Complete Keyboard Shortcuts Guide
Shortcut Tools (shortcut-tools.com) is a free reference covering 13,500+ keyboard shortcuts and CLI commands across 269 platforms — code editors, browsers, design apps, office suites, AI tools, and server command-line utilities. Every platform has its own curated page with descriptions and usage notes, a printable cheat sheet, and structured data that makes the shortcuts easy to search. Use the interactive finder above to search everything at once, or jump straight to a popular platform below.
Popular platforms
Universal shortcuts that work almost everywhere
Before memorizing app-specific keys, master the dozen shortcuts that behave the same in nearly every application on Windows, Linux, and macOS. These alone cover most everyday editing.
| Windows / Linux | macOS | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + C | Cmd + C | Copy the selection |
| Ctrl + V | Cmd + V | Paste from clipboard |
| Ctrl + X | Cmd + X | Cut the selection |
| Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z | Undo the last action |
| Ctrl + Y | Cmd + Shift + Z | Redo |
| Ctrl + A | Cmd + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + F | Cmd + F | Find on page or in document |
| Ctrl + S | Cmd + S | Save the current file |
| Ctrl + T | Cmd + T | Open a new tab |
| Ctrl + W | Cmd + W | Close the current tab or window |
| Ctrl + Tab | Ctrl + Tab | Switch to the next tab |
| Alt + Tab | Cmd + Tab | Switch between open apps |
What are keyboard shortcuts?
Keyboard shortcuts let you execute commands using key combinations instead of a mouse. Because your hands never leave the keyboard, common actions become 2–3x faster, and you avoid the repetitive strain of constant mouse travel. The same idea extends to the terminal: CLI commands like git status or nvidia-smi are shortcuts for work that would otherwise take a whole GUI session.
Essential Windows shortcuts
The most used shortcuts are Copy (Ctrl+C), Paste (Ctrl+V), and Undo (Ctrl+Z). Win+D shows the desktop, Win+E opens Explorer, Win+V opens clipboard history, and Win+L locks your screen. See the full Windows 11 shortcut list for window snapping, virtual desktops, and more.
macOS shortcuts
macOS uses Command (Cmd) instead of Ctrl. Cmd+Space opens Spotlight, Cmd+Tab switches apps, and Cmd+Shift+3 takes screenshots. Most Windows shortcuts map directly by swapping Ctrl for Cmd — the complete macOS shortcut list covers Finder, screenshots, and system controls.
Developer shortcuts
In VS Code, learn Ctrl+P (quick open), Ctrl+Shift+P (command palette), and Alt+Up/Down (move lines) first. Terminal users should master Bash keys like Ctrl+R (history search) and Ctrl+A/E (jump to line start/end), plus everyday Git commands. Editor muscle memory transfers well: Cursor, Windsurf, and other VS Code forks keep almost all of the same bindings.
How to actually learn shortcuts
Don't try to memorize a whole list. Pick the five shortcuts you would use most, write them on a sticky note, and force yourself to use them for one week — then add the next five. Spaced, deliberate practice beats passive reading: our free Shortcut Speedrun game turns this into timed rounds with a global leaderboard, which is the fastest way to build recall under light pressure. For offline reference, print the cheat sheet for your main tool and keep it next to your monitor until you stop looking at it.
Free tools on this site
Beyond the reference pages, you can browse the full directory of all 269 platforms, generate a printable PDF cheat sheet for any platform, build a combined My Stack cheat sheet from the exact tools you use, test yourself in the practice game, and read practical guides on the blog — including editor migration guides and command references for data and GPU infrastructure work. Everything is free, with no sign-up.