Shortcuts For The Windows Manual May Tell
Shortcuts For The Windows Mac OS X Startup

With the modifier keys remapped, you shouldnt have any problems using any Windows keyboard with your Mac.

Tom Nelson is an engineer, programmer, network manager, and computer network and systems designer who has written for Other World Computing,and others.

Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12 years experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.

Newcomers and old pros alike use Windows keyboards with Macs.

Why toss a perfectly good keyboard just because you switched platforms Some people just prefer how the keys feel to the ones Apple supplies.

Any wired USB keyboard or Bluetooth-based wireless keyboard will work fine with a Mac.

In fact, Apple even sells the Mac Mini without a keyboard or mouse.

Theres just one little problem with using a non-Apple keyboard: figuring out some of the keyboard equivalents.

Shortcuts For The Windows Manual May Tell

For example, a software manual may tell you to hold down the command key ( ), which appears to be missing from your Windows keyboard.

Here are the five most commonly used special keys on a Mac and their Windows keyboard equivalents.

Shortcuts For The Windows Mac OS X Startup

Use these to control various Mac functions, including using Mac OS X startup shortcuts.

Another helpful bit of information for new Mac users is to know which menu key symbols correspond to which keys on the keyboard.

The symbols used in the Mac menus can be a bit strange to those new to the Mac, as well as old hands who may be more mousers than keyboard users.

Besides Windows and Mac keyboards having slightly different names, they also swap the positions of two often-used modifier keys: the Command and Option keys.

If youre a long-time 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.

If youre used to using the modifier keys from your old Mac keyboard, youre likely to run into trouble for a while as you relearn the key locations.

Instead of having to relearn key locations, use the Keyboard pane in System Preferences to reassign the modifier keys.

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 Preferences.

In the System Preferences window that opens, select the Keyboard preference pane.

Use the pop-up menu next to the Option and Command keys to select the action you wish the modifier keys to perform.

In this example, you want the Option key (the Alt key on a Windows keyboard) to execute the Command action, and the Command key (the Windows key on a Windows keyboard) to perform the Option action.

Also, if things get a bit mixed up, click the Restore Defaults button to put everything back the way it was.

Make your changes and click the OK button, then close System Preferences.

Mac Shortcuts For The Windows