If for any reason you are using a pc keyboard with mac os x you may need to use some abbreviations that require the option button. There are two option keys on modern as of 2020 mac desktop and notebook keyboards. Oct 05, 2014 log out and log back in, or reboot your mac. The option key is a modifier key present on apple keyboards. Remap windows keyboard modifier keys on mac duration. Keyboard mappings using a pc keyboard on a macintosh.
Dec 18, 2017 on my wifes windows keyboard the bottom left buttons are, in order, control, fn, windows, and alt while on my mac keyboard they are, again in order, fn, control, option and command, and logically i suppose it would be either the option or command keys, but pressing any of those with the r button does not open the dialog box that support says. Scroll down in the to key column on the right and select special. Apr 02, 2020 pressing the windows key will perform the same function as option key whereas pressing the alt key should perform the same function as pressing command on a normal mac keyboard. On my wifes windows keyboard the bottom left buttons are, in order, control, fn, windows, and alt while on my mac keyboard they are, again in order, fn, control, option and command, and logically i suppose it would be either the option or command keys, but pressing any of those with the r button does not open the dialog box that support says. Windows keyboard equivalents for the macs special keys lifewire. How to fix keyboard backlight not working on mac windows. For a windows keyboard press the start button on your mac once then immediately hold down alt until the boot device screen appears. Option key as the alt key, the help key as the insert key, and the clear key as the num lock key.
Instead, just as in windows natively, the captured screen or window is copied to your windows clipboard, where you can paste it into a new document via an. Delete without confirmation except for layers panel altclick delete button. If youre using boot camp to start up from microsoft windows, set startup disk preferences to start up from macos instead. The positions of those two keys are generally reversed from a mac keyboard, so some people swap the function of those keys in the osx control panel. But in the previous lines of this guide, i specified that the option key coincides with alt, so if you use a windows keyboard just press the. How to configure a windows keyboard for mac or hackintosh. A mac users guide to windows 10 keyboard shortcuts laptop mag. The mac option key makes it very easy to access the accessibility options on your mac by allowing you to use a simple keyboard shortcut. How do i get to boot options with a non mac keyboard then. How to fix keyboard backlight not working on macwindows. Using the windows onscreen keyboard for other functions. As can be seen in the picture, the option key is found next to the control and command keys. You can use an apple keyboard or a keyboard designed for microsoft windows with your mac. Here are some of the most used and best keyboard shortcut you can use to access accessibility options.
If your keyboard doesnt include these keys, you can recreate them using the onscreen keyboard as described in this microsoft support article. Windows keyboard equivalents for the macs special keys. Apparently, i had to plug the keyboard into the usb port closest to the middle mac mini late 2012, then it worked. Pressing the option key while viewing a menu reveals hidden menu items. The altoption key will function as a windows key and the command key will function as the alt key. Such a little thing, the swapping of the command and option keys, can cause trouble for someone whos been typing on a mac for years. After this change now mac command key on windows keyboard will be the windows key where as mac option key on windows keyboard will be alt key.
If youre using a keyboard made for a pc, such as a keyboard with a windows logo, try a keyboard made for mac. How to use the windows print screen key with your mac in. I installed a new hard drive and didnt have a mac keyboard available. Print these boot option keys, because theyre particularly helpful to have. Dec, 2018 just hit the controloptioncommandpower button keyboard shortcut and your mac will shut down after quitting all the apps. In the system preferences window that opens, select the keyboard preference pane. There are two option keys on modern as of 2020 mac desktop and notebook keyboards, one on each side of the space bar. Mar 07, 2018 mac owners often find that the smaller, compact version of the apple keyboard is counterproductive and opt to use generic keyboards that have a dedicated number pad, and home, end, etc. How to use a windows pc keyboard on mac by remapping command.
This is the closest thing the mac offers to the windows alt key. Use the windows equivalents for the macs modifier keys, including command, option, control, delete, and return, for keyboard shortcuts. For keys with no keyboard equivalent, vmware fusion provides the send key item in the virtual machine menu. Even though the apple keyboards have a control key, its a different function than on the pc keyboards.
A mac keyboard has many keys that function the same as keys on a windows keyboard. If your keyboard was designed for use with a windows computer, it doesnt have the macs familiar. Because pc and mac keyboards differ, you must press certain key combinations to enable certain pc commands on a mac keyboard. When you use a windows pc keyboard on a macintosh computer, the keyboard shortcuts that you use map to different keys. The best part is that the apps will ask you to save your work if you have not already done so. In fact the location of the on a uk mac keyboard is different to its location on a us keyboard, just to confuse matters. Karabiner is an open source kernel extension for modifying the way keyboard input is handled by os x. There are two option keys on mode rn as of 2020 mac desktop and note book keyboards, one on each side of the space bar. How to print screen on mac with mac keyboard, touch bar. As of 2005, some laptops had only one to make room for the arrow keys. May 02, 2016 the mac alt key is the mac option key. The following are the primary key substitutions on the windows keyboard, and their macintosh equivalents. How to boot any mac into a boot device with windows keyboard.
You can also change what your mac does by holding down the following keys or key combinations during startup. The alt option key will function as a windows key and the command key will function as the alt key. How to remap windows keyboard shortcuts in boot camp on a mac. This faq looks at windows equivalents for the mac s modifier keys. All the keyboard shortcuts you can use when starting up your mac. Thus, the windows pc keyboard windows key becomes the new alt option key on the mac, and the windows pc keyboard alt key. The option key on a mac, otherwise known as the alternate key, is usually labelled with the letters alt and the symbol below, especially on apple mac keyboards.
The windows logo key is the apple command key and the alt key is the alt option key. Using the windows on screen keyboard for other functions. If youre a longtime mac user transitioning to a windows keyboard, the windows key, which is equivalent to the macs command key, may occupy the physical position of the option key on a mac keyboard. In terms of functionality, the alt key in windows is often more comparable with. Connect the windows pc keyboard to the mac as usual, either by usb or bluetooth. It is located between the co ntrol key and comma nd key on a typical mac keyboard. The option ke y is a modif ier key present on apple keybo ards. The pckeyboard equivalent of alt on a mac is called the option key, and youll find the option key on your mac if you go two keys to the left of the spacebar. If the issue is with your computer or a laptop you should try using reimage plus which can scan the repositories and replace corrupt and missing files. In fact, it is very easy to make a screenshot on mac in boot camp. However, the option key on a mac keyboard is used in a different way than the alt key on a windows pc.
How to the change keyboard layout on windows 10 windows central. The one thing i missed most when going mac was the gaming hardware. So the option key on the mac is actually the equivalent of the control key on a. The command and option keys may seem a bit foreign, but everything works fairly similarly on a mac.
How do i get to boot options with a nonmac keyboard then. Pull down the apple menu and choose system preferences. Send special key commands to a windows or linux virtual machine. The positions of those two keys are generally reversed from a mac keyboard, so some people swap the. Theyre juxtaposed with each other in relation to the space bar, when comparing a pc keyboard to a mac keyboard. On the slightly older allwhite models, the volume keys function as they would on a macintosh, and the eject. Jan 24, 2018 the pckeyboard equivalent of alt on a mac is called the option key, and youll find the option key on your mac if you go two keys to the left of the spacebar. How to use a windows pc keyboard on mac by remapping. Some keys might work differently between macos and windows. Launch system preferences by clicking its icon in the dock, or clicking the apple menu on the left side of the menu bar then selecting system.
And the apple key is what some of us call the command or cmd key on a mac keyboard. It is located between the control key and command key on a typical mac keyboard. How do i get into boot options with a nonmac keyboard. Keyboard maestro is a proprietary application for creating keyboard shortcuts in os x. I loved my g15 keyboard, but since i tossed my windows system out, i sold that keyboard and started using an apple wired keyboard for my mac when i was home. How to remap windows keyboard shortcuts in boot camp on a. A mac users guide to windows 10 keyboard shortcuts. If your keyboard doesnt include these keys, you can recreate them using the on screen keyboard as described in this microsoft support article. Reinstalling lion as i type this on my windows machine. The option key is a keyboard key found on apple computers. Windows keyboard with a mac, the option and command keys are switched. Apples usb keyboards are mostly compatible with windows computers, and can be remapped. Theres also a third button that lets you select the portion of the screen for the screenshot.
Apple option key from an nonapple keyboard macrumors. In particular, the primary key that is used in keyboard shortcuts in combination with other keys is frequently different. But in the previous lines of this guide, i specified that the option key coincides with alt, so if you use a windows keyboard just press the alt button to signal the option to osx. Likewise, the windows keyboards alt key is where you expect to find the macs command key.
From your macs touch bar tap on desktop option located next to the save to. Apple touts the mac mini as being compatible with any usb keyboard, but theres a catch. It is used as a to create special characters and as a modifier for other command codes. This would make your macs keyboard shortcuts work more like the keyboard shortcuts on a windows pc. Describes the common keyboard key mappings when you use a. This works in most cases, where the issue is originated due to a system corruption. Apr 01, 2020 or use your builtin keyboard or a wired keyboard. Jan 31, 2018 click the dropdown next to command key and select option click ok and test out the newly remapped keyboard keys once finished you will have a new digital layout of the windows pc keyboard keys when used on the mac. Table of keyboard shortcuts wikipedia, the free encyclopedia some keyboard shortcuts require the user to press a single key or a sequence of keys one after the other. Jan 29, 2016 a mac users guide to windows 10 keyboard shortcuts.
Apple does make larger keyboards but this is a cheaper option if you dont feel like spending too much money on hardware. How to change the command key for a mac on a windows keyboard. The pckeyboard equivalent of alt on a mac is called the option key, and youll find the option key on your mac if you go two keys to the left of. In particular, the primary key that is used in keyboard shortcuts in. Pressing the windows key will perform the same function as option key whereas pressing the alt key should perform the same function as pressing command on a normal mac keyboard. One special print screen mac option that is exclusively available on touch bar keyboard allows users to choose where they want to store the screenshot. This works in most cases, where the issue is originated due to a. In many situations, keyboard shortcuts that involve the alt key in windows use the option key on the mac.
The windows logo key is the apple command key and the alt key is the altoption key. On a generic usb keyboard the alt key works as option, and the windows key works as command. Below is where you can find the option alt key on the major apple keyboards you are likely to encounter. Safari, finder the option key causes the close window menu item to switch to. Since the mid1990s, this key has included the small text alt on it. How to use a windows keyboard with a mac addictivetips. I boot my mac mini, hold down alt on my non mac keyboard, but it does not go to boot options. How to print screen on mac with mac keyboard, touch bar or. On a windows keyboard, the bottomleft corner typically contains the following keys, in the following order. Sep 26, 2019 how to fix keyboard backlight not working on mac windows. Use your apple keyboard in windows with boot camp apple support. Sep 03, 2019 one special print screen mac option that is exclusively available on touch bar keyboard allows users to choose where they want to store the screenshot. The problem with these mappings, is that the layout of a mac keyboard is different to the layout of a windows keyboard. You can also select the set rightclick button in the mac viewer to set your next mouse click to be a pc rightclick.
Choose the keyboard tab and then click on the modifier keys button. This means the layout at the left side of your keyboard will be control, windows, alt just like on windows. I boot my mac mini, hold down alt on my nonmac keyboard, but it does not go to boot options. Mac owners often find that the smaller, compact version of the apple keyboard is counterproductive and opt to use generic keyboards that have a dedicated number pad, and home, end, etc. For example, in many apps, if you press the option key while viewing the file menu, file close changes to file close all. Feb 06, 2019 when you use a windows pc keyboard on a macintosh computer, the keyboard shortcuts that you use map to different keys. So if you plug a windows or ibm pc keyboard into a mac, pressing the alt key has the same effect as pressing the option key.
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