Option–V |
Copy a File's Pathname | Cmd-Opt–C |
Move a file instead of copying (Copies to the destination and removes it from the original disk.) | Cmd-Drag file to disk |
Immediately Delete a File (does not put file in Trash) | Cmd-Opt–Delete |
Move selected files to the Trash (called the Recycle Bin in Windows) | Cmd-Delete |
Empty the Trash with warning (like emptying Recycle Bin in Windows) | Cmd-Shift-Delete |
Empty the Trash with no warning (like emptying Recycle Bin in Windows) | Cmd-Opt-Shift-Delete |
Cancel a drag-n-drop action while in the midst of dragging | Esc |
Show Inspector (a single, live refreshing Info window) | Cmd-Opt-I |
Undo the last action (such as rename file, copy file, etc.) | Cmd-Z |
Toggle Hidden Files (Show Hidden Files or Hide Them). Also works in Open/Save dialogs! | Cmd-Shift-Period(.) May be a comma (,) instead of period for some languages. |
Hide/Show Sidebar (on the left) | Cmd-Opt-S |
Hide/Show Toolbar (on the top) and the Sidebar | Cmd-Opt-T |
Move or Remove item in toolbar (at the top of the window). Works in most programs. | Cmd-Drag |
Open Quick Look (Previews most types of files without having to open them) | Press the Spacebar (or Cmd-Y). On a trackpad can also tap with 3 fingers. |
Zoom In/Out in Quick Look (Images & PDFs) | Pinch on a trackpad or hold Cmd and hit + (plus) to zoom in or - (minus) to zoom out. Cmd–0 zooms back to fit in window. |
Find Files | Cmd-F |