F5 Refresh On OSX, Key Combination To Refresh A Web Page On Mac OSX

One thing I do on a regular basis when using web browsers on Windows is to click the F5 button to refresh a web page. On a Mac running OSX this does not function by default however it is easy to add a key combination to simulate this so it functions as it would in Windows. Use the information below to set up a key combination configuration to allow you to click fn-F5 on your Mac running OSX to refresh web pages in Chrome. The function+F5 key combination already works in Firefox and Command+R refreshes web pages in Safari.

Create Keyboard Shortcut To Refresh Web Pages In Chrome On OSX:

1. Open System Preferences: First open System Preferences by clicking on the Apple icon in the top right corner of the OSX menu bar and select System Preferences from the drop down menu to open the System Preferences configuration window as shown in the below example image.

   

2. Keyboard Preferences: Now click on the Keyboard icon located underneath the Hardware sub section to launch the Keyboard Preferences configuration window as shown in the below example image.

   

3. Keyboard Shortcuts Configuration Window: Once the Keyboard Preferences configuration window is open as shown above click on the Keyboard Shortcuts tab located in the center near the top of the Keyboard Preferences window. Once clicked the Keyboard Shortcuts configuration window will display similar to the below example image.

   

4. Keyboard Application Shortcuts: Now in the left column click on Application Shortcuts to display all of the application keyboard shortcuts that are already configured which unless you have already configured some application keyboard shortcuts will likely only include  single application shortcut for displaying help in any application as shown in the below example image.

   

5. New Application Shortcut: With Application Shortcuts highlighted in the left column click the plus symbol button located below the list of application shortcuts to add a new application shortcut. Once clicked a smaller configuration window will appear on top of the Keyboard Preferences window as shown below.

   

6. Create Chrome Refresh Shortcut: Now fill in the following details in the Add Application Shortcut configuration window as shown in the below example image. First select Chrome from the Application drop down menu. Next type Reload This Page in the Menu Title field and then put the cursor in the Keyboard Shortcut field and click fn(function) and F5 at the same time. Once you have filled in all three fields the Add Application Shortcut configuration window should look like the below.

   

7. Verify Application Shortcut For Chrome: Click the Add button once you have verified the settings. A new Application Shortcut will now display in the Application Shortcuts configuration window as shown in the below example image.

   

You can now close the Keyboard Preferences window and the System Preferences window. Now launch Google Chrome, open a web page, and then test the new Application Shortcut by clicking fn or function and the F5 button to verify that the web page refreshes. Remember that fn+F5 already works to refresh web pages in Firefox and Command+R refreshes web pages in Safari.