Keyboard shortcuts provide a fast and convenient way to navigate your Mac and perform common tasks more efficiently. Rather than clicking through menus or dragging your mouse across the screen, shortcuts allow you to execute commands with a quick tap of your fingers. This saves time and effort, especially for frequent tasks like saving documents. Experienced Mac users rely on keyboard shortcuts to boost productivity and work more quickly. While shortcuts may take some practice to memorize at first, they soon become second nature. Mastering a few key shortcuts can streamline your workflow and allow you to get more done in less time.
What Save As Does
The Save As command allows saving a file with a new name or location without changing the original file. When you use Save As, it creates a copy of the current document, spreadsheet, or presentation with the changes you’ve made, while preserving the original (Source).
Save As is useful when you want to save different versions of a file. For example, you might use Save As to save a draft version before finalizing the document. Or, you could use it to save copies for different purposes or formats, like saving a separate PDF copy of a report (Source).
Unlike the regular Save command which overwrites the existing file, Save As lets you save the file with a new name or location, preserving the original. This avoids accidentally overwriting or losing work.
Default macOS Save Shortcut
The default keyboard shortcut to save a file on Mac is Command + S. This allows you to quickly save changes to a document without moving your hands from the keyboard.
According to Apple’s support article on Mac keyboard shortcuts[1], pressing Command + S will save the active file in any app. If you are working on a document that has not yet been saved, Command + S will launch the Save As dialog box.
This keyboard shortcut has been the default for saving files on Mac for many years. It allows you to save your work frequently without interrupting your workflow. The Command + S shortcut is essential for Mac users to learn.
Default macOS Save As Shortcut
The default keyboard shortcut for Save As on Mac is Shift + Command + S. This allows you to quickly access the Save As dialog box in any application using only the keyboard.
According to Apple Support, holding Shift + Command + S will bring up the Save As dialog in macOS applications. This dialog allows you to specify a new filename and location to save the current file, rather than overwriting the existing file. It’s useful for creating multiple versions of a file or saving copies to new locations.
Though Save As was removed as a default menu option in recent macOS versions to simplify the File menu, the keyboard shortcut remains. So you can still access Save As easily if you need it.
The Save As shortcut has been around for many years on Mac and remains a quick way to duplicate or backup files without altering the original.
Customizing Shortcuts
Mac users have the ability to customize or change keyboard shortcuts through System Preferences. To access the keyboard shortcuts customization screen, go to System Preferences and click on the Keyboard icon. Then select the Keyboard Shortcuts tab on the right side.
Here you can view and modify shortcuts for various functions like Cut, Copy, Paste, Save, and many others. For example, if you wanted to change the default ⌘ + S keyboard shortcut for Save to something else, you could click on Save in the left sidebar, then double click on the shortcut and press your new desired key combination.
In addition to changing existing shortcuts, you can also create custom shortcuts for menu items that don’t have a mapping yet. Just click the + button at the bottom of the left sidebar to add a new shortcut, then select the menu command and input your custom keys.
Customizing your keyboard shortcuts this way allows you to optimize your workflow and be more efficient on your Mac. Just be careful not to choose a shortcut that’s already mapped to another function. See Apple’s support page for more details on customizing shortcuts.
Other Save Shortcuts
In addition to the standard Command + S shortcut to save a file, there are other useful keyboard shortcuts for saving files on a Mac:
Use Option + Command + S to save all open files at once. This shortcut saves every open document in one go, rather than having to save each one individually. It’s handy when you have multiple files open that contain changes you want to save before closing them or moving on to other work.
You can also use Shift + Command + S to bring up the Save As dialog box even if you’re working in an existing file. This allows you to quickly save a separate version or copy of the current file without overwriting the original.
For more advanced saving options, Control + Shift + Command + S opens the Versions browser where you can view past versions of a file and restore an older draft if needed. This lets you easily revert or roll back changes if you ever save over something accidentally.
Knowing these extra Save shortcuts beyond the basics expands your ability to quickly and efficiently handle saving files on a Mac.
Sources:
[2] https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201236
Benefits of Keyboard Shortcuts
Using keyboard shortcuts can provide many benefits for computer users. According to Unacademy, the main advantages of keyboard shortcuts are that they save time and boost productivity.
Keyboard shortcuts allow you to bypass using the mouse and menu navigation to access commands quickly. This increased efficiency can contribute to getting more work done in less time. As detailed by Detail Devil, executing commands through shortcut keys is faster and more precise than point-and-clicking icons or dropdown menus.
Shortcuts enable you to keep your hands on the keyboard while working, reducing hand movements to and from the mouse. This workflow can help optimize speed and focus when typing, editing, and navigating documents or applications.
Overall, learning keyboard shortcuts is an easy way to work smarter and accomplish more on the computer through time savings and improved productivity.
Other Common Shortcuts
In addition to shortcuts for saving files, there are many other useful keyboard shortcuts on Mac computers:
Copy: Command-C copies the selected item to the clipboard.
Paste: Command-V pastes the contents of the clipboard into the current document or app.
Cut: Command-X cuts the selected item and copies it to the clipboard.
Undo: Command-Z undoes the previous command. You can then press Command-Shift-Z to redo if you change your mind.
Select All: Command-A selects all contents of a document or window. This makes it easy to apply changes to everything at once.
Find: Command-F opens the Find window to search for text in a document or app.
These are just a few of the most useful keyboard shortcuts that can help Mac users save time and work more efficiently.
Conclusion
In summary, the default keyboard shortcut for Save As on a Mac is Shift + Command + S. This shortcut allows you to quickly save a file to a new name or location without needing to navigate through menus. Using keyboard shortcuts like Shift + Command + S can save you time and increase productivity. Other benefits include reducing mouse usage to prevent repetitive strain injuries and keeping your hands on the keyboard to maintain typing flow. Though you can customize shortcuts, the default macOS shortcuts provide an efficient and convenient way to perform common tasks like Save As. Keyboard shortcuts are easy to learn and helpful for any Mac user, so take advantage of built-in shortcuts like Shift + Command + S to save yourself time and effort.
References
For further reading on keyboard shortcuts in macOS, check out these helpful resources:
- Apple Support – Keyboard shortcuts for Mac
- How-To Geek – 20 Terminal Commands Every Mac User Should Know
- MakeUseOf – 20 of the Best Mac Keyboard Shortcuts You Aren’t Using (But Should)
- Dummies – Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
Check back regularly, as we’ll continue adding more useful Mac tips and tricks.