Most Mac users are only scratching the surface of what their keyboard can do. Sure, we all know the classics — Command + C to copy, Command + V to paste.
But beyond those basics, there’s a treasure trove of lesser-known shortcuts hiding in plain sight, just waiting to make your day smoother, faster, and way more productive.
I’ve rounded up 20 of my favorite underrated Mac keyboard shortcuts. These are shortcuts I use daily that have saved me hours over the years. Once you get them under your fingers, there’s no going back.
Fn + Delete
Let’s start with something small but mighty. On most Macs, the Delete key only removes characters behind the cursor. But hold Fn and press Delete, and boom — now you’re deleting forward, like on a PC. Super useful when cleaning up typos or editing text quickly.
Option + Arrow Keys
Move the cursor word-by-word instead of letter-by-letter. It might not seem like much, but it speeds up editing a lot once you get used to it.
Option + Shift + Arrow Keys
This one builds on the previous shortcut. Want to highlight entire words instead of individual letters? Just add Shift. It’s a game-changer for quickly selecting and formatting chunks of text.
Command + Shift + Arrow Keys
Need to select from your cursor to the end or beginning of a line or paragraph? This shortcut is your best friend when dealing with long-form writing, code, or notes.
Command + K
Dropping a link into an email or document? Instead of hunting for the hyperlink button, press Command + K and paste away.
Command + Number Keys (1–9)
If you’re like me and keep too many tabs open in your browser, this shortcut is gold. Command + 1 jumps to your first tab, Command + 2 to your second, and so on.
Command + Shift + [ or ]
Don’t feel like memorizing tab positions? Just cycle through them one by one. This combo moves you left or right through open tabs without lifting your hands from the keyboard.
Command + L
Navigating in Safari or Chrome? Hit Command + L and your cursor jumps straight to the address bar, ready for a new URL or search.
Command + ~ (tilde)
Switching between multiple windows of the same app (like two Safari windows)? This shortcut toggles between them quickly — no clicking required.
Command + H
Too many windows cluttering your screen? Press Command + H to instantly hide the current app. It’s like sweeping everything off your desk with one swipe.
Command + Option + W
Want to declutter your browser without losing the tab you’re working on? This closes all other tabs except the one you’re in. Clean, fast, focused.
Command + Shift + 4
This is the one I use constantly. It lets you capture a specific area of your screen — no cropping necessary. Tap the spacebar after hitting this shortcut, and it even lets you screenshot a specific window.
Command + Shift + 5
Want more options? This shortcut brings up the full screenshot and screen recording menu. Perfect for tutorials, demos, or just grabbing what you need.
Command + Shift + Tab
You probably know Command + Tab switches between open apps. But if you want to go in reverse? Just add Shift. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference when multitasking.
Command + Option + C (in Preview)
If you work with images in Preview, this shortcut opens the color adjustment window. You can tweak brightness, contrast, saturation, and more — all without opening a heavier photo editor.
Command + , (comma)
Almost every Mac app uses this shortcut to open Preferences. No more digging through menus to find settings — just hit Command + , and you’re there.
Command + Shift + K (in Preview)
Got an image with a distracting background? If you’re running macOS Ventura or later, this shortcut removes the background in one click. It feels like magic — and it’s built right into Preview.
Command + O (in Preview)
Here’s a neat trick: if you already have Preview open, you can use this shortcut to open another file in the same window. It keeps things tidy and makes switching between documents easier.
Command + R (in Preview)
Rotating a photo or scanned document? Don’t bother with the mouse. Command + R rotates your image clockwise instantly.
Command + 0 (zero)
Ever zoomed way in on a web page and couldn’t get it back to normal? This shortcut resets the zoom to its default setting, saving you from having to manually guess the right level.
Wrap Up
The beauty of these shortcuts is how they quietly make you faster and more efficient, without disrupting your workflow.
They’re not flashy, but once you start using them, you’ll catch yourself wondering why no one told you about them sooner.
Try a few out this week. Just one or two can noticeably speed up your day. And if you’ve got a favorite shortcut that’s not on the list, I’d love to hear about it.
