Alt Key on an External or Windows Keyboard Connected to a Mac (Logitech, Keychron and More)
Quick answer: On a Windows or other external keyboard connected to a Mac, the Alt key acts as Option (⌥) and the Windows logo key acts as Command (⌘). Because the Windows layout puts Alt next to the space bar, the two can feel swapped. Fix it in System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts ▸ Modifier Keys by choosing your keyboard and swapping Option and Command.
This guide is for anyone who bought a full-size or mechanical keyboard and wants it to feel right on a Mac. For the Alt key on the built-in keyboard, see What Is the Alt Key on a Mac? Where It Is, What Replaces It, and Alt vs Option.
What each key does on a Mac
| Key printed on a Windows keyboard | Acts as on a Mac | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl | Control (⌃) | Far left of the bottom row |
| Windows logo | Command (⌘) | Between Ctrl and Alt |
| Alt | Option (⌥) | Beside the space bar |
How to swap Option and Command
Open System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts.
Choose Modifier Keys.
At the top of the panel, select your external keyboard from the dropdown. Settings are stored per keyboard, so your MacBook keyboard stays unchanged.
Set Option to act as Command, and Command to act as Option.
After this, the key beside the space bar on your Windows keyboard behaves as Command, in the same place as on an Apple keyboard.
Keyboards with a Mac/Windows switch
Many mechanical keyboards, including Keychron models, have a physical Mac/Windows switch or a key combination to change layout. Setting it to Mac makes the keyboard send Mac modifier keys, so you may not need to change macOS settings. Keyboards that ship with their own software, such as Logitech's, can also remap keys, so check that software if a key behaves unexpectedly.
If Alt does nothing
If the Alt key seems dead, work through these checks:
Test the key in a text field with Option+G, which types a © sign on a US layout.
Check that Option is not remapped to something else in the Modifier Keys panel.
Quit remapping or keyboard utilities and test again.
Try the keyboard on another Mac or in Windows to rule out hardware.
The full troubleshooting list is in Alt (Option) Key Not Working on Your Mac? Causes and Fixes.
Alt key in Excel
Even when the key works, Option does not open the Excel Ribbon the way Alt does on Windows. Excel for Mac has no Ribbon KeyTips, so sequences such as Alt, H, V, V are not available natively. See What Is the Alt Key on a Mac? Where It Is, What Replaces It, and Alt vs Option and Mac Modifier Keys Explained: Command, Option, Control, Shift and Fn.
FAQs
Does a Windows keyboard work on a Mac?
Yes. It works without drivers. Alt acts as Option, the Windows key acts as Command, and Ctrl acts as Control.
Why are Option and Command in the wrong order?
The Windows layout puts Alt beside the space bar and the Windows key to its left. Apple puts Command beside the space bar and Option to its left. Swap them in the Modifier Keys panel if you prefer the Apple order.
Do I need software to use an external keyboard on a Mac?
No, unless you want extra features from the keyboard maker, such as custom key layers.