Most people are always searching for some methods to boost productivity. People practice touch typing and practice focus skills. However, all the methods require time and practice. Is there a simple and easy way to improve productivity in a short time, Learning some shortcuts is practical and realistic.
You can check both Windows shortcuts and Mac shortcuts in this article. You are also very welcome to add more shortcuts in the comments. Firstly, let’s check some common shortcuts for Windows.
Windows OS Basic Shortcuts
Function key | |
F1 | Display Help |
F2 | Rename the selected item |
F3 | Search for a file or folder |
F4 | Display the address bar list in File Explorer |
F5 | Refresh the active window |
F6 | Cyber through screen elements in a window or on the desktop |
F10 | Activate the Menu bar in the active app |
General shortcuts | |
Ctrl+F4 | Close the active document |
Ctrl+A | Select all items in a document or window |
Ctrl+C (Ctrl+Insert) | Copy the selected item |
Ctrl+D | Delete the selected item |
Ctrl+V (Shift+Insert) | Paste the selected item |
Ctrl+X | Cut the selected item |
Ctrl+Y | Redo an action |
Ctrl+Z | Undo an action |
Ctrl+ESC | Open the Start screen |
Ctrl+Shift+ESC | Open Task Manager |
Alt+Tab | Switch between open apps |
Alt+F4 | Close the active item, or exit the active app |
Ctrl+Tab | Switch between program groups, tabs, or document windows |
Ctrl+Alt+Delete | Open the Windows option screen for locking computer, switching user, etc. |
Alt+ESC | Switch between open applications on Task Manager |
Alt+Spacebar | Open the control menu window for the currently open program |
Shift+Delete | Delete any file permanently |
Windows logo key | |
Windows logo key+L | Lock the PC |
Windows logo key+D | Display and hide the desktop |
Windows logo key+E | Open Microsoft Windows Explorer |
Windows logo key+F | Display the Windows Search or Find feature |
Windows logo key+Ctrl+F | Display the search for computer window |
Windows logo key+M | Minimize all windows |
Windows logo key+Shift+M | Undo the minimize done by Windows logo key+M |
Windows logo key+R | Open the Run window |
Windows logo key+U | Open Utility Manager or the Ease of Access Center |
Windows logo key+Tab | Cycle through open programs on the Taskbar |
Mac OS Basic Shortcuts
Cmd+-(minus sign) | Zoom out |
Cmd++(plus sign) | Zoom in |
Cmd+A | Select all text and objects |
Cmd+B | Change selected text to boldface |
Cmd+C | Copy |
Cmd+Down | Open the selected icon |
Cmd+down arrow | move to the end of a document or web pages |
Cmd+E | Eject |
Cmd+F | Display the Find dialog box |
Cmd+F3 | Switch to the desktop |
Cmd+G | Repeat the last find operation |
Cmd+H | Hide Outlook |
Cmd+I | Italicize the selcted text |
Cmd+K | Preferences (General) |
Cmd+L | Make alias |
Cmd+M | Minimize the active window |
Cmd+N | New finder window |
Cmd+O | Open the selected icon |
Cmd+Option+Delete | Completely delete a file |
Cmd+Option+Esc | Force Quite |
Cmd+Option+R | Minimize or expand the ribbon |
Cmd+Option+W | Close all the windows in the currently active app |
Cmd+P | Open the Print dialog window |
Cmd+Q | Quit any Mac program |
Cmd+R | Show orginal item |
Cmd+S | Save a file or a document |
Cmd+Shift+4 | Make a screenshot |
Cmd+Shift+Control+4 | Copy-paste a screenshot |
Cmd+Shift+Ctrl+3 | Capture screenshot of current screen and save to the clipboard |
Cmd+Shift+G | Take a snapshot of the screen and saves it to a PICT file |
Cmd+Shift+N | New folder |
Cmd+Shift+P | Open the Page setup window, to change document parameters |
Cmd+Shift+T | Open the most recently closed tab |
Cmd+Shift+Up arrow | Direct the input focus to the desktop level |
Cmd+Shift+Z | Redo |
Cmd+Space bar | Launch spotlight |
Cmd+T | Open a new tab |
Cmd+Tab | switch between open programs |
Cmd+U | Underline the selected text |
Cmd+Up arrow | move to the beginning of a document or web pages |
Cmd+V | Paste item from the clipboard |
Cmd+W | Close the current window |
Cmd+X | Cut the selected item |
Cmd+Y | redo the undo |
Cmd+Z | Undo any change |
F1 or Cmd+? | Help |
Shift+Tab | Highlight the previous icon inside the folder, in alphabetical order |
Know some normal symbols on Mac keyboard


Velocifire M87 Mac mechanical keyboard is designed for Mac OS users. The identical layout is super friendly to Mac OS users. No more remapping or compatibility problem. It helps save the time of changing keycaps or remapping the system.
Special Characters of Mac OS shortcut keys
‘ | Option ] |
’ | Option Shift ] |
“ | Option [ |
” | Option Shift ] |
– | |
— | Option- |
—— | Option Shift- |
… | Option ; |
° | Option Shift 8 |
. | Option 8 |
· | Option Shift 9 |
© | Option G |
™ | Option 2 |
¢ | Option Shift 2 |
¥ | Option Y |
® | Option R |
¢ | Option $ |
£ | Option 3 |
¡ | Option 1 |
¿ | Option Shift ? |
/ | Option Shift ! |
fi | Option Shift 5 |
fl | Option Shift 6 |
Special Characters of Windows OS Shortcut Keys
‘ | Alt 0145 |
’ | Alt 0146 |
“ | Alt 0147 |
” | Alt 0148 |
– | |
— | Alt 0150 |
—— | Alt 0151 |
… | Alt 0133 |
° | Alt 248 |
. | Alt 0149 |
· | Alt 250 |
© | Alt 0169 |
™ | Alt 0153 |
¢ | Alt 0128 |
¥ | Alt 157 |
® | Alt 0174 |
¢ | Alt 155 |
£ | Alt 156 |
¡ | Alt 173 |
¿ | Alt 168 |
If you can remember these general shortcuts and apply them proficiently, it could be one fast and easy way to improve your productivity. You are welcome to add more useful shortcuts in the comments. Look forward to learning more.