When a user lands on Mac, surely some things squeak a lot. This occurs especially when it comes from Windows where for example the keyboard is very different, since on Mac we have the ‘Command’ or ‘Option’ keys. In this article we are going to investigate a bit about the ‘Shift’ and ‘Option’ keys and the utilities that they may have.
Where are the ‘Option’ and ‘Shift’ keys
If we want to be as efficient as possible with our Mac we must get used to using the different fast functions that we have in the operating system. To do this you have to familiarize yourself with some keys such as Shift and Option that are tremendously useful in the day to day.
If you are new to Mac and come from Windows the first thing you will see is that there is no ‘Alt’ key. Actually, it is included but it is not called ‘Alt’ but ‘Option’ . Two of these keys are included on the Apple keyboard, one at the bottom left and one next to the direction arrows.
The ‘Shift’ key is the one that we find in some Windows as ‘Shift’. Apple represents this key as an upward pointing arrow under the Caps Lock / Unlock.
Quick functions with ‘Shift’
At first we can think that the ‘shift’ key only has the function of making a capital word while we are pressing it, but it goes much further. It is true that the ‘Command’ key has a clear role in macOS to carry out most everyday functions such as copy and paste. But the truth is that it goes much further, having quick functions in combination with the Alt key. For example, in document editing we can use the Shift key to be able to select specific text following the following commands:
- Shift-Up Arrow : Extend the text selection to the closest character located in the same horizontal location on the top line.
- Shift-Down Arrow : Extend the text selection to the nearest character located in the same horizontal location on the bottom line.
- Shift-Left Arrow : Extend text selection one character to the left.
- Shift-Right Arrow : Extend text selection one character to the right.
But together with the ‘Command’ key we can have many other options available within the operating system, such as opening ‘Go to folder …’, or opening the AirDrop window among many other possibilities. Among these we can highlight the following:
- Shift-Command-C : Open the Team window.
- Shift-Command-D : Open the Desktop folder.
- Shift-Command-F : open the Recent window, where you can see all the files that you have recently opened or modified.
- Shift-Command-G : Open Go To Folder window.
- Shift-Command-H : Open the home folder of the active macOS user account.
- Shift-Command-I : Open iCloud Drive.
- Shift-Command-K : Open the Network window.
- Shift-Command-L : Open the Downloads folder.
- Shift-Command-N : create a folder.
- Shift-Command-O : Open the Documents folder.
- Shift-Command-P : Show or hide the preview pane in Finder windows.
- Shift-Command-R : Open AirDrop window.
- Shift-Command-T : Show or hide the tab bar in Finder windows.
- Shift-Shift-Command-T : Add the selected Finder item to the Dock (OS X Mavericks or a later version).
- Shift-Command-U : Open the Utilities folder.
- Shift-Command-D : show or hide the Dock.
- Shift-Command-T : Add the selected item to the sidebar (OS X Mavericks or a later version).
- Shift-Command-P : Hide or show the path bar in Finder windows.
- Shift-Command-S : Hide or show the sidebar of Finder windows.
- Shift-Command-N : create a new folder in the Finder.
Quick functions with ‘Option’
With the ‘Option’ key we find fewer interesting quick functions that you can use in your operating system.
- Option + Command + Esc : Force close an app.
- Option + Command + Power Button: Put Mac to sleep.
- Option + Command + L : open the Downloads folder.
- Option + Command + D : show or hide the Dock.
- Option + Command + P : hide or show path bar in Finder windows.
- Option + Command + S : Hide or show the sidebar in Finder windows.
- Option + Command + N : create a new smart folder.
- Option + Command + T : Show or hide the toolbar when a single tab is open in the current Finder window.
- Option + Command + V : move the files placed on the clipboard from their original location to the current location.
- Option + Command + Y : View a Quick View presentation of the selected files.
- Option + Shift + Command + Delete : empty the trash without confirmation dialog box.
As you can see, having a knowledge of all these commands will save us a lot of time when working with our Mac in documents or simply to move in the Finder or in general by the system.