The right keyboard shortcuts can save you much of your time. Here are some basic and more advanced shortcuts you can use if you own a mac keyboard.
Basic tricks:
Cmd+Z: Undo
Maybe the most frequently used keyboard shortcut is Cmd+Z. It undoes your last action and works across multiple programs, so whether you've accidentally deleted a file, applied an image filter you don't like, or erased pages of important textfiles you can use this shortcut to retrieve it back.
Cmd+W: Close
Cmd+W is for closing
any window or file you have open. It works for almost anything, from open documents to browser tabs. Great when you need to close down a lot of windows, images, or anything else quickly. This shortcut saves you alot of time and clicking.
Cmd+Q: Quit apps
When you click the red "x" in the top-left corner of an application window, macOS won't actually close the program completely but it will minimize the app to the dock. Because it leaves programs running, it can really slow down your processor speed. To avoid this you can use this keyboard shortcut.
Cmd+F: Search
By using this shortcut: in your browser, you can search the current webpage; in Finder, you search the contents of your hard drive; in iTunes, you search your music library or the store; you can start a search from about anywhere by hitting Cmd+F.
Return: Rename
When busy with renaming files, this shortcut is great. Once you've selected the file in Finder, you hit the Return key, type out the new name, and hit Return again when you've finished. Then move on to the next file by moving the cursor.
Advanced tricks:
Cmd+Space: Launch Siri
The Siri feature (Apple's smart assistent) can be used by the Cmd+Space shortcut. You need to press and hold these keys to access it. When Siri launches, you can voice a variety of commands, from searching local files to preparing for the day's weather.
Cmd+Opt+Delete: Immediately delete a file
To make sure a file is securely gone, or prevent the Trash folder from taking up too much hard drive space, hit Cmd+Opt+Delete to immediately delete a file indefinitly.
Cmd+Opt+3: Take a screenshot
Hit Cmd+Opt+3 to save your entire screen as a PNG file on the desktop. Use Cmd+Opt+4, to draw a rectangle over an area to screenshot just that specific region. And you can hit Cmd+Opt+4 and then press the space bar before clicking on a window for a shot of that window on its own.
Cmd+Opt+Esc: Force quit applications
The Cmd+Opt+Esc shortcut will bring up the Force Quit dialogue box, with a list of currently running programs. Select the problematic app and hit Force quit. To skip the dialogue box and immediately shut down the program you're currently using, press Shift+Cmd+Opt+Esc.
Cmd+comma: Open preferences
Press Cmd+comma to open the Preferences pane for whatever program you're using.
Improved navigation tricks:
Cmd+number: Change the Finder view
Cmd+1 lets you view each file as an icon, Cmd+2 as a list, Cmd+3 shows the contents of a set of folders as a series of columns, and Cmd+4 gives you the cover flow perspective. The arrow keys will let you navigate through lists, columns, and files.
Cmd+H: Hide applications
Cmd+H hides all the open windows of the application you currently are using, and switches the foremost application to the most recent one. By adding the Option key you can achieve the opposite effect: Cmd+Opt+H hides all the open windows of all the open applications, except the one you're using right now.
Cmd+Tab: Switch apps
A quick tap on the Cmd+Tab keyboardshortcut will switch you from your currently-foremost app to the app you were using immediately before; another tap will take you back again. Hold down the Cmd key even after you press Tab, and you'll see icons for all your open apps: Hit Tab to cycle through them.
Space: Quick Look
The Quick Look shortcut is perfect for looking at a series of images or other files without fully opening them in an application. Select the file you want to preview in Finder and hit Space. To close this view, tap Space one more time. Also it is possible to select a list of several files and press Cmd+Opt+Y to access a Quick Look slideshow.
Cmd+Opt+D: Show or hide the dock
Quickly hide it from view, by hitting Cmd+Opt+D. Press the shortcut again to reveal the dock once more. If you prefer the dock-free look, go to System Preferences, where the Dock entry lets you automatically hide it when not in use.
