What's the difference between Ctrl on Windows and Cmd on Mac?

They sit in similar positions and serve as primary modifiers (Ctrl+C vs Cmd+C). Cmd reports as Meta in web APIs, while Mac Control (⌃) is used for system operations.

How do I take a screenshot with a shortcut?

On Windows, press Win+Shift+S (Snipping Tool). On macOS, press Cmd+Shift+4 for selective capture or Cmd+Shift+3 for full screen.

What is the shortcut to reopen closed browser tabs?

Ctrl+Shift+T on Windows or Cmd+Shift+T on Mac reopens the most recently closed browser tabs in chronological order.

Searchable Cheat Sheet·Windows & Mac·1-Click Copy

Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Search and filter essential shortcuts for Windows and Mac across navigation, browser, text editing, and code editors.

43 shortcuts

Text editing

CopyCtrl+C

CutCtrl+X

PasteCtrl+V

UndoCtrl+Z

RedoCtrl+Y

Select allCtrl+A

FindCtrl+F

Find nextF3

SaveCtrl+S

PrintCtrl+P

Navigation

Go to start of lineHome

Go to end of lineEnd

Jump one word leftCtrl+←

Jump one word rightCtrl+→

Go to start of documentCtrl+Home

Go to end of documentCtrl+End

Page up / downPgUp / PgDn

Browser

New tabCtrl+T

Close tabCtrl+W

Reopen closed tabCtrl+Shift+T

Next tabCtrl+Tab

Previous tabCtrl+Shift+Tab

Refresh pageF5

Hard refresh (bypass cache)Ctrl+F5

Focus address barCtrl+L

Open dev toolsF12

Toggle bookmarks barCtrl+Shift+B

Window & OS

Switch appAlt+Tab

Close windowAlt+F4

Show desktopWin+D

Lock screenWin+L

Screenshot (region)Win+Shift+S

Open file explorerWin+E

Spotlight / Run dialogWin+R

Snap window leftWin+←

Code editors

Command paletteCtrl+Shift+P

Quick open fileCtrl+P

Toggle terminalCtrl+`

Go to lineCtrl+G

Search across filesCtrl+Shift+F

Comment / uncommentCtrl+/

Duplicate lineShift+Alt+↓

Move line up / downAlt+↑ / ↓

Why Learn Keyboard Shortcuts?

Eliminating mouse round-trips keeps you in flow state and compounds into hours saved every week.

Compounding Speed

A 2-second shortcut used 200 times daily saves nearly 30 hours a year in repetitive cursor dragging.

Reduced Ergonomic Strain

Keeping hands on the home row reduces external shoulder rotation and repetitive wrist strain.

Flow State Protection

Context switching between typing and pointer positioning breaks your train of thought. Shortcuts keep commands instantaneous.

Cross-Platform Fluency

Most modifier paradigms transfer seamlessly once you understand Windows vs Mac modifier mapping.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Windows and macOS shortcut keys.