The positions of those two keys are generally reversed from a mac keyboard, so some people swap the. 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. Print these boot option keys, because theyre particularly helpful to have. This would make your macs keyboard shortcuts work more like the keyboard shortcuts on a windows pc. Apples usb keyboards are mostly compatible with windows computers, and can be remapped. 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. On a windows keyboard, the bottomleft corner typically contains the following keys, in the following order. 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. 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.
The command and option keys may seem a bit foreign, but everything works fairly similarly on a mac. There are two option keys on modern as of 2020 mac desktop and notebook keyboards, one on each side of the space bar. Pressing the option key while viewing a menu reveals hidden menu items. This works in most cases, where the issue is originated due to a. The following are the primary key substitutions on the windows keyboard, and their macintosh equivalents. Apple does make larger keyboards but this is a cheaper option if you dont feel like spending too much money on hardware. This is the closest thing the mac offers to the windows alt key. Choose the keyboard tab and then click on the modifier keys button. Keyboard maestro is a proprietary application for creating keyboard shortcuts in os x. Theres also a third button that lets you select the portion of the screen for the screenshot.
How do i get into boot options with a nonmac 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. For keys with no keyboard equivalent, vmware fusion provides the send key item in the virtual machine menu. Below is where you can find the option alt key on the major apple keyboards you are likely to encounter. As can be seen in the picture, the option key is found next to the control and command keys.
A mac users guide to windows 10 keyboard shortcuts. Apparently, i had to plug the keyboard into the usb port closest to the middle mac mini late 2012, then it worked. 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. 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 option key is a keyboard key found on apple computers. The windows logo key is the apple command key and the alt key is the alt option key.
Apr 01, 2020 or use your builtin keyboard or a wired keyboard. If youre using boot camp to start up from microsoft windows, set startup disk preferences to start up from macos instead. The option key is a modifier key present on apple keyboards. 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. The windows logo key is the apple command key and the alt key is the altoption key.
In particular, the primary key that is used in keyboard shortcuts in. For a windows keyboard press the start button on your mac once then immediately hold down alt until the boot device screen appears. How to remap windows keyboard shortcuts in boot camp on a mac. For example, in many apps, if you press the option key while viewing the file menu, file close changes to file close all.
Safari, finder the option key causes the close window menu item to switch to. Oct 05, 2014 log out and log back in, or reboot your mac. 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. Since the mid1990s, this key has included the small text alt on it. 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. There are two option keys on modern as of 2020 mac desktop and notebook keyboards. How to change the command key for a mac on a windows keyboard. I boot my mac mini, hold down alt on my nonmac keyboard, but it does not go to boot options. How to remap windows keyboard shortcuts in boot camp on a. Karabiner is an open source kernel extension for modifying the way keyboard input is handled by os x. 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.
Likewise, the windows keyboards alt key is where you expect to find the macs command key. A mac users guide to windows 10 keyboard shortcuts laptop mag. 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. Describes the common keyboard key mappings when you use a. How to the change keyboard layout on windows 10 windows central. How to use a windows pc keyboard on mac by remapping command. Delete without confirmation except for layers panel altclick delete button. Sep 26, 2019 how to fix keyboard backlight not working on mac windows. Feb 06, 2019 when you use a windows pc keyboard on a macintosh computer, the keyboard shortcuts that you use map to different keys. Windows keyboard equivalents for the macs special keys lifewire. 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. Reinstalling lion as i type this on my windows machine.
In terms of functionality, the alt key in windows is often more comparable with. Because pc and mac keyboards differ, you must press certain key combinations to enable certain pc commands on a mac keyboard. 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. 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. A mac keyboard has many keys that function the same as keys on a windows keyboard. 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. How do i get to boot options with a nonmac keyboard then. On a generic usb keyboard the alt key works as option, and the windows key works as command. The problem with these mappings, is that the layout of a mac keyboard is different to the layout of a windows keyboard. Remap windows keyboard modifier keys on mac duration. Option key as the alt key, the help key as the insert key, and the clear key as the num lock key.
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. The option ke y is a modif ier key present on apple keybo ards. I installed a new hard drive and didnt have a mac keyboard available. Connect the windows pc keyboard to the mac as usual, either by usb or bluetooth. If youre using a keyboard made for a pc, such as a keyboard with a windows logo, try a keyboard made for mac. How do i get to boot options with a non mac keyboard then. Windows keyboard equivalents for the macs special keys. Apple touts the mac mini as being compatible with any usb keyboard, but theres a catch.
So the option key on the mac is actually the equivalent of the control key on a. Using the windows onscreen keyboard for other functions. It is used as a to create special characters and as a modifier for other command codes. All the keyboard shortcuts you can use when starting up your mac. 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.
All the mac option key shortcuts you should know beebom. 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. Even though the apple keyboards have a control key, its a different function than on the pc keyboards. Dec, 2018 just hit the controloptioncommandpower button keyboard shortcut and your mac will shut down after quitting all the apps. 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. How to print screen on mac with mac keyboard, touch bar. How to use the windows print screen key with your mac in. This means the layout at the left side of your keyboard will be control, windows, alt just like on windows. Theyre juxtaposed with each other in relation to the space bar, when comparing a pc keyboard to a mac keyboard. You can use an apple keyboard or a keyboard designed for microsoft windows with your mac. 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. Some keys might work differently between macos and windows. You can also select the set rightclick button in the mac viewer to set your next mouse click to be a pc rightclick. 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.
This faq looks at windows equivalents for the mac s modifier keys. May 02, 2016 the mac alt key is the mac option key. 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 altoption key will function as a windows key and the command key will function as the alt 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. The one thing i missed most when going mac was the gaming hardware. Use the windows equivalents for the macs modifier keys, including command, option, control, delete, and return, for keyboard shortcuts. Jan 29, 2016 a mac users guide to windows 10 keyboard shortcuts. This works in most cases, where the issue is originated due to a system corruption. In fact the location of the on a uk mac keyboard is different to its location on a us keyboard, just to confuse matters. Windows keyboard with a mac, the option and command keys are switched. In particular, the primary key that is used in keyboard shortcuts in combination with other keys is frequently different.
Scroll down in the to key column on the right and select special. Keyboard mappings using a pc keyboard on a macintosh. In many situations, keyboard shortcuts that involve the alt key in windows use the option key on the mac. Apple option key from an nonapple keyboard macrumors. In fact, it is very easy to make a screenshot on mac in boot camp. Pull down the apple menu and choose system preferences. 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. How to configure a windows keyboard for mac or hackintosh. When you use a windows pc keyboard on a macintosh computer, the keyboard shortcuts that you use map to different keys. 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. The best part is that the apps will ask you to save your work if you have not already done so. I boot my mac mini, hold down alt on my non mac keyboard, but it does not go to boot options.
You can also change what your mac does by holding down the following keys or key combinations during startup. Thus, the windows pc keyboard windows key becomes the new alt option key on the mac, and the windows pc keyboard alt key. How to print screen on mac with mac keyboard, touch bar or. If your keyboard was designed for use with a windows computer, it doesnt have the macs familiar. Using the windows on screen keyboard for other functions. How to use a windows keyboard with a mac addictivetips. It is located between the co ntrol key and comma nd key on a typical mac keyboard.
How to fix keyboard backlight not working on macwindows. How to boot any mac into a boot device with windows keyboard. 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. From your macs touch bar tap on desktop option located next to the save to. In the system preferences window that opens, select the keyboard preference pane. How to fix keyboard backlight not working on mac windows. On the slightly older allwhite models, the volume keys function as they would on a macintosh, and the eject.
As of 2005, some laptops had only one to make room for the arrow keys. However, the option key on a mac keyboard is used in a different way than the alt key on a windows pc. 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. The alt option key will function as a windows key and the command key will function as the alt key. 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. 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. Send special key commands to a windows or linux virtual machine.
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