Safari is Apple's browser for Mac, iPhone and iPad, and on the Mac it has a complete Command-key shortcut set — tabs, the Smart Search field, Reader, the sidebar and developer tools included. This complete list of Safari keyboard shortcut keys (macOS) explains tabs and windows, navigation, Reader and bookmarks in plain words. (Safari for Windows was discontinued, so these are Mac shortcuts.)
Tab and Window Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Command + T | Open a new tab |
| Command + W | Close the current tab (closes the window if it is the only tab) |
| Command + Shift + T | Reopen the last closed tab |
| Command + N | Open a new Safari window |
| Command + Shift + N | Open a new Private Browsing window |
| Command + Shift + ] | Go to the next tab |
| Command + Shift + [ | Go to the previous tab |
| Control + Tab | Go to the next tab (alternate) |
| Control + Shift + Tab | Go to the previous tab (alternate) |
| Command + 1 to Command + 9 | Jump to the tab at that position (newer Safari versions) |
| Command + Shift + \ | Show All Tabs (tab overview) |
| Command + click a link | Open the link in a new tab |
| Command + Shift + click a link | Open the link in a new tab and switch to it |
| Option + click a link | Download the linked file |
| Control + Command + F | Toggle full-screen mode |
| Command + M | Minimize the window |
| Command + H | Hide Safari |
| Command + Q | Quit Safari |
Navigation and Search Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Command + L | Select the Smart Search field (address bar) |
| Command + Left Arrow / [ | Go back one page (Command + [ in many versions) |
| Command + Right Arrow / ] | Go forward one page (Command + ] alternatively) |
| Command + R | Reload the page |
| Command + Option + R | Reload the page from the server (ignore the cache; Develop feature behavior) |
| Esc (while loading) | Stop loading the page |
| Command + F | Find on the page |
| Command + G | Find the next match |
| Command + Shift + G | Find the previous match |
| Command + E | Use the current selection for Find |
| Command + Option + L | Show Downloads |
| Command + , (comma) | Open Safari Settings (Preferences) |
| Command + Option + E | Empty the caches (with the Develop menu enabled) |
Reader, Bookmarks and Sidebar Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Command + Shift + R | Show or hide Reader for the current page |
| Esc (in Reader) | Exit Reader |
| Command + D | Add a bookmark for the current page |
| Command + Shift + D | Add the page to the Reading List |
| Command + Shift + B | Show or hide the Favorites bar |
| Command + Shift + L | Show or hide the sidebar (bookmarks, Reading List, shared links) |
| Command + Control + 1 | Show the Bookmarks sidebar |
| Command + Control + 2 | Show the Reading List sidebar |
| Command + Option + B | Show all bookmarks (Edit Bookmarks view) |
| Command + + / Command + - | Zoom in / out (text and page) |
| Command + 0 | Reset to the actual size |
| Command + P | Print the page |
| Space / Shift + Space | Scroll down / up one screen |
| Command + S | Save the page (Save As) |
Developer Shortcuts (Develop Menu)
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Command + Option + I | Show the Web Inspector |
| Command + Option + C | Show the JavaScript Console |
| Command + Option + U | Show the page source resources in the Inspector |
| Command + Option + Shift + D | Enter Responsive Design Mode (from the Develop menu) |
Tips for Safari Users
Reader (Command + Shift + R) is Safari's best reading trick — clean text, no ads — and on a page where it appears, printing from Reader gives a clean paper copy too. The Reading List shortcut (Command + Shift + D) saves pages for offline reading across your Apple devices without cluttering bookmarks. And if a tab gets lost among dozens, Command + Shift + backslash opens the tab overview where you can see and search every open tab at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open a private window in Safari?
Press Command + Shift + N. Private Browsing windows do not save history, searches or form data after they are closed.
How do I reopen a closed tab in Safari?
Press Command + Shift + T, or use History → Reopen Last Closed Tab. Safari restores the tab with its page state.
What is the shortcut for Reader in Safari?
Command + Shift + R shows Reader on supported pages (articles and blogs); press Esc or the shortcut again to leave it.
How do I switch tabs with the keyboard in Safari?
Use Command + Shift + ] and Command + Shift + [ for next and previous tabs, Control + Tab as an alternative, or Command + 1–9 to jump by position in newer versions.
By Umar Farooq, Tech Know.
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