How to survive using your keyboard only. Screw that mouse
By pressing ctrl + F2, you open access to your menu bar, which is navigated with arrows, enter, or letters (for a shortcut, type the first letter of the menu item you want to access.
Pressing ctrl + F3 opens up your access to your dock, which can be navigated in the same way as the menu bar.
NOTE: If those actions are not working, then press ctrl + F1 to activate/deactivate this function.
You could really do anything without touching a mouse! So if your mighty mouse runs out of battery and there are no spare batteries…. How convenient!
Don’t forget those simple shortcuts too, like ‘Command () + Shift + A‘ that opens your applications folder (only works when on Finder, Safari for example, gives you autofill preferences…)
Other shortcuts you must know are:
Empty trash: Command () + Shift + Delete
Quit application: Command () + Q
Close current window: Command () + W
UPDATE: oli4 reminded me with his comment; to see a directory of shortcuts, go to System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard Shortcuts
UPDATE #2: Learned a new shortcut! When on Safari, select a word you don’t know and press ctrl + Command () + D and you will get a quick definition show up as a tool tip kind of thing!
Mind you pimp in Pimp My Mac is not meant to hold that definition
Why don’t you post more shortcuts for others’ convenience in the comments?
Filed under: How To, Leopard, Productivity, Safari, Tips | Tagged: Apple, don't use a mouse, How To, how to's, howto, keyboard, keyboard shortcuts, list of shortcuts, Mac, mouse, Tips, tricks, use keyboard only, use your keyboard only














I think everybody knows these:
Command () + tab = Change application
Command () + o = open (map or document)
Command () + [ = previous window
Command () + ] = next window
Command () + , = preferences of the application
Command () + x = cut
Command () + c = copy
Command () + v = paste
in safari:
Command () + L = focus on address bar
check also in systempreferences/keyboard & mouse/shortcuts for more
Command + Shift + N = New Folder
Command + Delete = Move to Trash
in Firefox:
Command + K = google-bar Search
ctrl+f1/2 don’t work for me… I have the new style layout keyboard.
My thanks to you (and the others who replied) for posting this material. I’m helping my FIL who is an intelligent, 110% computer-illiterate man who wants email. (I’ll spare you the saga but its been hysterical.) The 2-button scroll mouse was too complicated. Now the one button Apple mouse is too complicated. (Don’t ask…) So now I’m trying NO mouse. He only needs the MOST basic of keyboard shortcuts and you posted those! Just imagine of what I went through before I pitched his old Windows unit and brought him the new Mini! That should keep you laughing for hours:>)
Pressing the Option/ Alt Key 5 times turns on your keyboard mouse which allows complete mouse control by using only the keyboard.
8= navigate mouse up (7&9 to move to top corners)
u= navigate mouse left
o= navigate mouse right
i= mouse click/ highlight text
k= navigate mouse down (j&l to move to bottom corners)
* NOTE you cannot type with your keyboard mouse turned on, however simply press the Option/ Alt key again 5 times to switch back to normal keyboard.