Where is the option button on macbook air. Quickly enable Do Not Disturb mode. Quick access to the Library

Hello friends, I’ll try to tell you in detail how to use Mac hotkeys to simplify and even speed up your work, or everyday use your computer. Namely, I will show you the combinations of buttons on a MacBook.

First, let's figure out what it is. Simply put, these are keyboard shortcuts that perform a programmed action when pressed. The menu, interface and buttons are partially duplicated.

Now a few words about the principle of operation of MacBook hotkeys. It's simple, the following Mac keyboard shortcuts are built into the Mac OS X system by Apple To use them you just need to know about them. Below I will give the most basic combinations that will be useful in everyday work with the system, as well as when working with standard Mac browser OS X - Safari.

Basic keyboard shortcuts on a MacBook.

Often there is a need to take a screenshot of the screen, here useful combinations:

  • Command + Shift + 3 - normal desktop screenshot with all open windows;
  • Command + Shift + 4 - hold these buttons, your cursor will change appearance and then use your mouse to select the area you want to take a screenshot of;
  • Command + Shift + 4 + Space - Takes a screenshot of the selected window.

The following Mac hotkeys are useful for working with files or programs:

  • Cmd + C, Cmd + V – similar to Windows combinations, copy the file or text and paste the file or text, respectively;
  • Ctrl + Cmd + F – opens running program or a full screen window;
  • Cmd + Q – the most quick way close the selected window and program;
  • Cmd + alt + esc – in case any window or application freezes, forcefully closes them.
  • Ctrl + "space" - an easy way to use a branded Spotlight search;
  • Ctrl + Cmd + “space” - opens a window with the now so popular emoji in any application where you type text.

Mac hotkeys for Safari browser.

Typically MacBook users use the default Safari browser.

Check out the MacBook Safari shortcuts. Many of them work in other browsers, for example Chrome and Yandex.

  • Ctrl + Tab – allows you to switch between open tabs Safari;
  • Ctrl + Shift + Tab – this combination has the same effect, only in reverse order;
  • Command + W - this combination of buttons on a MacBook easily closes the selected this moment tab;
  • Command + T – on the contrary, opens new tab in your browser;
  • Command + R – refresh the page in one motion;
  • Command + L – selection occurs address bar and you can immediately enter your search query, or website address.

I hope these MacBook keyboard shortcuts will help you work faster.

Now I will tell you how to assign your combinations or, as they are called, shortcuts.

Open “Settings” - “Keyboard”, select the “Keyboard Shortcuts” tab. To assign a shortcut for any application, in the left column, click on the “App Shortcuts” item.

Now click “+”, a window will open in which you select the application you are interested in, then write the exact name of the menu item or action, button for which you want to assign a shortcut. And enter the desired combination. Click “add” and use it.

Let's learn something new or refresh our memory of forgotten information.

Few people know about all the capabilities of the “ button Alt” (aka ⌥ Option) in operating system OS X. With its help you can do a number of very useful actions, which will save time every day when working with Mac. Of course, in the system you can find dozens or hundreds of various shortcuts with this key, I will tell you about the most useful of them.

1. Cut out files when copying


Former users Windows computers They look with bewilderment at OS X with a missing file cut function. Yes, my favorite combination “ Ctrl+X” or an analogue with the Command key, we will not find, but there is another way to transfer data. We have already, but now we just recall the sequence of actions:

  • copy any data by clicking on Command+C;
  • for simple insertion we use Command+V;
  • to transfer data (analogous to cutting) press Command+Alt+V.

2. Delete bypassing the trash can


We are used to deleting files by moving them to the trash. You can do this faster using a shortcut Command+Backspace. We add our favorite Alt key to it and get data erasing without moving it to the trash. Click Command+Alt+Backspace, we confirm the deletion and the data can no longer be found.

Another useful shortcut for getting rid of garbage would be Command+Shift+Backspace. This combination allows you to empty the Trash. However, it is worth adding the Alt key to it and Command+Alt+Shift+Backspace will delete everything from the trash without a confirmation window.

3. Copy the path to the file


Sometimes it is necessary to copy the path to a specific file. Such a need may arise if the data is already open in specific folder, and we need to specify this path in the application settings or if we need to transfer the path to the data to another user.

We add the Alt key to the well-known Command+C shortcut and get the ability to copy the path to the data. If you select one or more files and click Command+Alt+C, then something like this will appear on the clipboard:

/Users/MacMini/Desktop/Report.doc

4. Change the default application


You know that in OS X you can easily select any application to open a certain type of file. To change this parameter, open the properties of any file the right type and choose suitable program. You can do this faster from the context menu.

Click Alt and the “Open in program” option changes to “Always open in program”.

5. Changing audio output devices


When connected to a computer wired headphones And bluetooth headset or speakers, you can quickly switch between sound sources directly from the menu bar. A simple click on the volume indicator will open the volume adjustment, and pressing with the key Alt will allow you to select the sound source and specify the audio input device (when there are several of them).

Don't forget about the other one. Pressing Alt paired with any of the buttons F10, F11 or F12 will open the system volume settings window.

6. View data about the Wi-Fi network


We continue to move along the menu bar and try to click on the indicator wireless connection. A normal press displays a list available networks, and pressing paired with Alt will display all parameters of the current connection.

7. Turn on do not disturb mode


Quite a useful feature that allows you to protect yourself from notifications on certain time called like this:

  • open the Notification Center;
  • move it down to display the switch;
  • activate the mode.

It is much easier to press and hold the Notification Center icon in the menu bar Alt.

8. Open information about the system


To obtain data about the computer’s hardware bypassing standard window“About this Mac”, press and hold the Apple icon Alt. The standard menu item will change to "System information...".

9. Turning focus to search


When working with Finder, you often need to search for data. Familiar keyboard shortcut Command+F, which triggers a search on a page in the same Safari, will open a new Explorer window. Let's add a button Alt and we will get a shortcut Command+Alt+F to move focus to the search bar.

10. Working with text


When using most text editors in OS X key Alt can greatly speed up your work. If you hold it down together with the cursor movement arrows, you can quickly jump through words, and holding it together with Backspace will lead to erasing an entire word, not just one character.

When working with text, take note Alt+Backspace And Alt+arrows.

Making something convenient even more convenient


If the utility of the key Alt Now there is no doubt, and your fingers are not used to pressing it blindly, you can easily change the assignment of the buttons in the system. To do this, go to Settings-Keyboard-Modification keys.

You can't cut files in OS X. You can move them only by dragging or copying and pasting and then deleting the sources. But if you really want to, then you can.

To do this we simply copy required file, but we insert it into new folder not as usual, using a keyboard shortcut ⌘+V(Command + V), and also while holding down the key (Option). A similar trick works in a similar way for the menu bar: when you hold down the key (Option) the “Insert object” item will change to “Move object”, which is what we need.

Deleting files without moving them to the trash

By default, all files after deletion go to the trash, from where they can be restored or deleted permanently. To avoid having to do more later, files can be deleted immediately.

To do this, instead of combining ⌘ + ⌫ (Command + Delete) should be used ⌥ + ⌘ + ⌫ (Option + Command + Delete). Through the menu bar, the same can be done by holding (Option) and selecting “File” - “Delete immediately”.

Clear Safari History

Browser history is a delicate thing that needs to be cleared from time to time, if only to increase performance. However, along with the history, it also deletes cookies and settings of visited sites, which, you see, is not always necessary.

And again he saves us magic key Option. Hold it down, open the “History” menu and select the changed item “Clear history, but save site data.” Ready!

Restarting Finder

The only OS X program that cannot be terminated is . However, situations when it needs to be restarted sometimes still arise (for example, for some changes to take effect).

The easiest way to do this is to call up the context menu by right-clicking on the Finder icon in the dock, but, as you probably already guessed, not just like that, but by holding down the key (Option).

Copying the path to a file or folder

Want to paste the direct path to a file in an application? No problem!

Go to the folder with the desired file (or another folder) and open the menu by right-clicking. Now click (Option), and, as if by magic, a new item will appear - “Copy path to...”.

Quick transition to the “Library”

"Library" is a folder containing various user data and settings. You can get into it through the Finder, but it’s much easier and faster to do it using our favorite key (Option).

In Finder, open the Go menu and hold (Option), select “Library”.

Turn on Do Not Disturb mode

At work, the first thing you need to do is turn off notifications, but to do this you don’t have to swipe the notification center shade and click the corresponding toggle switch. This is not life hacking.

It's better to just click on the notification center icon in the menu bar while holding down the you-know-what key. :)

Changes the default application for certain files

OS X can open all popular file types in standard applications. If you have several applications installed to open certain types of files, then to select them as default programs, you do not need to wander through the settings and look for the corresponding item there. There is a more convenient way.

You just need to open Finder and right-click on the file and click (Option). After this, the “Open in the program” item will change to “Always open in the program”, and we will only have to select the right application from the drop-down list. The same can be done through the “File” item in the menu bar.

Saving a file

When editing files, OS X treats them very carefully and offers to write all changes to a duplicate. But if you just need to save your progress in another file, you can use the “hidden” command.

In the "File" menu you need to press the key (Option) and select the “Save As” item that appears. Those who prefer should remember the combination ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + S(Option + Shift + Command + S).

Precise adjustment of brightness, key backlight and volume

The display brightness, volume and key backlight adjustment scale has 16 levels. Sometimes this is enough, and sometimes it is not.

You can reduce the change step if function keys F1 - F2, F5 - F6, F10 - F11 add combination ⇧ + ⌥ (Shift + Option). In this case, each division of the scale will be further divided into four parts.

Entering special characters

You can type from the Emoji & Symbols panel, which is hidden in the Keyboard menu. Collected there full table characters, divided into categories. If this method does not appeal to you, there is another.

Using the key (Option) you can quickly enter various special characters directly from the keyboard. For example, the combination ⇧ + ⌥ + K(Shift + Option + K) enters a character , which you see in the menu bar all the time. In the same way, you can enter currency symbols, arithmetic operations and any others. Until you remember the location of the symbols, you can peek by turning on the display on-screen keyboard(click on the input source icon, then “Show Keyboard Panel”).

Show all subfolders in Finder

Viewing files in list mode is quite convenient. The only annoying thing is having to manually open each subfolder. But this trouble can also be overcome if you don’t forget about the Option key.

All you need to do is press the main folder arrow while holding (Option), and the entire folder tree will appear in front of you.

Skip duplicate files when copying

When you copy files that are already there into a folder, a dialog box appears asking you to leave both files, replace them, or stop the copying process.

Actually there is another one hidden option: The option to skip copying the duplicate file appears if you press the Option key in the dialog box.

Deselecting objects

You are probably familiar with the keyboard shortcut ⌘+A(Command + A), which works in all applications and allows you to select all elements or content. Finder has the opposite of this action.

To deselect objects, be they files or folders, press the same combination, but adding the key (Option). Like this: ⌥ + ⌘ + A(Option + Command + A).

Hiding windows and forcing applications to quit

Unlike Windows, in OS X applications can have multiple windows, and if you need to show any of them while hiding the others, you can easily do this using the dock icon. And, of course, Option keys. :)

By right-clicking on the application icon, you need to press (Option) and select “Hide Others”. The “Force Quit” option will also appear there, which will allow you to close the frozen application.

Opening settings for various functions

Display, sound, keyboard and Mission Control options can be changed from standard settings, or perhaps in a simpler way.

To call up options such as the display, simply press ⌥+F1(Option + F1). For other functions - by analogy with this - you should use the combination ⌥+F3(Option + F3) ⌥+F5(Option + F5) and so on.

Display detailed network information

If you click on the icon in the menu bar, a list of available networks and several settings options will open. However, you can also view here detailed information about active Wi-Fi networks, including connection speed, IP and Mac address and more.

You probably already understood what you need to do for this, but just in case I’ll say: you need to click on Wi-Fi icon while holding down the key (Option).

Switch to slideshow mode in Quick Look

Quick Look, which lets you scroll through files by pressing the space bar, is one of my favorite Finder features. It would seem that there is nothing to improve here, but no, the ubiquitous Option key is noted here too.

I'm talking about the slide show mode, to go to which you need to expand the preview window to full screen or launch it through the context menu. So: if you need to quickly view several images in slideshow mode, just select them in the Finder and press not just the space bar, but ⌥ + Space(Option + Space).

Opening Dropbox Settings

Clicking the Dropbox icon in the menu bar displays latest files. To get into the settings, you need to additionally click on the gear in the pop-up window.

If unnecessary gestures are not included in your plans, then to open the settings, click on the icon in the menu bar while holding (Option), and everything will be much faster.

Skip confirmation dialogs

When you restart your Mac, the system thoughtfully asks you if you need to open all running applications after logging in. Without a doubt this useful feature, but sometimes she's annoying.

To avoid dialogs confirming your actions, all you need to do is hold down the key (Option) when you click on the “Restart” button.

Bonus

Hopefully, after reading this article, you'll be using the Option key a lot more often. If its location seems inconvenient to you, there is good news: useful key Option can be reassigned to practically useless Caps Lock. It is larger in size and located more conveniently.

There are no secrets here. Absolutely. Everything is done standard means through the keyboard settings. The option we need is located on the “Keyboard” tab, where you should click the “Modification keys” button and specify in the drop-down list for Caps keys Lock is replaced by the Option key.

The ⌥Option (Alt) key, seemingly indistinguishable from all the other 78 keys Mac keyboards, not counting Command - but no, this key has great functionality, but few people know about it. When used in tandem with a mouse/trackpad or as part of hotkey combinations, so-called “shortcuts,” you can significantly expand the capabilities and usability of working in the OS X operating system. Below we will reveal some hidden functions⌥Option (Alt) keys.

View Wi-Fi connection information

Do you want to know more information about the network to which you are currently connected: IP address, connection speed, router address and other connection properties? Then just hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key and left-click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.

Viewing Bluetooth Information

Do you need to see the status of Bluetooth equipment: device name, MAC address, detailed information about connected devices? Press and hold the ⌥Option (Alt) key and left-click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar.


More information about Time Machine

Icon Time Machine in the menu bar will also expand additional options, when you hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key and click on it. You will have the opportunity to check backups and browse other drives for backup.


Quickly enable Do Not Disturb mode

Do Not Disturb mode migrated to OS X from mobile iOS systems, it mutes the sounds of incoming notifications and hides their messages from the user. To activate it, you need to click on the Notification Center icon while holding down the ⌥Option (Alt) key.

System information

To view detailed information about your Mac: hardware equipment, installed versions programs and settings, software startup logs - press and hold ⌥Option (Alt), left-click on the Apple icon in the menu bar.


Quick access to the Library

If you need to quickly get into the directory Library, where the system stores settings and other program data for each user, then open Finder, select Go in the menu bar and hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key, the Library item will appear before your eyes.


Restarting Finder

There are times when you need to restart Finder. Most easy way to do this, hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key and click on the Finder icon in the Dock right key mouse, in the context menu that appears, select Restart.


Additional options for copying

We often copy and move files from one folder to another, and it happens that some files are duplicates or files with the same name are already present in the target folder. The system displays a window with a further choice of actions: replace, stop and leave both, but if you press the ⌥Option (Alt) key, then the Leave both button will change to Skip


Move object

In OS X, there are only two options when working with files: Copy And Insert, and the functions Cut no, unlike Windows and Linux. But you can still move an object in the system - copy any object that you want to move and go to the destination folder, then right-click and hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key, the context menu item Paste object will change to Move object here or just press the key combination ⌘Cmd + ⌥Option (Alt) + V

Merge folder contents

When you copy folders in OS X, the system defaults to replacing one folder with another, deleting all content in the replaced folder. If you want to combine files from two folders into one without complete removal last - press and hold the ⌥Option (Alt) key, hold down left key mouse on the folder and drag it to the folder with which you want to merge (drag-and-drop). In the dialog box that appears, you will have a Merge button.


Set the default program for individual files

The OS X operating system contains many preinstalled programs, which tear off most files, but not everyone likes them, and users often install programs from other developers. If you want to certain files by default opened in your program - select the desired file, click on it right click mouse while holding down the ⌥Option (Alt) key and in the context menu that appears, select Always open in the program, then select the desired program


Path to file or folder

Want to copy the path of a file or folder, but there's no such line in the Finder? Right-click on the object to open the context menu, press the ⌥Option (Alt) key, after which the Copy item will change to Copy path to...

Resizing a Window

Probably everyone knows that to resize a program window, just move the mouse cursor to the edge of the window and drag it, and it will expand in the direction of the cursor movement. But if you want the size to increase or decrease proportionally on both sides, then you need to press and hold the ⌥Option (Alt) key


Quick shutdown and reboot

During standard shutdown and reboot your Mac OS X displays a dialog box asking you to confirm or cancel the action, as well as open all running applications. To skip this step, just hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key when selecting Restart or Shutdown

These are not all the things you can do with the ⌥Option (Alt) key. To obtain Additional information, simply hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key while clicking on the icon or menu of other programs in Mac OS X.

There are countless numbers hidden in the OS X operating system. useful functions related to system keys. We have already told you about. Today we will talk about the “ Option”, which is a kind of analogue of the “Alt” key on a PC. Knowledge of several simple tips Using this key will help you become a more advanced OS X user and make your Mac easier to use.

In contact with

Using the Option (Alt) key in Finder

1. Cancel selection of all files.
Many users know about the keyboard shortcut Cmd+A, which allows you to select all files in open folder. If you add the key to this combination Option, you can easily deselect files.

2. Quickly jump to the search field.
To quickly jump to a search field, use a keyboard shortcut Command+Option+F, while using the combination Command+F will lead to the discovery of new Finder windows with Spotlight search.

3. Quickly close several program windows.
To quickly minimize multiple windows of any application in the Dock, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Option+M. For simultaneous closing windows click Command+Option+W.

4. View all subfolders.
Once you click on the little arrow next to a folder's name in Finder, the app will only open one level of content, excluding all subfolders. In order to immediately view all files, including files located in subfolders, hold down the key Option and click on the small arrow next to the main folder.

With the Option key pressed

Quick sound settings

When you press a key Option and volume icon in system menu You can quickly switch the audio input/output device.

View wireless network and Bluetooth information.

When pressed simultaneously Option and icons AirPort in the system menu you can see extended information about the Wi-Fi network in use.

And when you simultaneously press Option and an icon Bluetooth can view and connect to previously paired devices and generate a service diagnostic report Bluetooth.

Quick access to system information

Keystroke Option along with the icon Apple from system line will allow you to skip information about your computer and go straight to the list of equipment.

Text navigation

When using text editors such as Pages, you can move the cursor an entire word by pressing along with the navigation keys Option. You can also navigate through paragraphs using the " up" And " down" together with Option.

Option key in Safari

Everyone knows that the Safari browser when you click Tab sequentially moves the cursor from one text field to another. And, Tab in combination with Option allows you to conveniently navigate site links without using a mouse. For example, according to the site menu.

2. Fast scrolling.

Key Option can make working with the scrollbar easier. For example, to move to the bottom of the page, press Option and click the mouse in the scroll bar to the desired location and the indicator will move directly there. If you simply click on the scroll bar, the indicator will smoothly move towards the mouse pointer. This function works in any other window with a scroll bar.

3. Closing unnecessary tabs.

Keyboard shortcut Command+Option+W will allow you to close all inactive Safari tabs. In this case, the current tab will not be closed. This can also be done through the menu “ File».

View all formats when saving a file

When you save a file in OS X, for example, a picture from the view editor, you are given several options to choose from. popular formats. However, in reality the list of formats supported by OS X is slightly larger. To see all these formats when saving a file and selecting a format, press the key Option.

Option key pressed