Windows keys on a Mac keyboard
A Mac keyboard has many keys that function the same as keys on a Windows keyboard. Here are some of them:
Windows key | Mac key | Description |
|---|---|---|
Alt | Option | Enters special characters, such as é. |
Control | Command | Swap in Command for Control for many common shortcuts used on a Windows PC. For example, press Command-C to copy or Command-S to save a document or file. |
Windows key | Control Command | Control and Command are used on Mac as modifier keys, similar to the Windows key. Press Command + Space bar to open Spotlight, which allows you to search for anything—similar to opening Start on your Windows PC. Press and hold the Control key, then click an item to perform a right click. |
Home and End | Command-Left Arrow or Right Arrow Fn–Left Arrow or Right Arrow | On the Mac, press Command-Left Arrow to move the insertion point to the beginning of the current line; press Command-Right Arrow to move the insertion point to the end of the line. Press Fn–Left Arrow (Home) to scroll to the beginning of the current document; press Fn–Right Arrow (End) to scroll to the end of the document. |
Backspace Delete | Delete Fn-Delete | Press Delete to delete the character to the left of the insertion point. Press Fn–Delete to delete the character to the right of the insertion point. |
Num Lock | Num Lock Shift-Clear | In some apps, controls whether pressing keys in the numeric keypad enters numbers or moves the pointer. |
Scroll Lock | Control-F14 (You may need to press and hold the Fn key first) If your keyboard doesn’t have an F14 key, you can create a custom keyboard shortcut for scroll lock. See Create keyboard shortcuts for apps. | In some apps, controls whether pressing the arrow keys moves the pointer or scrolls in a window. |
Print Screen | Shift-Command-3 Shift-Command-4 | Takes pictures of the screen. Shift-Command-3 takes a picture of the entire screen. Shift-Command-4 takes a picture of the part of the screen you select. |
Pressing the Option key while viewing a menu reveals hidden menu items. For example, in many apps, if you press the Option key while viewing the File menu, File > Close changes to File > Close All.