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.