Mac Refresh Shortcut Key |best| Jun 2026

The Ultimate Guide to the Mac Refresh Shortcut Key The universal refresh shortcut key on macOS is . This single key combination replaces the standard F5 key used on Windows systems. It allows you to reload web pages and app interfaces instantly.

| App | Refresh Action | Shortcut | |-----|----------------|-----------| | Safari | Reload page | Command + R | | Chrome | Reload page | Command + R | | Firefox | Reload page | Command + R | | Mail | Get new mail | Shift + Command + N | | App Store | Reload page | Command + R | | Xcode | Reload view | Command + Shift + R | | Spotify | Reload playlist | Command + R (sometimes) | | Microsoft Excel | Recalculate sheet | F9 (Fn + F9 on MacBooks) | | Finder | Refresh window | No native — use Command + Option + R or relaunch Finder | mac refresh shortcut key

Shift + Command + . (dot) toggles hidden files and forces a view refresh. Option + Right-click on Finder icon in Dock → Relaunch → hard refresh. The Ultimate Guide to the Mac Refresh Shortcut

Instead, what "refresh" means depends entirely on the context: | App | Refresh Action | Shortcut |

Not all Finder versions expose a "Refresh" menu item. If missing, use Automator or BetterTouchTool.

If something doesn't refresh automatically on a Mac, it's considered a bug — not a missing feature. The shortcuts exist only as fallbacks for edge cases (network latency, corrupted cache, external drives).