Many new users of Apple computers, switching from a personal computer running Windows to the Mac OS operating system, at first cannot figure out how to perform familiar actions in a new environment for them. In particular, among the most common problems are difficulties with changing the language on Mac OS, copying on a Mac, opening the task manager in macOS and many others.
However, the problem of deleting files and folders on Macs turned out to be no less common. The absence of the Delete button on Apple keyboards quite often confuses the user - how to delete a file on Mac OS using a keyboard shortcut and where this Del button is located on a Mac. Do not drag one file at a time into the trash - it’s time-consuming and inconvenient.
how to delete files and folders using a keyboard shortcut (including directly, without the recycle bin) as well as how to delete characters after the cursor in Mac OS (for which the Delete key is responsible in Windows).
Most people use the Delete key to do one of three things—delete files and folders to the Recycle Bin, delete characters after the cursor in text, or call up the task manager. We've already talked about the latter, so today we'll talk about the first two.
Where is the Backspace button?
Backspace
(lit. “space back”), BS, erase, C (occasionally in mobile phones), ←, ⌫, backspace, return, step back - a key on a computer keyboard that serves to delete the character located in front of the cursor (to the left when sending a letter from left to right or from right when directed from right to left).
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Uninstalling with a keyboard shortcut in Mac OS
First of all, it’s worth talking about the keyboard shortcut that is used in Mac OS to delete objects, that is, it is an analogue of Delete on a Mac. Apple's operating system uses the Command and Backspace (this is actually the delete key, but Windows users know it by that name).
cmd+delete
By selecting a file or folder and pressing these two keys, you will move the selected object to the trash.
Useful combinations
Any MacBook, regardless of version (Air or Pro), uses the same keyboard and operating system. There is no division between home and professional versions of macOS. Therefore, the keyboard shortcuts will work absolutely identically on any model.
Screen lock
Sleep mode works well on Mac. When leaving the laptop, you can close the lid and, upon returning, continue working from the same place without worrying about the safety of your files. However, sometimes just locking the screen is enough. For example, if you take a break from your work for a few minutes, but don’t want to show it to anyone.
The combination Control + Command + Q gives this opportunity. A lock window is displayed on the monitor, and after the required time, the screen saver will start. The keyboard shortcut Shift + Control + Power allows you to achieve a similar result. In this case, the power of the monitor is turned off and it goes out, bypassing the screen saver stage. If the specified checkbox is checked in the settings, you will only be able to access the laptop with a password.
Forced termination of programs
Any program, including one that has stopped responding, can be forcibly terminated on a Mac. To do this, click on the apple logo in the menu bar and select the marked item. As you can see in the screenshot, this operation can also be performed using hot keys.
Option + Command + Esc brings up a simplified version of the task manager. In it we find the program that requires completion and press the marked button.
Often this operation has to be done with the built-in QuickTime video player. After closing the main window, it tends to remain in memory without being displayed in the Dock.
Fine tuning
Adjusting the sound, key backlighting, and screen brightness on the Air or other iMac has sixteen positions between “Min” and “Max” values. Control is carried out by the corresponding function keys of the top row. If you hold down the Shift + Option keys while making adjustments, each control position will be divided into four parts.
Thus, you get not 16, but 64 adjustment points. When the additional buttons are released, the system will first fill in the incomplete division and then automatically switch to normal mode.
Screenshots
As we said earlier, Apple computers do not have a separate key for taking screenshots. The following combinations are used for screenshots:
- Command + Shift + 3 . Screenshot of the entire desktop;
- Command + Shift + 4 . Snapshot of the selected area;
- Command + Shift + 4 + Space. A snapshot of the selected window or menu item.
Boot Modes
When you start macOS, before the apple logo first appears, you can select a boot mode. These combinations can be useful not only for reinstallation or troubleshooting:
- Option. Selecting a boot volume for systems with two operating systems installed. Thus, you can choose between macOS and Windows installed on the BootCamp partition;
- T. Starting the system in external volume mode. If you connect the problem Mac to a working Mac, you can boot from its hard drive and perform initial diagnostics;
- Shift . Starts the OS in safe mode;
- Command + R . Recovery from hard drive;
- Option + Command + R . Internet Recovery mode. Reinstalling or restoring macOS from Apple servers.
Shutdown
In normal mode, your MacBook can be turned off or restarted using the system menu. To do this, it contains all the options available to the user.
For these purposes, you can also use various combinations:
- Control + Power. Calls up the shutdown menu in a separate window;
- Control + Command + Power . An analogue of the “three-finger combination” for Windows. Causes a forced reboot;
- Option + Command + Power. Switching to sleep mode without closing the lid;
- Shift + Command + Q . End the user session with a warning;
- Shift + Option + Command + Q . Logout of the user without warning. When you log in again, previously opened windows are automatically restored.
Keyboard settings
In the Sierra version, Apple changed the language switching combination familiar to many Mac users. Instead of Command, the Control key was used in combination with the spacebar. Many users first change this setting to a familiar and convenient one.
- Open System Preferences and select the marked item.
- Let's move on to the "Keyboard Shortcuts" section. In the navigation area, select the item that interests us. In the right part of the window, specified and possible, but not preset, combinations will open. For example, launching Launchpad from the keyboard is possible, but there is no default shortcut for it. We tick it and open the editing field. Enter a combination that is convenient for you.
- If desired, you can set hotkeys yourself. For example, the Finder has a “Compress” option, which does not have its own combination. If the need for archiving arises constantly, then it can be created. Switch to the marked section. Using the “+” button we call up an additional menu. Select a program. Enter the exact name of the item and set the desired combination.
- The result of the manipulations performed is visible immediately; a reboot is not required. Using a given combination, you can quickly create archives.
- In the first section of the keyboard settings, you can set the principle of using the top row of function keys. By default, they are used to quickly access system settings such as media or lighting controls. Their traditional role is activated by pressing the Fn key in the lower left corner. In some graphic editors, these buttons are used quite actively. In order not to use a combination of two keys every time, you can return them to their direct assignment. To do this, put a tick in the place indicated by the arrow. Now, to add volume, you need to use not F12, but Fn + F12.
- Here, lovers of experiments can independently reassign the role of modifier keys. Clicking on the marked button will bring up an additional menu. Using drop-down lists, you can set new values. For example, swap Command and Control.
Delete an entire word or line
Click Command/Option + Delete to quickly delete unnecessary text to the left of the cursor.
First, hold down Command/Option, then Fn + Delete to quickly delete unwanted text to the right of the cursor.
Managing application startup
The Windows Task Manager has a section for managing startup applications. macOS has a similar tool, but it is located in the system menu.
To get to the section for managing autorun, open the Apple menu (apple icon in the menu bar), then you need to go to “System Preferences” and select the “Users and Groups” section, and then open “Login Items”. Applications marked with a checkmark automatically launch when you log in; to disable autorun, you need to uncheck the box.
Removing characters after the cursor in Mac OS
If for some reason you use this function (we really have no idea where and why it can be used) and you really miss it in OS X, then we have good news. In order to delete text after the cursor in Mac OS, just press the key combination fn and delete .
fn+delete
Also, do not forget that even files deleted from the Recycle Bin can be restored as long as their disk space is not overwritten by new data.
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Why doesn't the Delete button work on my laptop?
Delete button doesn't delete
… What to do? Solve the problem consistently, because the keys don’t just turn off.
Options:
- Launching an antivirus program. Malware can block standard keyboard functions.
- Removing the most recently installed programs and utilities from your computer. They may have crashed and caused the problem.
- SharpKeys reassignment program. It will need to be installed and run as Administrator. If there is something on the list, that “something” needs to be removed.
- Vacuum cleaner. The keyboard must be carefully vacuumed to remove dust and debris from under the keys.
None of the options helped? There is only one way - to the service.
Close a frozen application using Command + Option + Esc
The Command + Option + Esc key combination is ideal for force quitting a frozen application, as well as for programs that run in full screen mode, such as games. In addition to the keyboard shortcut, the Force Quit window can be called up from the Apple menu. In the menu bar, click on the apple icon, then select “Force Quit” from the list.
There is another way to force termination - by pressing Option + Ctrl, you need to click on the application icon in the dock, or while holding down the Option key, right-click on the icon. From the drop-down menu you need to select “Force Quit”.
Enter correct punctuation marks in the Russian layout
Click Option + hyphento type a dash (–).
Press Option + Ъ for the left Christmas tree (“).
Press Option + Shift + Ъ for the right herringbone (").
Deleting files without the Recycle Bin on Mac OS
In the current latest version of Mac OS - El Capitan, the user now has the opportunity to delete (maybe works on the previous version of OS X) files using a keyboard shortcut immediately, that is, bypassing the trash.
The analogue of Shift+Delete on Mac OS is the following key combination.
cmd+option(alt)+delete
As a result, you will see a pop-up message in which you will have to either confirm the deletion or cancel it. Be careful - deleted files will no longer remain in the Recycle Bin and will be deleted forever.
We look at additional information using “System Monitoring”
The Force Quit application closes non-working or frozen applications, but it does not display information about processor load or amount of RAM. To access this information you need to use System Monitoring.
There are several ways to launch System Monitor: from the Finder in the Applications folder, through Quick Access from Launchpad, or by typing “Monitoring” into Spotlight search. The utility window displays a list of all running applications and system processes. At the top there are five sections divided by system resources: “CPU” (processor), “Memory” (RAM), “Energy”, “Disk” (hard drive storage) and “Network” (network traffic).
Using the monitoring utility, you can forcefully terminate applications or processes. To close, you need to select an application or process in the list, then click the icon with a cross in the upper left corner.
How to Insert Symbols on macOS
On Windows, popular keyboard shortcuts use Alt to insert special notations and Unicode characters . Many people don't know, these same symbols can be obtained using keyboard shortcuts on a Mac. It’s just that in the case of Mac computers, the role of the Alt key is played by Option . The Option keys are one of the hidden gems on the Apple keyboard, yet are barely used by most Mac users. Here are just some of the combinations that are available to you with its help.
Some keyboard shortcuts that may be useful
Now, if a cat, a child, or even you accidentally type an incomprehensible symbol on the keyboard, you will know that it appeared for a reason - all such symbols have their own keyboard shortcut. It’s just that in most cases we don’t use them, but sometimes it’s useful. What hotkeys do you use most often? Tell us in our Telegram chat.
It is worth noting that you can always add new keyboard shortcuts , including for a specific program. To do this, go to “System Preferences”, where by opening the “Keyboard” menu and selecting the “Keyboard Shortcuts” tab, go down to the very bottom of the list to “Keyboard shortcuts for the program” and click on the add symbol.
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Command + Shift + Square Bracket to cycle through open tabs. The left bracket is to scroll to the left, the right one is to scroll to the right. Command + H Minimize an open window Control+Command+Q Lock the desktop Command + L Switch to the search bar in Safari (Chrome) Command + T Open a new tab Command + Spacebar. Open Spotlight Command + Options + Esc close an application that is frozen. Command + F Find a word in the text If you press cmd+tab, you can not only switch applications, but also hold cmd and press q to close them cmd + W close the current tab in the browser
What does Mac have instead of Ctrl + Alt + Delete
Having switched from Windows to macOS, the first thing that catches your eye is the absence of the usual Cntrl + Alt + Delete. macOS has its own version of the task manager, which is called by the keyboard shortcut Command + Option + Esc.
The Windows Task Manager contains a lot of information and functions, which makes it look overloaded. Apple has decided to split these features into multiple apps. “Force Quit Programs” (Command + Option + Esc) will help close frozen applications. Detailed information about running applications and the consumption of system resources is collected in the System Monitoring utility.
