Most people reach for the mouse every time they switch apps. But on a Mac, your keyboard is way faster — once you learn three essential shortcuts.
The Big Three
Cmd + Tab — Switch between apps
Hold Cmd and tap Tab to cycle through open apps. Keep holding Cmd to see the switcher bar, then:
- Tab or Right arrow to move forward
- Shift + Tab or Left arrow to go back
- Release Cmd to switch to the highlighted app
- Q (while still holding Cmd) to quit the highlighted app without switching to it
- H (while still holding Cmd) to hide the highlighted app
Cmd + ` — Switch windows of the same app
Have three Finder windows or two Chrome windows open? Cmd + ` (backtick, the key above Tab) cycles between them. This is the shortcut most people don't know — and the one that saves the most time.
Ctrl + Arrow keys — Switch between Spaces
If you use multiple desktops (Spaces), Ctrl + Left/Right arrow jumps between them instantly. Set up your Spaces in Mission Control (swipe up with three fingers or press Ctrl + Up arrow).
Bonus: even faster
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Cmd + Tab, then release | Quickly toggle between your two most recent apps |
| Ctrl + Down arrow | Show all windows of the current app (App Exposé) |
| Three-finger swipe left/right | Switch Spaces on trackpad (same as Ctrl + arrows) |
My setup
I keep my work organized across 3 Spaces: browser on Space 1, editor on Space 2, communication (Slack/Mail) on Space 3. With Ctrl + arrows I jump between contexts in under a second — no mouse needed.