Apple Finder Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac: The Complete List
Finder is the default file manager on macOS the blue smiling-face icon in your Dock that you use to browse, open, and organize every file and folder on your Mac. Learning its keyboard shortcuts lets you navigate files, switch views, and manage the Trash without ever reaching for the mouse.
The most-used Finder shortcut is Command + N (open a new Finder window), followed by Space bar (preview any file with Quick Look) and Command + Delete (move an item to the Trash). Below is the complete, verified list of every Finder keyboard shortcut, organized by task.
Key takeaways:
- macOS includes 70+ built-in Finder keyboard shortcuts across navigation, view, file management, and Trash.
- You only need four modifier keys: ⌘ Command, ⌥ Option, ⇧ Shift, and ⌃ Control.
- The same shortcuts work on a Windows keyboard just swap Alt for Option and Ctrl or the Windows key for Command.
- A free printable PDF cheat sheet is available at the end of this guide.
How to Use Finder Keyboard Shortcuts
To use a Finder shortcut, press and hold the modifier key(s) first, then tap the final key, and release everything together. For example, to open a new folder you hold Command and Shift, then press N.
Finder shortcuts rely on four modifier keys, shown in menus as symbols:
| Symbol | Key | On a Windows keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘ | Command | Ctrl or Windows key |
| ⌥ | Option | Alt |
| ⇧ | Shift | Shift |
| ^ | Control | Ctrl |
Most shortcuts only work when Finder is the active app click your desktop or any Finder window first. A few, like Command + Space bar (Spotlight) and Option + Command + D (show/hide the Dock), work system-wide.
Essential Finder Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open a new Finder window | Command + N |
| Open a new Finder tab | Command + T |
| Preview selected item (Quick Look) | Space bar |
| Quick Look slideshow of selected files | Option + Command + Y |
| Get Info on a selected file | Command + I |
| Copy selected files | Command + C |
| Paste files | Command + V |
| Move files (instead of copy/paste) | Option + Command + V |
| Duplicate selected files | Command + D |
| Undo last action | Command + Z |
| Redo | Shift + Command + Z |
| Select all items | Command + A |
| Start a Spotlight search in Finder | Command + F |
Navigation Shortcuts (Folders & Windows)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open the folder that contains the current folder | Command + Up Arrow |
| Open the parent folder in a new window | Control + Command + Up Arrow |
| Open the selected item | Command + Down Arrow |
| Open the selected folder (list view only) | Right Arrow |
| Close the selected folder (list view only) | Left Arrow |
| Go to the previous folder | Command + [ |
| Go to the next folder | Command + ] |
| Open a Go to Folder window | Shift + Command + G |
| See folders that contain the current folder | Command + click the window title |
| Open the Computer window | Shift + Command + C |
| Open the Home folder | Shift + Command + H |
| Open the Desktop folder | Shift + Command + D |
| Open the Documents folder | Shift + Command + O |
| Open the Downloads folder | Option + Command + L |
| Open the Utilities folder | Shift + Command + U |
| Open the Recents window | Shift + Command + F |
| Open iCloud Drive | Shift + Command + I |
| Open the Network window | Shift + Command + K |
| Open the AirDrop window | Shift + Command + R |
| Open the Connect to Server window | Command + K |
View Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| View as icons | Command + 1 |
| View as list | Command + 2 |
| View as columns | Command + 3 |
| View as gallery | Command + 4 |
| Show View Options | Command + J |
| Show or hide the tab bar (single tab open) | Command + T |
| Show or hide a Finder tab | Shift + Command + T |
| Show or hide the toolbar (single tab open) | Option + Command + T |
| Show or hide the Preview pane | Shift + Command + P |
| Hide or show the path bar | Option + Command + P |
| Hide or show the Sidebar | Option + Command + S |
| Hide or show the status bar | Command + / |
| Show or hide the Dock | Option + Command + D |
| Open all folders within a selected folder (list view) | Option + click a disclosure triangle |
File Management & Editing Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a new folder | Shift + Command + N |
| Create a new folder from the selected items | Control + Command + N |
| Create a new Smart Folder | Option + Command + N |
| Make an alias of the selected item | Control + Command + A |
| Show the original file for a selected alias | Command + R |
| Eject the selected disk or volume | Command + E |
| Add the selected item to the sidebar | Control + Command + T |
| Add the selected Finder item to the Dock | Control + Shift + Command + T |
| Open a folder in a separate tab or window | Command + double-click |
| Open an item in a separate window, then close the original | Option + double-click |
| Copy a dragged item | Option + drag |
| Move a dragged item to another volume | Command + drag to that volume |
| Make an alias of a dragged item | Option + Command + drag |
Trash & Cleanup Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move the selected item to the Trash | Command + Delete |
| Empty the Trash | Shift + Command + Delete |
| Empty the Trash without the confirmation dialog | Option + Shift + Command + Delete |
Spotlight & System Shortcuts (work from Finder)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Show or hide the Spotlight search field | Command + Space bar |
| Perform a Spotlight search from a Finder window | Option + Command + Space bar |
| Show the Character Viewer (emoji & symbols) | Control + Command + Space bar |
| Force quit an app | Option + Command + Esc |
| Take a screenshot / screen recording | Shift + Command + 5 |
| Open Sound settings (works with any volume key) | Option + Volume Up |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the keyboard shortcut to open Finder on a Mac?
Finder is always running, so there’s no single shortcut to launch it. To bring it to the front, press Command + Tab to switch apps until Finder is selected, or click the Finder icon in the Dock. To open a new Finder window once it’s active, press Command + N.
How do I open a new Finder window?
Press Command + N. To open a new tab inside the current window instead, press Command + T.
What is the shortcut to preview a file in Finder?
Select the file and press the Space bar to open Quick Look. Press Space again to close it. To view several selected files as a slideshow, press Option + Command + Y.
How do I empty the Trash with a keyboard shortcut?
Press Shift + Command + Delete to empty the Trash, or Option + Shift + Command + Delete to empty it without the confirmation dialog.
How do I move a file instead of copy it in Finder?
Copy the file with Command + C, go to the destination folder, then press Option + Command + V. This moves the file rather than leaving a copy behind.
What is the shortcut for Get Info in Finder?
Select an item and press Command + I to open its Get Info window with size, type, permissions, and other details.
How do I search for a file in Finder?
Press Command + F to start a Spotlight search inside the active Finder window, or Command + Space bar to open Spotlight system-wide.
Do Finder shortcuts work on a Windows keyboard?
Yes. Use the Alt key in place of Option, and the Ctrl key or Windows key in place of Command. The rest of each shortcut stays the same.
How do I create a new folder in Finder?
Press Shift + Command + N. To create a folder that already contains your selected files, press Control + Command + N.
What replaced Cover Flow view in Finder?
Apple removed Cover Flow in macOS Mojave (2018). Command + 4 now switches to Gallery view, which shows a large preview of the selected file above a row of thumbnails.
Master Finder and Work Faster on Your Mac
Finder is one of the most-used apps on any Mac, so even a handful of these shortcuts will add up to real time saved over a week. Start with the essentials Command + N for a new window, Space bar for Quick Look, and Command + Delete to clear out files then add the navigation and view shortcuts as they become second nature.
Keep this page bookmarked as your reference, or grab the printable version above to keep next to your keyboard. All shortcuts here are verified against Apple’s official macOS documentation and tested on macOS Sequoia.
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