How shortcuts are written
The help writes each shortcut the way your keyboard labels it.
| Written | On a Mac | On Windows and Linux |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘SCtrl+S | Command (⌘) and S | Ctrl and S |
| ⌃⇧FCtrl+Shift+F | Control (⌃), Shift (⇧) and F | Ctrl, Shift and F |
| ⌥←Alt+← | Option (⌥) and ← | Alt and ← |
| DeleteBackspace | the Delete key | Backspace |
| fn DeleteDelete | fn and Delete (forward delete) | Delete |
| ReturnEnter | Return | Enter |
A plus sign means hold the keys together. "Then" means press one after the other.
Most app shortcuts accept either Command or Control on a Mac, so ⌘ZCtrl+Z works both ways. A few, such as full screen (⌃⇧FCtrl+Shift+F), use the Control key on every computer; the help says so where that applies.
Function keys on a Mac
On most Mac keyboards the top row changes brightness, volume and media. To send F1 to F12:
- hold fn (or the globe key) while you press the key, or
- open System Settings, then Keyboard, then Keyboard Shortcuts, then Function Keys, and turn on "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys".
Some F-keys are also claimed by macOS itself (for example Mission Control). If a key does nothing in the app, try it with fn, or use the toolbar button instead.
Shortcuts the browser keeps
A web page cannot take some shortcuts from the browser, whatever it does. In every app:
- ⌘NCtrl+N, ⌘TCtrl+T and ⌘WCtrl+W always open or close browser windows and tabs. The apps use buttons for New and Close instead.
- ⌘QCtrl+Q on a Mac and ⌥ F4Alt+F4 on Windows quit the browser. If you have unsaved work, the browser asks first ("Leave site?"); choose to stay, then save.
- The browser's own full screen (Control-Command-F, or the green button on the window / F11) still works. The apps also have their own screen modes on ⌃⇧FCtrl+Shift+F, which can hide the app's bars too.
Mouse buttons on a trackpad
The apps use the right button and the middle button. Without a three-button mouse:
Mac
- Right-click: click with two fingers. Turn on "Secondary click" in System Settings, then Trackpad, if two-finger click does nothing. Holding ⌃Ctrl while you click opens the browser's menu, but inside a drawing some apps read it as an ordinary click (with Control held), so prefer the two-finger click.
- Middle-button drag (pan): each app offers another way to pan, such as holding SpaceSpace while you drag or dragging with the right button. The app's keyboard page says which.
- Wheel zoom: two-finger scroll on the trackpad zooms in most apps. Pinch also zooms where the app supports it.
Windows or Linux
- Right-click: click with two fingers, or click the lower-right corner of the touchpad. This depends on your touchpad settings.
- Middle-button drag (pan): each app offers another way to pan, such as holding SpaceSpace while you drag or dragging with the right button. The app's keyboard page says which.
- Wheel zoom: two-finger scroll on the touchpad zooms in most apps.
Typing in a text box
While you type in a box (a name, a note, a search), the app's one-letter shortcuts are off, so typing "L" types an L. Press EscEsc or click on the drawing to give the keys back to the app.