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Contacts Shortcuts

This page is a complete keyboard shortcut reference for Contacts on macOS, covering all 17 shortcuts organized into 1 sections. Whether you’re new to Contacts or looking to master advanced features, this cheat sheet has every key combination you need — from basic editing and navigation to app-specific power-user actions.

Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to work in Contacts. Every time you use a shortcut instead of reaching for the mouse, you save a few seconds — and those seconds compound into hours over weeks and months. Start with the shortcuts you use most (copy, paste, undo, save), then gradually add app-specific ones as they become relevant to your workflow. Bookmark this page or download the PDF cheat sheet for quick reference.

Using keyboard shortcuts in Contacts reduces context switching between keyboard and mouse, helping you maintain focus and work more efficiently. Research shows that shortcut-driven workflows can save up to 8 working days per year compared to menu-driven navigation. On macOS, most Contacts shortcuts follow standard conventions — once you learn the modifier key patterns, new shortcuts become intuitive.

Tips for Learning Shortcuts

  • Practice one new Contacts shortcut each day. Muscle memory builds faster when you focus on a single combination at a time rather than trying to learn them all at once.
  • Print or bookmark this page for quick reference while working in Contacts. Having shortcuts visible nearby helps bridge the gap between looking them up and recalling them from memory.
  • Start with the shortcuts you use most. In Contacts, common actions like copy, paste, undo, and save are worth learning first since they apply across nearly every workflow.

General17

ActionShortcut
Save changesS
Show or hide the last importL
Mark a card as a company or person\
Open Contacts settings,
Import contacts from other appsO
Go to the next card]
Choose a custom image for a contactI
Create a card for a new contactN
Print mailing labels, envelopes, and contact listsP
Go to the previous card[
Open a card in a separate windowI
Create a new listN
Edit the current contactL
Go to your My CardM
Create a new Smart ListN
Show or hide lists1
Merge or link selected cardsL

Frequently Asked Questions

Access Contacts shortcuts from your menu bar

KeyShortcut detects the active app and shows its shortcuts instantly. No memorization needed.