Mac Keyboard Shortcuts and VoiceOver Guide

These keyboard shortcuts and VoiceOver commands will help you navigate your Mac efficiently. Most have been tested and verified to work.

For complete documentation, visit: http://www.apple.com/support/tiger/voiceover

Essential Keys to Know

Command Key: Located next to the space bar (left and right)
Option Key: Middle key to the left and right of the space bar
Control Key: Third key from the left and right of the space bar

VoiceOver Basics

Turn VoiceOver on/off: Command-F5

Open VoiceOver Utility: Control-Option-F8

Open VoiceOver Menu: Control-Option-F7

VoiceOver Commands Help: Control-Option-?

Toggle VoiceOver Control-Option Lock: Control-Option-;

Folder and Window Navigation

Changing Folder Views

Switch between different views to see what works best for you. (Note: These don’t work on the desktop.)

Icon View: Command-1

List View: Command-2

Column View: Command-3

Opening and Managing Windows

Open Applications Folder: Command-Shift-A

Open Application Menus: Control-F2 or Control-Option-M

Open Application/Folder/Dock Item: Command-O

Open New Window: Command-N

Cycle Through Open Windows: Command-~ (tilde)

Close Window: Command-W

Close Application: Command-Q

Close All Windows: Option-Command-W

Interacting with Elements

Links and Buttons

Position VoiceOver cursor on the link: Control-Option-F3

Activate with: Control-Option-Spacebar (or Enter in some cases)

Button Information

Get Help Tags: Control-Option-H

Checkboxes

Toggle On/Off: Control-Option-Spacebar (if that doesn’t work, try just Spacebar)

Context Menu (Right Click)

Control-Click with mouse

5 on number pad (if Mouse Keys enabled)

Command-Option-Shift-M

Navigation Shortcuts

Go to Dock: Control-Option-D

Go to Desktop: Control-Option-Shift-D

Full Keyboard Access: Control-F1

Move Mouse Cursor to VoiceOver Cursor: Control-Option-Command-F5

Click Mouse: Control-Option-Spacebar

Interacting with Text

Start Interacting: Control-Option-Shift-Down Arrow

Stop Interacting: Control-Option-Shift-Up Arrow

Make Plain Text: Command-Shift-T

Reading Text with VoiceOver

Note: If you haven’t started interacting with a document, Control-Option-A reads the entire document. If you are interacting, it reads from the VoiceOver cursor to the bottom.

Read Everything: Control-Option-A

Read Character: Control-Option-C (press twice for phonetic)

Read Word: Control-Option-W (press twice to spell, three times for phonetic spelling)

Read Line: Control-Option-L

Read Sentence: Control-Option-S

Read Paragraph: Control-Option-P

Moving While Reading

Next/Previous Character: Control-Option-Shift-Right/Left Arrow

Next/Previous Word: Control-Option-Right/Left Arrow

Next/Previous Line: Control-Option-Up/Down Arrow

Next/Previous Sentence: Control-Option-Page Up/Down

Next/Previous Paragraph: Control-Option-Shift-Page Up/Down

Safari and Web Browsing

Basic Navigation

Open URL: Command-L

Add to Bookmarks: Command-D

Back to Previous Page: Command-Left Arrow

Forward: Command-Right Arrow (Command-Left/Right Bracket also works)

Open New Window: Command-N

Build Items List: Command-Shift-I

Moving Around Websites

When you hear “HTML,” interact with it using Control-Option-Shift-Down Arrow. Then move from link to link or search for text by typing a few letters of what you’re looking for.

Enabling Tab Navigation

Open Menus: Control-Option-M or Control-F2

Right arrow to Safari

Down arrow to Preferences, press Enter

Tab to Advanced button, press Spacebar

Tab to “Press Tab to highlight each item on webpage”

Check that box

Sending a Website Link by Email

While viewing a page, press Command-Shift-I. This opens Mail with the link in the message body. Just add the email address and subject line.

Mail Commands

Navigation

Jump to Message Text: Control-Option-J

Move to Top of Message: Control-Option-Home

Move to Bottom of Message: Control-Option-End

Interact with Scroll Bars: Control-Option-S (use Escape to stop, arrow keys to scroll)

Message Actions

Get New Mail: Command-Shift-N

New Message: Command-N

Reply: Command-R

Reply to All: Command-Shift-R

Forward: Command-Shift-F

Send: Command-Shift-D

Send Again: Command-Shift-D

Bounce: Command-Shift-B

Select All: Command-A

Paste in Matched Style: Command-Shift-Option-V

Message Management

Add Sender to Address Book: Command-Y

Close Window: Command-W

Show Long Headers: Command-Shift-H

Show Source: Command-Option-U

Read Embedded Text (Make Plain Text): Command-Option-P

File Management

Finder Commands

New Finder Window: Command-N

New Folder: Shift-Command-N

Get Info: Command-I

Duplicate: Command-D

Make Alias: Command-L

Show Original: Command-R

Move to Trash: Command-Delete

Empty Trash: Shift-Command-Delete

Empty Trash Without Dialog: Option-Shift-Command-Delete

Eject: Command-E

Find: Command-F

Folder Navigation (List View)

Expand Folder: Command-Right Arrow

Expand Folder and Subfolders: Option-Command-Right Arrow

Collapse Folder: Command-Left Arrow

Open Parent Folder and Close Current: Option-Command-Up Arrow

Go Menu Shortcuts

Back: Command-Left Bracket

Forward: Command-Right Bracket

Computer: Shift-Command-C

Home: Shift-Command-H

iDisk: Shift-Command-I

Applications: Shift-Command-A

Favorites: Shift-Command-F

Go to Folder: Shift-Command-G

Connect to Server: Command-K

Edit Menu Basics

Undo: Command-Z

Cut: Command-X

Copy: Command-C

Paste: Command-V

Select All: Command-A

Universal Access and Zoom

Turn On Zoom: Option-Command-* (asterisk)

Zoom In: Option-Command-+

Zoom Out: Option-Command–

Switch to White on Black: Control-Option-Command-*

Mouse Keys

Enable Mouse Keys in Universal Access preferences to use the numeric keypad as a mouse.

Move Up: 8

Move Down: 2

Move Left: 4

Move Right: 6

Move Diagonally: 1, 3, 7, 9

Press Mouse Button: 5

Hold Mouse Button: 0

Release Mouse Button: . (period on keypad, after pressing 0)

Other Useful Commands

Show/Hide Dock: Option-Command-D

Switch Applications: Command-Tab

Keyboard Practice: Command-K

VoiceOver Cursor to Keyboard Cursor: Command-F4

Open Spotlight: Command-Space

Force Quit: Option-Command-Esc

Take Screenshot: Command-Shift-3

Take Screenshot of Selection: Command-Shift-4

Take Screenshot of Window: Command-Shift-4, then Spacebar

Shutdown Dialog: Control-Eject

Sleep: Option-Command-Eject or Option-Command-Power

Apple Menu

Log Out: Shift-Command-Q

Log Out Immediately: Shift-Option-Command-Q

Window Management

Minimize Window: Command-M

Minimize All Windows: Option-Command-M

Cycle Through Windows: Command-` (backtick)

These notes represent tested shortcuts and commands. For the most current information, check Apple’s official support documentation.

Have questions? Contact Keith Reedy at wa9dro@joink.com

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**Disclaimer:** This guide is volunteer-submitted and provided "as is" without warranty. Use caution and verify all information before proceeding. "I Can Work This Thing" assumes no responsibility for accuracy, safety, or any damage/injury resulting from use. For complex or dangerous procedures, consult qualified professionals. Report issues or suggestions to https://icanworkthisthing.com
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