Keyboard Shortcuts Guide (Windows & Mac)
Every shortcut for copy/paste, browsers, Word & Excel — Windows & Mac side by side.
A free, searchable keyboard shortcuts guide covering copy/cut/paste & undo, text editing and navigation, window and desktop management, browser shortcuts (Chrome, Edge & Firefox), File Explorer & Finder, screenshots and screen recording, task switching and system shortcuts, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel — every shortcut shown for Windows AND Mac side by side with clear key-cap visuals, so you never have to guess the other OS's equivalent. Search “copy”, “screenshot” or “new tab” to jump straight to it. Runs fully in your browser, no sign-up, no API.
About Keyboard Shortcuts Guide (Windows & Mac)
- Every shortcut shown for Windows and Mac side by side — no more guessing the other OS's key.
- Covers editing, browsers, window management, screenshots, File Explorer/Finder, Word and Excel.
- Instant search — type “copy”, “screenshot” or “new tab” to jump straight to it.
- Clear key-cap visuals for every combo, so a shortcut is easy to read at a glance.
- 100% free reference — no sign-up, no download, runs entirely in your browser.
- Bookmark this page — it's the fastest way to look up any shortcut you forget.
Keyboard Shortcuts Guide (Windows & Mac) features
- Every shortcut shown for Windows AND Mac side by side — no guessing the other OS's key
- Covers copy/cut/paste & undo, text editing, window & desktop management, screenshots and task switching
- Browser shortcuts for Chrome, Edge & Firefox, plus File Explorer / Finder
- Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel shortcut sections
- Clear key-cap visuals for every combination
- Instant search — type "copy", "screenshot" or "new tab" to jump straight to it
- 100% free, no sign-up, no API — runs fully in your browser
Best practices
Shift + Click and Ctrl + Click both select multiple things
Click the first item, then Shift + Click a second one to select every item in between. Ctrl + Click (⌘ + Click on Mac) instead adds or removes single items from your selection one at a time — combine both to build any selection quickly.
The middle mouse button opens links in a new tab
Clicking a link with your mouse wheel (or Ctrl + Click / ⌘ + Click) opens it in a background tab instantly, without needing a right-click menu.
Most Ctrl shortcuts also have a Windows-key taskbar version
Win + 1, Win + 2, Win + 3 and so on switch instantly to whichever app is pinned in that position on your taskbar — faster than Alt + Tab if you know the order.
Holding Shift constrains a resize on Mac
In many Mac apps, holding Shift while resizing or rotating locks it to fixed steps or proportions, which is handy in image editors and design tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mac equivalent of Ctrl on Windows?
The Mac Command key (⌘) takes the place of Ctrl for almost every everyday shortcut — Ctrl + C becomes ⌘ + C, Ctrl + Z becomes ⌘ + Z, Ctrl + S becomes ⌘ + S, and so on. Windows Alt maps to Mac Option in the same way.
How do I take a screenshot on Windows?
Press Win + Shift + S to drag-select a specific area (opens the Snipping Tool), or Win + PrtScn to capture the whole screen straight to a file in your Pictures > Screenshots folder.
How do I take a screenshot on a Mac?
Press ⌘ + Shift + 3 to capture the whole screen, or ⌘ + Shift + 4 to drag-select a specific area. Add Space after ⌘ + Shift + 4 and click a window to capture just that window. Screenshots save to your Desktop by default.
What does the Windows key do?
The Windows key (⊞) opens the Start menu on its own, and combines with other keys for system shortcuts — Win + D shows the desktop, Win + L locks your screen, Win + E opens File Explorer, and Win + Shift + S takes a screenshot.
How do I switch between open windows using the keyboard?
On Windows, hold Alt and press Tab to see every open window, then release Alt on the one you want. On Mac, hold ⌘ and press Tab instead. Keep holding the modifier key and tap Tab repeatedly to cycle through them.
Is Ctrl + Alt + Delete the same on Mac?
Not exactly. Windows uses Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open the security/task screen. The closest Mac equivalent is ⌘ + Option + Esc, which opens the Force Quit Applications window to close an app that has stopped responding.
What is the keyboard shortcut to copy and paste?
Copy is Ctrl + C on Windows or ⌘ + C on Mac. Paste is Ctrl + V on Windows or ⌘ + V on Mac. Cut (copy and remove) is Ctrl + X on Windows or ⌘ + X on Mac.
How do I close a tab or window with the keyboard?
Ctrl + W (Windows) or ⌘ + W (Mac) closes just the current tab or window. Alt + F4 (Windows) or ⌘ + Q (Mac) closes the entire app. If you close a browser tab by accident, reopen it instantly with Ctrl + Shift + T or ⌘ + Shift + T.
What is the shortcut for undo and redo?
Undo is Ctrl + Z on Windows or ⌘ + Z on Mac in almost every app. Redo is usually Ctrl + Y on Windows and ⌘ + Shift + Z on Mac.
Do these shortcuts work on a laptop without a numpad?
Yes — none of the shortcuts on this page need a numeric keypad. They all use the main keyboard: letter keys, the top-row symbol keys, and the modifier keys (Ctrl/⌘, Alt/Option, Shift).
Is this keyboard shortcuts guide free to use?
Yes — it is 100% free with no sign-up, no login and no limits. The whole guide runs in your browser, so you can search, read and bookmark it without creating an account or installing anything.
How do I find a specific shortcut quickly on this page?
Use the search box at the top and type what you're trying to do — like “copy”, “screenshot”, “new tab” or “switch window” — and every matching shortcut across every category appears instantly. You can also use the “Jump to section” dropdown to go straight to a category.
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