Using Keyboard Shortcuts
To use a keyboard shortcut, press and hold one or more modifier keys and then press the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use Command+C (copy), press and hold the Command key, then the C key, then release both keys. Mac menus and keyboards often use symbols for certain keys, including modifier keys:
- Command (or Cmd) ⌘
- Shift ⇧
- Option (or Alt) ⌥
- Control (or Ctrl) ⌃
- Caps Lock ⇪
- Fn
On keyboards made for Windows PCs, use the Alt key instead of Option, and the Ctrl key or Windows logo key instead of Command.
Some keys on some Apple keyboards have special symbols and functions, such as for display brightness 
, keyboard brightness 
, and more. If these functions aren’t available on your keyboard, you might be able to reproduce some of them by creating your own keyboard shortcuts. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3, or other standard function keys, combine them with the Fn key.
Sleep, Log Out, and Shut Down shortcuts
You might need to press and hold some of these shortcuts for slightly longer than other shortcuts. This helps you to avoid using them unintentionally.
- Power button: Press to turn on your Mac or wake it from sleep. Press and hold for 1.5 seconds to put your Mac to sleep.* Continue holding to force your Mac to turn off.
- Option+Command+Power button* or Option+Command+Media Eject
: Put your Mac to sleep. - Control+Shift+Power button* or Control+Shift+Media Eject : Put your displays to sleep.
- Control+Power button* or Control+Media Eject : Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down.
- Control+Command+Power button:* Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents.
- Control+Command+Media Eject : Quit all apps, then restart your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.
- Control+Option+Command+Power button* or Control+Option+Command+Media Eject : Quit all apps, then shut down your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.
- Control+Command+Q: Immediately lock your screen.
- Shift+Command+Q: Log out of your macOS user account. You will be asked to confirm. To log out immediately without confirming, press Option+Shift+Command+Q.
* Does not apply to the Touch ID sensor.