# Keyboard shortcuts

You can quickly perform tasks by using keyboard shortcuts — one or more keys that you press on the keyboard to complete a task.

Keyboard shortcut descriptions refer to the U.S. keyboard layout. Keys on other keyboard layouts might not correspond to the keys on a U.S. keyboard. Keyboard shortcuts for laptop computers might also differ.

## Opening connections

To | Press
--- | ---
Open a new connection | ⌘+N
Open a saved connection | ⌘+O
Edit connection preferences | ⌘+E
Save connection preferences | ⌘+S
Save as | SHIFT+⌘+S

## Editing and formatting

When you work on the Windows desktop, you can perform all the same tasks by using the corresponding Windows keyboard shortcuts. For example, to copy text from a document on your Windows desktop, you can press CONTROL+C or ⌘+C. To paste the content into a document on your Mac, press ⌘+V.

To | Press
--- | ---
Undo the last action | ⌘+Z
Cut the selection (and copy to the clipboard) | ⌘+X
Copy the selection to the clipboard | ⌘+C
Paste | ⌘+V
Select all | ⌘+A

## Working with session windows

To | Press
--- | ---
Hide Remote Desktop Connection | ⌘+H
Hide other applications | OPTION+⌘+H
Quit Remote Desktop Connection | ⌘+Q
Switch between full-screen and window modes | ⌘+2
Fit contents of screen to window size, or show scroll bars when resizing | ⌘+1
Show the Mac desktop when the Do not show the Mac menu bar and the Dock in full-screen mode option is selected | ⌘+TAB

## Using Mac keyboard shortcuts on the Windows desktop

Remote Desktop Connection includes default key assignments that correspond to tasks on the Windows-based computer.

You can turn off or change any of the following key assignments. On the RDC menu, click Preferences, click Keyboard. In the Mac column, double-click the key that you want to change, and then enter the keyboard shortcut that you want.

Windows | Mac OS X
--- | ---
Secondary mouse button (right-click) | CONTROL+SHIFT+click
ALT key | OPTION
Windows Start key | OPTION+F1
Context menu key | OPTION+F2
Pause/Break key | OPTION+F3
Scroll Lock key | F14
Num Lock key | CLEAR
Print Screen key | OPTION+F4

### See also

Change a keyboard shortcut

Universal access options

Work in full-screen mode