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Movement shortcuts

Apps, windows, tabs, Spotlight, and search.

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Follow the lesson notes below.

This lesson is built as a practical setup checklist. Work through the steps on your Mac, then move to the next lesson when the setup feels repeatable.

Goal

Learn the shortcuts that move you around before learning shortcuts that look impressive.

First Movement Set

  1. Command-Space opens Spotlight.
  2. Command-Tab switches apps.
  3. Command-` switches windows inside the current app.
  4. Command-W closes the current window or tab.
  5. Command-Q quits the current app.
  6. Command-Comma opens settings for many apps.
  7. Space previews a selected file in Finder.

Five-Minute Drill

Open Safari, Finder, Notes, and System Settings. Move between them with Command-Tab. Open two Finder windows and move between them with Command-`. Preview three files with Space. Quit one app with Command-Q.

Success Check

You should be able to open an app, switch away, return to it, close one window, and quit the app without using the Dock.

Next: Text and file shortcuts
Movement shortcuts - Everyday Mac Speed | macOS Fast