Universal keyboard shortcut for searching/exploring on macOS, similar to Ctrl+E on Windows

keyboard

This was initially formulated as a question, then I found out the keyboard shortcut of macOS Chrome on its Google search functionality (inputs are never interpreted as website address even if the input is a website address, e.g., asp.net, Chrome will google asp.net instead of visiting it) on its address bar is the same across many macOS apps. I'll answer my own question 🙂

Anyway here's the question:

Windows has almost universal keyboard shortcut for searching/exploring, it's Ctrl+E. It always focus (or pop-up) the input to the app's search bar (if there's any), at least on many apps that I tried

E.g., on Windows, Ctrl+E works the same on Windows Explorer, Microsoft Store, OneNote, Visual Studio Code, Edge, Chrome, Firefox

Is there any similar universal keyboard shortcut in macOS?

Best Answer

On many macOS apps, Command+Option+F brings up the same Control+E functionality from their cousin apps in Windows, e.g., Finder, OneNote, Edge, Chrome, Firefox

One exception is Visual Studio Code for Mac (perhaps all IDEs, text editors), Command+Option+F brings up Find-and-Replace functionality instead.

Visual Studio for Mac, brings up Find-and-Replace functionality too. To move the focus on the search bar, press Command+. instead

On Visual Studio Code (explore actions / files):

  • Windows: Control+E
  • macOS: Command+P instead of Command+Option+F

Skype for Mac's Command+Option+F focuses the input on People, groups && messages search bar. Skype for Windows' Control+E is not working, perhaps the developers just forgot to implement it.

On Finder, Command+Option+F merely moves the focus (just like how Control+E on Windows apps behaves) on its search bar:

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Finder's Command+F, has a bit different functionality. I prefer Command+Option+F though, it works how I expected it to behave, i.e., it just move the focus on search bar, just like when the search bar is clicked by mouse instead. Finder's Command+F:

enter image description here