Complete Apple Pages keyboard shortcuts and commands reference — 213 shortcuts across 9 categories. Quick reference cheat sheet for Windows & Mac.
Pages is Apple's word processor, and its shortcuts follow the macOS text conventions so closely that most of them work in any Mac text field. The set on this page is the everyday subset — formatting, find, styles, paging — from Apple's user guide. Copy and paste style is the one feature people do not know is on a key.
| Shortcut | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Fn + D | Start dictation | Start dictation. |
| Cmd + N | Create a new document (open the template chooser) | Create a new document (open the template chooser). |
| Option + Cmd + N | Open the template chooser and show the Language pop-up menu | Open the template chooser and show the Language pop-up menu. |
| Esc | Close the template chooser | Close the template chooser. |
| Cmd + O | Open an existing document (open the document manager) | Open an existing document (open the document manager). |
| Cmd + S | Save a document | Save a document. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + S | Save As | Save As. |
| Shift + Cmd + S | Duplicate a document | Duplicate a document. |
| Cmd + P | Print a document | Print a document. |
| Shift + Cmd + ? | Open the Pages User Guide | Open the Pages User Guide. |
| Cmd + W | Close a window | Close a window. |
| Option + Cmd + W | Close all windows | Close all windows. |
| Cmd + M | Minimize a window | Minimize a window. |
| Option + Cmd + M | Minimize all windows | Minimize all windows. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + F | Enter full-screen view | Enter full-screen view. |
| Cmd + + | Increase text size | Increase text size. |
| Cmd + - | Decrease text size | Decrease text size. |
| Shift + Cmd + > | Zoom in | Zoom in. |
| Shift + Cmd + < | Zoom out | Zoom out. |
| Shift + Cmd + 0 | Zoom to selection | Zoom to selection. |
| Cmd + 0 | Return to actual size | Return to actual size. |
| Cmd + R | Show or hide the ruler | Show or hide the ruler. |
| Shift + Cmd + P | Open the Page Setup window | Open the Page Setup window. |
| Shift + Cmd + L | Show or hide layout boundaries | Show or hide layout boundaries. |
| Shift + Cmd + I | Show formatting characters (invisibles) | Show formatting characters (invisibles). |
| Shift + Cmd + V | Choose a file to insert | Choose a file to insert. |
| Shift + Cmd + C | Show the Colors window | Show the Colors window. |
| Option + Cmd + T | Hide or show the toolbar | Hide or show the toolbar. |
| Option + Cmd + I | Hide or show sidebars on the right side of the Pages window | Hide or show sidebars on the right side of the Pages window. |
| Ctrl + ` | Open the next tab in the sidebar | Open the next tab in the sidebar. |
| Shift + Ctrl + ` | Open the previous tab in the sidebar | Open the previous tab in the sidebar. |
| Cmd + H | Hide Pages | Hide Pages. |
| Option + Cmd + H | Hide windows of other applications | Hide windows of other applications. |
| Cmd + Z | Undo the last action | Undo the last action. |
| Shift + Cmd + Z | Redo the last action | Redo the last action. |
| Cmd + , | Open Pages settings | Open Pages settings. |
| Cmd + Q | Quit Pages | Quit Pages. |
| Option + Cmd + Q | Quit Pages and keep windows open | Quit Pages and keep windows open. |
| Shortcut | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left | Move one character to the left | Move one character to the left. |
| Right | Move one character to the right | Move one character to the right. |
| Ctrl + B | Move one character backward (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text) | Move one character backward (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text). |
| Ctrl + F | Move one character forward (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text) | Move one character forward (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text). |
| Up | Move to the line above | Move to the line above. |
| Down | Move to the line below | Move to the line below. |
| Ctrl + Option + B | Move to the beginning of the current or previous word | Move to the beginning of the current or previous word. |
| Option + Left | Move to the left edge of the current word (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text) | Move to the left edge of the current word (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text). |
| Ctrl + Option + F | Move to the end of the current or next word | Move to the end of the current or next word. |
| Option + Right | Move to the right edge of the current word (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text) | Move to the right edge of the current word (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text). |
| Cmd + Up | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current text area (document, text box, shape, or table cell) | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current text area (document, text box, shape, or table cell). |
| Cmd + Down | Move the insertion point to the bottom of the current text area (document, text box, shape, or table cell) | Move the insertion point to the bottom of the current text area (document, text box, shape, or table cell). |
| Ctrl + A or Option + Up | Move to the beginning of the paragraph | Move to the beginning of the paragraph. |
| Ctrl + E or Option + Down | Move to the end of the paragraph | Move to the end of the paragraph. |
| Cmd + Left | Move to the left edge of the current line | Move to the left edge of the current line. |
| Cmd + Right | Move to the right edge of the current line | Move to the right edge of the current line. |
| Fn + Up or Page Up | Scroll up one page without moving the insertion point | Scroll up one page without moving the insertion point. |
| Fn + Down or Page Down | Scroll down one page without moving the insertion point | Scroll down one page without moving the insertion point. |
| Option + Page Up | Scroll up one page and move the insertion point | Scroll up one page and move the insertion point. |
| Ctrl + V or Option + Page Down | Scroll down one page and move the insertion point | Scroll down one page and move the insertion point. |
| Home or Fn + Left | Move to the beginning of the document without moving the insertion point | Move to the beginning of the document without moving the insertion point. |
| End or Fn + Right | Move to the end of the document without moving the insertion point | Move to the end of the document without moving the insertion point. |
| Ctrl + L | Center the insertion point in the center of the application window | Center the insertion point in the center of the application window. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + G | Go to a specific page | Go to a specific page. |
| Shortcut | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Cmd + A | Select all objects and text | Select all objects and text. |
| Shift + Cmd + A | Deselect all objects and text | Deselect all objects and text. |
| Shift + Right | Extend the selection one character to the right | Extend the selection one character to the right. |
| Shift + Left | Extend the selection one character to the left | Extend the selection one character to the left. |
| Option + Shift + Right | Extend the selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of subsequent words | Extend the selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of subsequent words. |
| Option + Shift + Left | Extend the selection to the beginning of the current word | Extend the selection to the beginning of the current word. |
| Shift + Cmd + Right | Extend the selection to the end of the current line | Extend the selection to the end of the current line. |
| Shift + Cmd + Left | Extend the selection to the beginning of the current line | Extend the selection to the beginning of the current line. |
| Shift + Up | Extend the selection to the line above | Extend the selection to the line above. |
| Shift + Down | Extend the selection to the line below | Extend the selection to the line below. |
| Option + Shift + Up | Extend the selection to the beginning of the current paragraph | Extend the selection to the beginning of the current paragraph. |
| Option + Shift + Down | Extend the selection to the end of the current paragraph | Extend the selection to the end of the current paragraph. |
| Shift + Cmd + Up or Shift + Home | Extend the selection to the beginning of the text | Extend the selection to the beginning of the text. |
| Shift + Cmd + Down or Shift + End | Extend the selection to the end of the text | Extend the selection to the end of the text. |
| Shortcut | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Cmd + T | Show the Fonts window | Show the Fonts window. |
| Shift + Cmd + C | Show the Colors window | Show the Colors window. |
| Cmd + B | Apply boldface to selected text | Apply boldface to selected text. |
| Cmd + I | Apply italic to selected text | Apply italic to selected text. |
| Cmd + U | Apply underline to selected text | Apply underline to selected text. |
| Delete or Ctrl + H | Delete the previous character or selection | Delete the previous character or selection. |
| Ctrl + D | Delete the next character or selection | Delete the next character or selection. |
| Option + Delete | Delete the word before the insertion point | Delete the word before the insertion point. |
| Ctrl + K | Delete the text between the insertion point and the next paragraph break | Delete the text between the insertion point and the next paragraph break. |
| Cmd + + | Make the font size bigger | Make the font size bigger. |
| Cmd + - | Make the font size smaller | Make the font size smaller. |
| Option + Cmd + [ | Decrease (tighten) the space between selected characters | Decrease (tighten) the space between selected characters. |
| Option + Cmd + ] | Increase (loosen) the space between selected characters | Increase (loosen) the space between selected characters. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + + | Make the text superscript | Make the text superscript. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + - | Make the text subscript | Make the text subscript. |
| Cmd + { | Align the text flush left | Align the text flush left. |
| Cmd + | | Center the text | Center the text. |
| Cmd + } | Align the text flush right | Align the text flush right. |
| Option + Cmd + | | Align the text flush left and flush right (justify) | Align the text flush left and flush right (justify). |
| Cmd + [ | Decrease the indent level of a block of text or a list item | Decrease the indent level of a block of text or a list item. |
| Cmd + ] | Increase the indent level of a block of text or a list item | Increase the indent level of a block of text or a list item. |
| Shift + Tab | Decrease the indent level of a list item | Decrease the indent level of a list item. |
| Tab | Increase the indent level of a list item | Increase the indent level of a list item. |
| Cmd + K | Turn text or an object into a link | Turn text or an object into a link. |
| Option + Cmd + B | Add a bookmark | Add a bookmark. |
| Cmd + X | Cut the selection | Cut the selection. |
| Cmd + C | Copy the selection | Copy the selection. |
| Option + Cmd + C | Copy the paragraph style | Copy the paragraph style. |
| Cmd + V | Paste the selection | Paste the selection. |
| Option + Cmd + V | Paste the paragraph style | Paste the paragraph style. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + V | Paste and match the style of the destination text | Paste and match the style of the destination text. |
| Option + Cmd + C | Copy the graphic style of text | Copy the graphic style of text. |
| Option + Cmd + V | Paste the graphic style of text | Paste the graphic style of text. |
| Option + Space | Insert a nonbreaking space | Insert a nonbreaking space. |
| Shift + Return | Insert a line break (soft return) | Insert a line break (soft return). |
| Return | Insert a paragraph break | Insert a paragraph break. |
| Ctrl + O | Insert a new line after the insertion point | Insert a new line after the insertion point. |
| Cmd + Return | Insert a page break | Insert a page break. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + Space | Enter special characters | Enter special characters. |
| Ctrl + T | Transpose the characters on either side of the insertion point | Transpose the characters on either side of the insertion point. |
| Shift + Option + Cmd + E | Add an EndNote bibliography | Add an EndNote bibliography. |
| Shortcut | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Delete | Delete the previous character or selection | Delete the previous character or selection. |
| Fn + Delete | Delete the next character or selection | Delete the next character or selection. |
| Cmd + F | Find | Find. |
| Cmd + G | Find next (while in the Find window) | Find next (while in the Find window). |
| Shift + Cmd + G | Find previous (while in the Find window) | Find previous (while in the Find window). |
| Cmd + E | Place the selected text in the Find & Replace text field | Place the selected text in the Find & Replace text field. |
| Return | Replace text | Replace text. |
| Cmd + J | Scroll the window to show the selected text or object | Scroll the window to show the selected text or object. |
| Esc | Hide the Find window | Hide the Find window. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + D | Look up the word at the insertion point | Look up the word at the insertion point. |
| Option + Esc | Display a list of words to complete the selected word | Display a list of words to complete the selected word. |
| Cmd + ; | Check spelling and grammar | Check spelling and grammar. |
| Shift + Cmd + : | Show the “Spelling and Grammar” window | Show the “Spelling and Grammar” window. |
| Shift + Cmd + H | Highlight text | Highlight text. |
| Shift + Cmd + K | Open a new comment for the selected text, object, or table cell | Open a new comment for the selected text, object, or table cell. |
| Cmd + Return | Save a comment | Save a comment. |
| Option + Cmd + K | Show the next comment | Show the next comment. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + K | Show the previous comment | Show the previous comment. |
| Option + Cmd + A | Accept a change (when change tracking is on) | Accept a change (when change tracking is on). |
| Option + Cmd + R | Reject a change (when change tracking is on) | Reject a change (when change tracking is on). |
| Shift + Cmd + W | Show or hide word count | Show or hide word count. |
| Shift + Cmd + E | Enter or exit Edit Page Template view | Enter or exit Edit Page Template view. |
| Shortcut | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Cmd + A | Select all objects | Select all objects. |
| Shift + Cmd + A | Deselect all objects | Deselect all objects. |
| Shift + Tab | Select the previous object on the page | Select the previous object on the page. |
| Option + Cmd + C | Copy the graphic style | Copy the graphic style. |
| Option + Cmd + V | Paste the graphic style | Paste the graphic style. |
| Shift + Cmd + B | Send the selected object to the back | Send the selected object to the back. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + B | Send the selected object one layer back | Send the selected object one layer back. |
| Shift + Cmd + F | Bring the selected object to the front | Bring the selected object to the front. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + F | Bring the selected object one layer forward | Bring the selected object one layer forward. |
| Option + Cmd + G | Group selected objects | Group selected objects. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + G | Ungroup selected objects | Ungroup selected objects. |
| Tab | Select the next object in a group | Select the next object in a group. |
| Shift + Tab | Select the previous object in a group | Select the previous object in a group. |
| Cmd + L | Lock selected objects | Lock selected objects. |
| Option + Cmd + L | Unlock selected objects | Unlock selected objects. |
| Press Shift while rotating | Rotate the object 45° | Rotate the object 45°. |
| Shift + Cmd + M | Mask or unmask the image | Mask or unmask the image. |
| Cmd + Return | Exit text editing and select the object | Exit text editing and select the object. |
| Shift + Cmd + V | Choose an object to insert | Choose an object to insert. |
| Ctrl + Option + Cmd + T | Define the selected text as a text placeholder | Define the selected text as a text placeholder. |
| Ctrl + Option + Cmd + I | Define the image or movie as a media placeholder | Define the image or movie as a media placeholder. |
| Shortcut | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Option + Shift + Cmd + P | Draw a custom shape with the Pen tool | Draw a custom shape with the Pen tool. |
| Shortcut | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Option + Up | Add a row above the selected cells | Add a row above the selected cells. |
| Option + Down | Add a row below the selected cells | Add a row below the selected cells. |
| Option + Right | Add a column to the right of the selected cells | Add a column to the right of the selected cells. |
| Option + Left | Add a column to the left of the selected cells | Add a column to the left of the selected cells. |
| Option + Return | Insert a row at the bottom of the table | Insert a row at the bottom of the table. |
| Option + Cmd + Return | Select all rows that intersect the current selection | Select all rows that intersect the current selection. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + Return | Select all columns that intersect the current selection | Select all columns that intersect the current selection. |
| Shift + Up or Shift + Down | Select additional rows | Select additional rows. |
| Shift + Right or Shift + Left | Select additional columns | Select additional columns. |
| Cmd + Return | Select a table from a cell selection | Select a table from a cell selection. |
| Delete | Delete the selected table, or the contents of selected cells | Delete the selected table, or the contents of selected cells. |
| Option + Cmd + C | Copy cell style | Copy cell style. |
| Option + Cmd + V | Paste cell style | Paste cell style. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + V | Paste and preserve the style of the destination cell | Paste and preserve the style of the destination cell. |
| Return | Begin text editing | Begin text editing. |
| Option + Cmd + U | Auto-align cell content | Auto-align cell content. |
| Cmd + Return | Stop editing the cell and select the cell | Stop editing the cell and select the cell. |
| Tab | Select the next cell | Select the next cell. |
| Shift + Tab | Select the previous cell | Select the previous cell. |
| Option + Tab | Insert a tab when editing text or a formula | Insert a tab when editing text or a formula. |
| Shift + Return | Insert a line break (soft return) when editing text in a cell | Insert a line break (soft return) when editing text in a cell. |
| Return | Insert a paragraph break (hard return) when editing text in a cell | Insert a paragraph break (hard return) when editing text in a cell. |
| = | Open the Formula Editor for the selected nonformula cell | Open the Formula Editor for the selected nonformula cell. |
| Return or Tab | In the Formula Editor, commit changes | In the Formula Editor, commit changes. |
| Esc | In the Formula Editor, discard changes | In the Formula Editor, discard changes. |
| Option + Cmd + Left | Select the first populated cell in the current row | Select the first populated cell in the current row. |
| Option + Cmd + Right | Select the last populated cell in the current row | Select the last populated cell in the current row. |
| Option + Cmd + Up | Select the first populated cell in the current column | Select the first populated cell in the current column. |
| Option + Cmd + Down | Select the last populated cell in the current column | Select the last populated cell in the current column. |
| Option + Cmd + Delete | Delete selected rows | Delete selected rows. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + Delete | Delete selected columns | Delete selected columns. |
| Shift + Tab | Select the table name | Select the table name. |
| Return | Select the first cell in a selected table | Select the first cell in a selected table. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + Left | Expand the current selection to include the first populated cell in the current row | Expand the current selection to include the first populated cell in the current row. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + Right | Expand the current selection to include the last populated cell in the current row | Expand the current selection to include the last populated cell in the current row. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + Up | Expand the current selection to include the first populated cell in the current column | Expand the current selection to include the first populated cell in the current column. |
| Option + Shift + Cmd + Down | Expand the current selection to include the last populated cell in the current column | Expand the current selection to include the last populated cell in the current column. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + M | Merge selected cells | Merge selected cells. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Cmd + M | Unmerge selected cells | Unmerge selected cells. |
| Ctrl + Option + Cmd + Up | Add or remove the top border | Add or remove the top border. |
| Ctrl + Option + Cmd + Down | Add or remove the bottom border | Add or remove the bottom border. |
| Ctrl + Option + Cmd + Right | Add or remove the right border | Add or remove the right border. |
| Ctrl + Option + Cmd + Left | Add or remove the left border | Add or remove the left border. |
| Cmd + \ | Turn on autofill mode | Turn on autofill mode. |
| Ctrl + Cmd + \ | Autofill from the column before | Autofill from the column before. |
| Option + Cmd + \ | Autofill from the row above | Autofill from the row above. |
| Shortcut | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Option + Cmd + E | Insert an equation | Insert an equation. |
| Shift + Cmd + D | Show or hide the Chart Data editor | Show or hide the Chart Data editor. |
| Return | Complete a cell entry and move the selection down | Complete a cell entry and move the selection down. |
| Shift + Return | Complete a cell entry and move the selection up | Complete a cell entry and move the selection up. |
| Tab | Complete a cell entry and move the selection to the right | Complete a cell entry and move the selection to the right. |
| Shift + Tab | Complete a cell entry and move the selection to the left | Complete a cell entry and move the selection to the left. |
The most essential Apple Pages shortcuts are: Cmd + B (Bold), Cmd + I (Italic), Cmd + T (Font panel).
The Apple Pages shortcut for bold is Cmd + B. Bold text.
Print the Apple Pages cheat sheet and keep it next to your keyboard for the first week, then switch to active recall: open Shortcut Speedrun and practice Apple Pages shortcuts against the clock until they're automatic.
Yes — use My Stack to combine Apple Pages shortcuts with any other platform on this site into one printable reference, which is useful if your daily workflow spans several tools.
Cmd + B, Cmd + I and Cmd + U apply bold, italic and underline, and Cmd + T opens the Fonts panel for anything beyond that. Cmd + Shift + V pastes text and matches the destination formatting, which is the paste to use from a web page or another document; plain Cmd + V keeps the source style. Cmd + Option + C copies the character and paragraph style of the selection and Cmd + Option + V applies it elsewhere — Pages' format painter.
Cmd + F opens the find bar and Cmd + G jumps to the next match; the bar's menu switches to find-and-replace. Fn + Up pages up (and Fn + Down pages down) on keyboards without dedicated keys. Cmd + Z and Cmd + Shift + Z undo and redo without limit inside the session.
Cmd + S saves; documents in iCloud save continuously and Cmd + S marks a version you can return to with File › Revert To. Cmd + P prints, and the print dialog's PDF menu is the quickest export to PDF. Word export lives in File › Export To.
Open your assistant with this page preloaded as the source — great for follow-up questions like "which of these work in other apps?"