Menu
homeExcel

What is the option button on mac. Managing open applications. Closing unnecessary tabs

The OS X operating system hides countless useful functions associated with the 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. Knowing a few simple tips on how to use 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 an 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 open a new Finder window 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. To close the windows at the same time, 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 the volume icon in the 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 the 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 popular formats to choose from. 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

Hotkeys increase our productivity when working on a computer, be it OS X or . Having developed the habit of using them, we significantly increase the speed of performing a number of operations. Many of the hotkeys on Mac OS X are almost the same as on Windows (except that instead of Ctrl and Alt you need to use Command and Option). But there are also completely unique keyboard shortcuts.

If you are switching from Windows to OS X, I recommend that you read this article. Otherwise, you'll never fully know why a Mac is better than a PC.

Starting and ending programs

Use Spotlight to quickly find the program you need. The Spotlight search bar on Russian Macs is launched using the hotkeys Control + Space (in English-language systems Command + Space - we use this combination to change the input language). In the Spotlight search bar, start typing the name of the program (or file). The system will show matches, among which choose the one you need. The down and up keys will allow you to quickly move to the desired item. With it highlighted, press Enter.

The Command + Option + Esc hotkey is the equivalent of Ctrl + Alt + Escape (or Ctrl + Alt + Delete) in Windows. They bring up the application's quick shutdown window. From it you can quickly close a program that is frozen in OS X.

To close the active application, press Command + Shift + Option + Esc simultaneously and hold them for about three seconds. This technique is best used only if the program has stopped responding to commands. If the program is closed using this keyboard shortcut, changes to the document you were working on in it may not be saved.

Browser

  • Command + F – Opens a search bar for a piece of text on the current page. Works in most OS X programs that deal with text.
  • Command + Left Arrow – Return to the previous page.
  • Command + Right Arrow – Move forward one page.
  • Command + T – Opens a new tab.
  • Command + W – Closes the current tab.
  • Command + L – Moves the cursor to the address input line.
  • Ctrl + Tab – Switch between browser tabs.
  • Ctrl + Shift + Tab – Switch between tabs in reverse order.

Work with text

Keyboard shortcuts for text editing on Mac and Windows have a lot in common. Just press Command instead of Ctrl.

  • Command + A – Select all.
  • Command + X – Cut.
  • Command + C – Copy.
  • Command + V – Paste.
  • Command + Z – Undo the last action.
  • Command + Shift + Z – Undo the undone action.
  • Command + Left Arrow - Move the cursor to the beginning of the current line.
  • Command + Right Arrow – Move the cursor to the end of the current line.
  • Option + Left Arrow – Move the cursor back one word.
  • Option + Right Arrow – Move the cursor one word to the right.
  • Option + Delete – Delete the word to the left of the cursor. You'll have to get used to the fact that the Delete button on a Mac is functionally equivalent to the Backspace button on Windows.

As in Windows, you can additionally press the Shift key to select a piece of text as you move the cursor.

Command + Space – Switch input language.

Managing open applications

To manage running applications in OS X there is a special tool - Mission Control. But a lot can be done using hotkeys.

  • Command + Tab – Switch between running programs. Similar to Alt + Tab on Windows.
  • Command + Shift + Tab – Switch between running programs in the opposite direction.
  • Command + Q – Close the active program. Similar to Alt + F4 on Windows.
  • F3 – Launch Mission Control to view all running programs and jump to any of them.
  • Control + Left Arrow (or Right Arrow) – Move between desktops (in Windows there is only one).

To take a screenshot of the entire screen in Mac OS X, press Command + Shift + 3 at the same time. And if you press Command + Shift + 4, you can select a section of the screen that will be copied as an image.

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 the desired file, but paste it into a 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 the magic Option key saves us. 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 program” item will change to “Always open in program”, and we will only have to select the desired 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 the 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. There is a complete table of symbols, 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 characters, you can peek by turning on the display of the 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.

There is actually another hidden option: the option to skip copying the duplicate file, and it will appear 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, the 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 the standard settings, or in an easier 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, here you can also view detailed information about the active Wi-Fi network, including connection speed, IP and Mac address and much more.

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

Switch to slideshow view 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 the 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. No doubt this is a useful feature, but sometimes it is 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 you find its location inconvenient, there is good news: the useful Option key can be reassigned to the practically useless Caps Lock. It is larger in size and located more conveniently.

There are no secrets here. Absolutely. Everything is done using 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 a replacement for the Option key in the drop-down list for the Caps Lock key.

Despite the most convenient trackpads and mice, experienced Mac users prefer to use hotkeys. Over time, you will learn dozens of different combinations, but for now remember the most basic ones.

First, let's recall the names and designations of modifier keys on the Mac keyboard, the symbols of which are slightly different in different generations of computers and may be unfamiliar to beginners.

  • ⌘ - Command, Cmd.
  • ⌥ - Option, Alt.
  • ⌃ - Control, Ctrl.
  • ⎋ - Escape, Esc.
  • ⏏ - Eject.

Terminating the application

Unlike Windows, macOS applications can have multiple windows, so closing a window does not mean exiting the application. To terminate any application in macOS, use the ⌘Q keyboard shortcut.

Closing the active window

This is also why the ⌘W shortcut exists. It allows you to close the current program window without stopping the application as a whole.

Opening a new tab

Many applications support multiple tabs. This way you can avoid cluttering the screen and open just a tab instead of new windows. The key combination ⌘T is responsible for this action.

Switching applications

To switch between running applications in macOS, use the shortcut ⌘⇥. Pressing it once will return you to the previous application, and pressing ⇥ while holding ⌘ will open the switch panel itself. You can use the navigation arrows to switch between applications within the panel.

Call Spotlight

Spotlight search is rightfully considered one of the most useful features of macOS X. You can open it from the menu bar, but it is much more convenient to do this using the keyboard shortcut ⌃Spacebar.

Force termination of the application

It doesn't happen often, but it happens that applications freeze. In this case, they can be terminated forcefully by calling the termination menu by pressing the ⎋⌥⌘ keys, which are analogous to Ctrl + Alt + Delete in Windows.

Copy, paste, undo input

⌘X, ⌘C, ⌘V, ⌘Z

Hotkeys for cut, copy, paste and undo in macOS differ only in the modifier key - ⌘ is used instead of Ctrl. Otherwise, the keyboard shortcuts are similar: ⌘X, ⌘C, ⌘V, ⌘Z.

Search by document or site

macOS makes great use of searching for specific words or phrases in applications - this could be an open page in Safari or any document. To find text inside a document or website, you must use the combination ⌘F.

Quick View in Finder

Quickly viewing documents and images is probably the simplest, yet incredibly useful feature of macOS. It works just as simply. To view a file, you just need to select it and press Space.

Shutdown

You can put your Mac to sleep, reboot, or shut down through the  menu. But this is done much faster from the shutdown menu, which is called by the keyboard shortcut ⌃⏏. In this case, on a MacBook, instead of the ⏏ key, you should press the power button.

The ⌥Option (Alt) key, it would seem, does not stand out among all the other 78 keys on the Mac keyboard, 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 of the hidden functions of the ⌥Option (Alt) key.

View Wi-Fi connection information

Do you want to know more information about the network you are currently connected to: 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

The Time Machine icon in the menu bar will also reveal additional options when you hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key on it. You will be able to check your backups and view other backup drives.


Quickly enable Do Not Disturb mode

Do Not Disturb mode migrated to OS X from the iOS mobile system; 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, installed versions of programs and settings, software startup logs, press and hold ⌥Option (Alt) and 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. The easiest way to do this is to hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key and right-click on the Finder icon in the Dock and select Restart from the context menu that appears.


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 merge files from two folders into one without completely deleting the latter, press and hold the ⌥Option (Alt) key, hold down the left mouse button 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 has many pre-installed programs that will tear off most files, but not everyone likes them, and users often install programs from other developers. If you want certain files to be opened in your program by default, select the desired file, right-click on it while holding down the ⌥Option (Alt) key and select from the context menu that appears 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 a standard shutdown and restart of a 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 get more information, simply hold down the ⌥Option (Alt) key while clicking on the icon or menu of other programs in Mac OS X.