What Is the Command Key on a Mac?
The Command key (⌘) is the main shortcut key on a Mac. Hold it and press a letter to copy, paste, save, undo and much more.
Oops? ⌘ Z is your undo button. It saves the day!
Where is the Command key?
The highlighted keys are the Command key on a Mac keyboard. Keyboards vary a little by brand.
What the Command key does
You will find Command on both sides of the space bar. Hold it down, then tap a second key:
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⌘ C / ⌘ V / ⌘ X | Copy / paste / cut |
| ⌘ Z | Undo (⌘ Shift Z to redo) |
| ⌘ A | Select all |
| ⌘ S | Save |
| ⌘ F | Find a word on the page |
| ⌘ Space | Spotlight search |
| ⌘ Tab | Switch between apps |
| ⌘ W / ⌘ Q | Close a window / quit the app |
Windows, Mac and Chromebook
Windows
Windows uses Ctrl for the same shortcuts: Ctrl + C copies, Ctrl + V pastes and so on.
Mac
Every Mac keyboard has two Command keys, one on each side of the space bar.
Chromebook
Chromebooks use Ctrl for these shortcuts, just like Windows. On an external Mac keyboard, Command works as the Search key.
Which finger presses it?
Use your thumb. The left thumb is great for ⌘ C, ⌘ V and ⌘ Z because those letters are on the left side.
Fun fact
The ⌘ symbol is called a "looped square". Designer Susan Kare picked it for the first Macintosh in 1984 from a book of symbols. In Sweden it marks interesting places to visit on maps and road signs.
Keep learning
- Practice the reach in Lesson 4: Add A and ;.
- More keys: Ctrl key, Alt key, Windows key, Fn key.
- See every keyboard key explained.
- Names of all the symbols: Keyboard Characters and Meanings.
Quick drill: find the Command key
Press the key on your keyboard, or click or tap it below, when Rocky asks. Wrong key? We will tell you what it was.
Command key FAQ
What is the Command key called on Windows?
Windows does not have one. Windows uses the Ctrl key for most of the same shortcuts.
What is the ⌘ symbol called?
It is called the looped square, Saint John's Arms, or simply the Command symbol.
Is Command the same as Control on a Mac?
No. Macs have both. Command does most shortcuts, while Control is used less often, for example Control + click to right-click.