Save Shortcut (Ctrl+S / ⌘S)
Save is ⌘S on Mac and Ctrl+S on Windows. Here it is with Save As and save-all.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save | ⌘S | Ctrl+S | |
| Save As | ⌘⇧S | Ctrl+Shift+S or F12 | |
| Save all open files | ⌘⌥S | Ctrl+Shift+S (editors) | |
| Save a copy / duplicate | ⌘⇧D | F12 → new name | |
| Export / Save as PDF | ⌘P → Save as PDF | Ctrl+P → Microsoft Print to PDF | |
| New document | ⌘N | Ctrl+N | |
| Open document | ⌘O | Ctrl+O | |
| Close document | ⌘W | Ctrl+W |
Save early, save often
⌘S (Mac) or Ctrl+S (Windows) saves the current document. Make it a reflex after every meaningful change — cloud apps like Google Docs autosave, but desktop apps often don't.
Save As and duplicate
⌘⇧S / Ctrl+Shift+S (or F12 in Office) opens Save As to keep a copy under a new name or format, leaving the original untouched.
Troubleshooting: Ctrl+S not working
If Ctrl+S / ⌘S does nothing, check three things. First, the document may be read-only or stored in a folder you can't write to — try Save As (⌘⇧S / Ctrl+Shift+S) to a different location. Second, some web apps capture the shortcut and open a browser save dialog instead — click inside the document area first, or use the app's own File menu. Third, in Microsoft Office a stuck save often means the file is open elsewhere; close the other window and retry.
FAQ
What does Ctrl+S do?
Ctrl+S (⌘S on the Mac) saves the current document, file or project in almost every desktop app.
What is the Save As shortcut?
Press ⌘⇧S on the Mac or Ctrl+Shift+S on Windows; in Microsoft Office, F12 also opens Save As.
Do I need to save in Google Docs or Office 365?
Cloud documents autosave as you type, so Ctrl+S is optional there. Traditional desktop apps still need a manual save.
How do I save a file as PDF?
Press Ctrl+P / ⌘P and choose 'Save as PDF' (Mac) or 'Microsoft Print to PDF' (Windows) as the printer — no printer required.
Why isn't Ctrl+S saving my work?
Some apps bind Ctrl+S to something else, or the file is read-only. Use File → Save from the menu, or check that you have write permission to the folder.