If the Dock is hidden, it slides out onto the screen. You can navigate the Dock using the keyboard, and therefore launch any apps that are in the Dock. The Finder’s selection will jump to the second letter you type, so just type the first letter or letters, use the arrow keys if necessary to get the app you want, and then press Return. Note that for apps with two-word names, such as QuickTime Player or System Preferences, you can’t type QP or SP.

Press Command-down arrow to open the app. So, to launch an app such as Preview, type PR, and, unless you have another app whose name begins with those two letters, Preview is selected. However, typing in a Finder folder merely selects an item it doesn’t hide other items in that folder, showing only the apps with the letters you type. As with Spotlight and Launchpad, you can type letters to access your apps. It’s not that hard to get to that folder in the Finder, just press Command-Shift-A.

When you invoke Launchpad, the Search field is selected.Īnother way to launch apps from the keyboard is to do so in the Applications folder. If not, use the arrow keys to select it, and then press Return. If it is the first app selected, press Return to launch it. Type the first couple of characters of the name of the app you want to launch. That Search field has focus when you start typing the characters automatically get entered into that field.

Using “ Command + down key” while in the list view will open up the highlighted folder.You’ll see some of your app icons with a Search field above them.

Using “ Command + Up key” while in the list view will bring up the parent folder.

Using “ Option + Command + Right key” will expand the current folder you are at as well as the subfolders within it.

Using “ Command + Right key” will collapse the current Folder you are at.

Using “ Command + Left key” will expand the current Folder you are at.

Using “ Option + Command + W key” will close every Finder window that is open at that moment.

Using “ Command + W key” will close the current Finder Window.

Some of the keyboard shortcuts for using Finder in Mac file system are as follows, although before we start off with the shortcuts, it is important for users to get familiar with the command key which is in form of a cloverleaf. Keyboard Shortcuts are actually key combinations that when pressed together simultaneously will bring out the corresponding reaction to the function that is being input.

It is not necessary that the user will have to use mouse for this purpose, the other alternative to this is a keyboard, knowing the right shortcuts can save you both time and trouble of going around while clicking. The user at this stage needs to navigate among the file system while using Finder while using the support of mouse. In Mac operating system, Finder is one of the windows that allows the user to gain access into the Mac file system.

Keyboard shortcut to open finder on mac