How Do I Select All on a Mac Using Keyboard Shortcuts?

Picking everything on your Mac in one swoop?

Here’s how to grab all items in a folder or on your desktop:

Just dive into the folder or hit up your desktop where you wanna make a blanket selection. Smack that Command (⌘) + A on your keyboard, and watch every item in sight light up.

Want all the text in a document?

Open up that doc, and punch the same shortcut Command (⌘) + A. Boom! Every word from start to end is now in your grip.

How about snagging every item in a list?

If you’ve got Finder open, the trusty Command (⌘) + A is your go-to move. Feeling more menu-driven? Just head up to Edit > Select All via the menu bar.

A couple of extra tidbits:

• To escape from all that selection madness, just click anywhere off the highlighted zone or press Command (⌘) + D in some apps. Neat trick, right?
• Trying to cherry-pick items that aren’t in a neat line-up? Hold down Command (⌘) and click away at each one individually like you’re curating your own digital gallery.

Most apps on macOS play nice with these shortcuts, so you can speed things up all over the place. Don’t forget to keep macOS fresh with updates, ’cause you don’t wanna miss out on any fine-tuning.

Need more info?

Pop over to Apple Support and dig into the nitty-gritty of macOS shortcuts.