Keyboard shortcuts

You can use keyboard shortcuts to quickly accomplish many tasks in Pages. To use a keyboard shortcut, press all the keys in the shortcut at the same time. Shortcuts for common commands are listed in the table below.

Move around within a document

Action

Shortcut

Move one character to the left

Left Arrow

Move one character to the right

Right Arrow

Move one character backward (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text)

Control-B

Move one character forward (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text)

Control-F

Move to the line above

Up Arrow

Move to the line below

Down Arrow

Move to the beginning of the current or previous word

Control-Option-B

Move to the left edge of the current word (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text)

Option–Left Arrow

Move to the end of the current or next word

Option-Control-F

Move to the right edge of the current word (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text)

Option–Right Arrow

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current text area (document, text box, shape, or table cell

Command–Up Arrow

Move the insertion point to the bottom of the current text area (document, text box, shape, or table cell

Command–Down Arrow

Move to the beginning of the paragraph

Control-A or Option–Up Arrow

Move to the end of the paragraph

Control-E or Option–Down Arrow

Move to the left edge of the current line

Command–Left Arrow

Move to the right edge of the current line

Command–Right Arrow

Scroll up the page

Page Up

Scroll down the page

Page Down

Scroll one page up and move the insertion point

Option–Page Up

Scroll one page down and move the insertion point

Option–Page Down

Move to the beginning of the document without moving the insertion point

Home

Move to the end of the document without moving the insertion point

End

Center the insertion point in the center of the application window

Control-L

Select text

Action

Shortcut

Select one or more characters

Click in front of the first character and drag across the characters you want to select

Select a word

Double-click the word

Select a paragraph

Triple-click in the paragraph

Select all objects and text

Command-A

Deselect all objects and text

Shift-Command-A

Extend the text selection

Click in the text, then Shift-click in another location in the text

Extend the selection one character to the right

Shift–Right Arrow

Extend the selection one character to the left

Shift–Left Arrow

Extend the selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of subsequent words

Option–Shift–Right Arrow

Extend the selection to the beginning of the current word

Option–Shift–Left Arrow

Extend the selection to the end of the current line

Shift–Command–Right Arrow

Extend the selection to the beginning of the current line

Shift–Command–Left Arrow

Extend the selection to the line above

Shift–Up Arrow

Extend the selection to the line below

Shift–Down Arrow

Extend the selection to the beginning of the current paragraph

Option–Shift–Up Arrow

Extend the selection to the end of the current paragraph

Option–Shift–Down Arrow

Extend the selection to the beginning of the text

Shift–Command–Up Arrow or Shift-Home

Extend the selection to the end of the text

Shift–Command–Down Arrow or Shift-End

Select a bullet and its text

Click the bullet

Move a bullet and its text, with its sub-bullets and text

Click the bullet and drag

Format text

Action

Shortcut

Show the Fonts window

Command-T

Show the Colors window

Shift-Command-C

Apply boldface to selected text

Command-B

Apply italic to selected text

Command-I

Apply underline to selected text

Command-U

Delete the previous character or selection

Delete or Control-H

Delete the next character or selection

Control-D or Forward Delete (not available on all keyboards)

Delete the word before the insertion point

Option-Delete

Delete the word after the insertion point

Option–Forward Delete (not available on all keyboards)

Delete the text between the insertion point and the next paragraph break

Control-K

Make the font size bigger

Command–Plus Sign (+)

Make the font size smaller

Command–Minus Sign (–)

Decrease (tighten) the space between selected characters

Option–Command–Left Bracket ([)

Increase (loosen) the space between selected characters

Option–Command–Right Bracket (])

Make the text superscript

Control–Shift–Command–Plus Sign (+)

Make the text subscript

Control–Command–Minus Sign (–)

Align the text flush left

Command–Left Brace ({)

Center the text

Command–Vertical Bar (|)

Align the text flush right

Command–Right Brace (})

Align the text flush left and flush right (justify)

Option–Command–Vertical Bar (|)

Decrease the indent level of a block of text or a list item

Command–Left Bracket ([)

Increase the indent level of a block of text or a list item

Command–Right Bracket (])

Decrease the indent level of a list item

Shift-Tab

Increase the indent level of a list item

Tab

Add a hyperlink to text

Command-K

Cut the selection

Command-X

Copy the selection

Command-C

Copy the paragraph style

Option-Command-C

Paste the selection

Command-V

Paste the paragraph style

Option-Command-V

Paste and match the style of the destination text

Option-Shift-Command-V

Copy the graphic style of text

Option-Command-C

Paste the graphic style of text

Option-Command-V

Add a range to (or remove it from) the selection

Shift-drag

Insert a nonbreaking space

Option–Space bar

Insert a line break (soft return)

Shift-Return

Insert a paragraph break

Return

Insert a new line after the insertion point

Control-O

Insert a page break

Command-Enter or Command-Return-Fn

Enter special characters

Control-Command-Space

Transpose the characters on either side of the insertion point

Control-T

Add an EndNote bibliography

Shift-Command-E

Apply a paragraph, character, or list style using your own shortcut

Assign a shortcut key

Use editing tools

Action

Shortcut

Find

Command-F

Find next

Command-G

Find previous

Shift-Command-G

Place the selected text in the Find & Replace text field.

Command-E

Replace text

Return

Scroll the window to show the selected text or object

Command-J

Hide the Find window

Esc

Look up the word at the insertion point

Control-Command-D

Display a list of words to complete the selected word

Option-Esc

Check spelling and grammar

Command-Semicolon (;)

Show the “Spelling and Grammar” window

Shift-Command-Colon (:)

Highlight text

Shift-Command-H

Add a comment

Shift-Command-K

Show the next comment

Option-Command-K

Show the previous comment

Option-Shift-Command-K

Accept a change (when change tracking is on)

Option-Command-A

Reject a change (when change tracking is on)

Option-Command-R

Manipulate objects

Action

Shortcut

Select all objects

Command-A

Deselect all objects

Shift-Command-A

Select objects by dragging

In page-layout documents, drag from a blank part of the page around objects. Option-drag to select objects outward from the starting point.

Scroll zoom

For Magic Mouse or a trackpad: Option-Command-scroll

Add or remove objects from the selection

Command-drag

Select the previous object on the page

Shift-Tab

Select or deselect additional objects

Command-click or Shift-click

Move selected objects

Drag

Move the selected object one point

Press an arrow key

Move the selected object ten points

Press Shift and an arrow key

Move the selected object one screen pixel

Press Option and an arrow key (for retina display only)

Move the selected object ten screen pixels

Press Option-Shift and an arrow key (for retina display only)

Copy the graphic style

Option-Command-C

Paste the graphic style

Option-Command-V

Apply the shape style but not its text style

Option-click the shape style in the Format inspector

Send the selected object to the back

Shift-Command-B

Send the selected object one layer back

Option-Shift-Command-B

Bring the selected object to the front

Shift-Command-F

Bring the selected object one layer forward

Option-Shift-Command-F

Group selected objects

Option-Command-G

Ungroup selected objects

Option-Shift-Command-G

Select an object in a group

Double-click the object

Select the next object in a group

Tab

Select the previous object in a group

Shift-Tab

End editing an object then select the group

Select an object in the group, then press Command-Return

Lock selected objects

Command-L

Unlock selected objects

Option-Command-L

Duplicate the object

Option-arrow key or Option-drag

Constrain the movement of the object horizontally, vertically, or diagonally (45°)

Shift-drag

Resize the object

Drag a selection handle

Disable alignment guides while moving or resizing an object

Command-drag

Resize the object from the center

Option-drag a selection handle

Constrain the aspect ratio when resizing the object

Shift-drag a selection handle

Constrain the aspect ratio when resizing the object from the center

Option-Shift-drag a selection handle

Rotate the object

Command-drag a selection handle

Rotate the object 45°

Press Shift while rotating

Rotate the object around the opposite handle (instead of the center)

Option-Command-drag a selection handle

Rotate the object 45° around the opposite handle (instead of the center)

Option-Shift-Command-drag a selection handle

Mask or unmask the image

Shift-Command-M

Hide image mask controls

Return, Enter, or double-click

Show image mask controls

Double-click the masked image

Open the shortcut menu for the selected item

Control-click the item

Exit text editing and select the object

Command-Return

Choose an object to insert

Shift-Command-V

Define the selected text as a text placeholder

Control-Option-Command-T

Define the image or movie as a media placeholder

Control-Option-Command-I

Work with tables

Action

Shortcut

Add a row above the selected cells

Option–Up Arrow

Add a row below the selected cells

Option–Down Arrow

Add a column to the right of the selected cells

Option–Right Arrow

Add a column to the left of the selected cells

Option–Left Arrow

Remove rows and columns with content

Option-drag the resize button

Insert a row at the bottom of the table

Option-Return

Select an entire row or column

Click the table, then click the lettered bar for the column or the numbered bar for the row

Select additional rows

Shift–Up Arrow or Shift–Down Arrow

Select additional columns

Shift–Right Arrow or Shift–Left Arrow

Select additional cells

Shift-click

Select only body cells in a row or column

Double-click the lettered bar for the column or the numbered bar for the row

Move the cell selection to the beginning of the next row

Select a cell in the rightmost column then press Tab

Stop the reordering of rows or columns

Press Esc while dragging

Select a table from a cell selection

Command-Return

Select all content in a table

Select a cell then press Command-A

Delete the selected table, or the contents of selected cells

Delete

Constrain the movement of the table horizontally, vertically, or diagonally (45°)

Shift-drag the table

Replace the contents of the selected cell with the contents of the destination cell

Click and hold a cell then drag it to another cell

Copy the contents of the selected cell into the destination cell

Click and hold a cell then Option-drag it to another cell

Copy cell style

Option-Command-C

Paste cell style

Option-Command-V

Paste and preserve the style of the destination cell

Control-Shift-Command-V

Extend the selection from the selected cell to the destination cell

Shift-click in the destination cell

Select a cell

Click a cell in a selected table (double-click a cell in an unselected table)

Add a cell to (or remove it from) the selection

Command-click a selected or unselected cell

Begin text editing

Return or Enter (in a selected cell)

Auto align cell content

Option-Command-U

Stop editing the cell and select the cell

Command-Return

Stop editing the cell and select the table

Command-Return twice

Move the selected table one point

Press an arrow key

Move the selected table ten points

Press Shift and an arrow key

Select the next cell to the left, right, up, or down

Press an arrow key (from a selected cell)

Extend the cell selection by one cell

Press Shift and an arrow key (from a selected cell)

Select the next cell

Tab

Select the previous cell

Shift-Tab

Insert a tab when editing text or a formula

Option-Tab

Insert a line break (soft return) when editing text in a cell

Control-Return

Insert a paragraph break (hard return) when editing text in a cell

Return

Open the Formula Editor for the selected nonformula cell

Equal Sign (=)

Open the Formula Editor for the cell containing a formula or formatted number

Double-click

In the Formula Editor, commit changes

Return or Tab

In the Formula Editor, discard changes

Esc

Create cell references in formulas

Action

Shortcut

Navigate to and select a single cell

Press Option and an arrow key

Extend or shrink a selected cell reference

Press Option-Shift and an arrow key

Navigate to and select the first or last cell in a row or column

Press Option-Command and an arrow key

Change a selected cell reference back to text

Select a reference and press Option-Return

Specify absolute and relative attributes of selected cell references

Press Command-K or Shift-Command-K to move forward or backward through options

Specify absolute and relative attributes of the first and last cells of selected cell references

Press Option-Command-K or Option-Shift-Command-K to move forward or backward through options

Edit chart data

Action

Shortcut

Show or hide the Chart Data editor

Shift-Command-D

Complete a cell entry and move the selection down

Return

Complete a cell entry and move the selection up

Shift-Return

Complete a cell entry and move the selection to the right

Tab

Complete a cell entry and move the selection to the left

Shift-Tab

Move one character left, right, to the beginning of text (up), or to the end of text (down)

Press an arrow key (when editing text)

Work with editable shapes

Action

Shortcut

Make a custom shape editable

Double-click the edge of the shape

Draw a custom shape with the Pen tool

Option-Shift-Command-P

Move a point of an editable shape

Drag the point to another location

Delete a point of an editable shape

Click the point and press Delete

Add a sharp point to an editable shape

Command-drag the midpoint of a line

Add a smooth point to an editable shape

Drag the midpoint of a line

Add a Bézier point to an editable shape

Option-drag the midpoint of a line

Change a curve point of an editable shape into a corner point

Double-click the curved point

Reshape the curve of a smooth point

Drag the line adjacent to the smooth point

Reshape the curve of a Bézier point

Click a Bézier point and drag the control

General

Action

Shortcut

Start dictation

Press Fn twice

Open a new document

Command-N

Open a new document from the template chooser

Option-Command-N

Open an existing document

Command-O

Close the template chooser

Esc

Create a new document from the selected template (in the template chooser)

Enter

Save a document

Command-S

Save As

Option-Shift-Command-S

Duplicate a document

Shift-Command-S

Print a document

Command-P

Open Pages Help

Shift–Command–Question Mark (?)

Close a window

Command-W

Close all windows

Option-Command-W

Minimize a window

Command-M

Minimize all windows

Option-Command-M

Enter full-screen view

Control-Command-F

Zoom in

Command–Right Angle Bracket (>)

Zoom out

Command–Left Angle Bracket (<)

Zoom to selection

Shift-Command-0

Return to actual size

Command-0

Show page thumbnails

Option-Command-P

Show or hide the ruler

Command-R

Open the page setup window

Shift-Command-P

Show or hide layout boundaries

Shift-Command-L

Show formatting characters (invisibles)

Shift-Command-I

Choose a file to insert

Shift-Command-V

Show the Colors window

Shift-Command-C

Hide or show the toolbar

Option-Command-T

Rearrange an item in the toolbar

Command-drag

Remove an item from the toolbar

Command-drag away from the toolbar

Hide or show inspectors

Option-Command-I

Hide Pages

Command-H

Hide windows of other applications

Option-Command-H

Undo the last action

Command-Z

Redo the last action

Shift-Command-Z

Open Pages Preferences

Command-comma (,)

Quit Pages

Command-Q

Quit Pages and keep windows open

Option-Command-Q