You can also start typing to immediately jump to a menu: type E to go to the Edit menu, or type W to go to the Window menu. To select a different menu, navigate using the left or right arrow keys you’ll see one of the menus highlighted, like the View menu below. This selects the Apple menu at the top-left of the display, whether or not you’re in full-screen mode. Press Ctrl+F2 to move focus to the menu bar. If you want to change any of them, click on the keyboard shortcut and press a new one. On many Mac keyboards, such as those on laptops, you also need to press the fn key, at the bottom left of the keyboard, to use the function keys (F1, F2, etc.), so these shortcuts may require that you press three keys. To start with, check System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts to see which shortcuts are set.īy default, many of these shortcuts use the Control key (signified here by ^). MacOS offers options to let you control its interface from the keyboard. The Mac offers keyboard shortcuts to aid with this, but many Mac users don’t realize system components primarily designed for cursor interaction can be navigated using the keyboard, too. This article explains how.
But keeping your hands on the keyboard can be more efficient. Much of your work on a Mac involves using a mouse or trackpad to move a cursor and click on things.
How To + Software & Apps Navigate the Menu Bar, Dock, and More, Using Your Mac’s Keyboard