Select All Shortcut

Select all is ⌘A on Mac and Ctrl+A on Windows. Here it is with the related selection shortcuts.

Action	Mac	Windows
Select all	`⌘A`	`Ctrl+A`
Select to start / end of line	`⌘⇧← / →`	`Shift+Home / End`
Select word by word	`⌥⇧← / →`	`Ctrl+Shift+← / →`
Select to top / bottom of document	`⌘⇧↑ / ↓`	`Ctrl+Shift+Home / End`
Extend selection one line	`⇧↑ / ↓`	`Shift+↑ / ↓`
Deselect	`Click / arrow key`	`Click / arrow key`

Select all, then refine

⌘A (Mac) or Ctrl+A (Windows) selects everything in the current document, list or field. From there you can copy, delete or format the lot at once.

Precise selections without the mouse

Hold ⇧ (Shift) and move with the arrow keys to extend a selection. Add ⌥/Ctrl to jump word by word, or ⌘/Home/End to grab to the edge of the line or document.

FAQ

What is the select all shortcut?

Press ⌘A on the Mac or Ctrl+A on Windows to select everything in the active document, field or list.

How do I select part of the text with the keyboard?

Hold Shift and use the arrow keys. Add Option (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) to extend word by word, or Home/End to reach the edge of the line.

Does select all work on files too?

Yes — ⌘A / Ctrl+A selects every item in a Finder or File Explorer window, ready to copy, move or delete.