If you’re a Mac user, you probably already know a handful of shortcuts—copy, paste, command + tab, and maybe a few more. But macOS has far more hidden shortcuts that can dramatically boost your daily productivity. In fact, these Mac Keyboard Shortcuts are so helpful that you’ll end up using them every single day, just like I do.

Read: 11 Safari Hidden Features You’re Not Using — Complete Mac Guide 2025

Whether you want to search faster, edit media instantly, or preview files without opening apps, these shortcuts will make your Mac experience smoother, faster, and smarter.

5 Hidden Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

1. Spotlight Search: Your Instant Mac Toolbox

Shortcut: Command (⌘) + Space

Most people think Spotlight is just a search bar—but it’s much more powerful than that. Press Command + Space, and you don’t just get search results—you get an instant toolbox.

With Spotlight, you can:

• Open apps, files, and system settings
• Perform quick calculations
• Convert currencies in real time
• Look up definitions
• Find documents instantly

And here’s a pro tip:

Highlight any result and press the Space bar to preview it instantly. No need to open the app or file—macOS gives you a quick look right away.

2. Right-Click Toolbox: Access Quick Actions Anywhere

Shortcut: Control (Ctrl) + Click

This shortcut opens a world of hidden tools inside every file or app.

Just select any item—an image, video, document, or folder—then press Ctrl + Click. A contextual menu appears on the right side with useful actions.

For Images:

Go to Quick Actions → Remove Background

Yes—macOS can remove image backgrounds instantly, without needing Photoshop or premium apps.

For Videos:

Go to Quick Actions → Trim

Move the sliders to choose your selection, click Done, and save it as a new clip or replace the original.

From rotating videos to converting files, Quick Actions make it easy to perform routine tasks without opening any heavy apps.

3. Switch Between Windows of the Same App

Shortcut: Command (⌘) + ~ (Tilde)

Most users know that Command + Tab switches between apps.

But what if Chrome, Finder, or Word has multiple windows open?

Use Command + ~ (tilde) to switch between windows inside the same app.

It’s fast, clean, and prevents window clutter.

And when you want to hide an app quickly, just hit Command + H.

4. Screenshot & Screen Recording Control Center

Shortcut: Shift + Command (⌘) + 5

You may already know Shift + Command + 3 for taking a full screenshot.

But Shift + Command + 5 opens the full Screenshot & Recording Control Center, giving you multiple options:

• Capture entire screen
• Capture selected window
• Capture selected portion
• Record entire screen
• Record selected portion

You can even choose:

• Timer delay
• Save location
• Microphone input for screen recording

Earlier, users had to rely on third-party apps like Snagit or ScreenFlow. But macOS now offers a powerful, free built-in tool that covers most needs.

5. Quick Look: Preview Files Without Opening Them

Shortcut: Space bar

This is one of the most underrated shortcuts on the Mac.

Just select any file or folder and press Space to preview it instantly.

No app launching, no loading time—it appears in a clean floating window.

Want a full-screen preview?

Press Option + Space.

Perfect for reading documents, checking images, reviewing PDFs, or previewing videos without opening anything fully.

Conclusion

These five hidden Mac keyboard shortcuts might look simple, but using them daily brings massive productivity gains. From instant previews to effortless screen recording and advanced Spotlight functions, each shortcut makes macOS feel smoother and more powerful.

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