Windows Keyboard on Mac: Where Every Key Went (Ctrl, Alt, Windows, Delete, Home, End, Print Screen)
Quick answer: Most Windows keys exist on a Mac under a different name or as a key combination. Ctrl becomes Command (⌘) for most shortcuts, Alt is Option (⌥), the Windows key is Command on a Windows keyboard, Backspace is Delete, and keys such as Home, End, Page Up, Page Down and Print Screen are Fn or ⌘⇧ combinations.
If you are moving from Windows, the keys themselves are rarely the problem. The problem is that the names and the positions changed. This page maps every Windows key to its Mac counterpart, then explains what to do when you plug a Windows keyboard into a Mac.
The modifier keys
| Windows key | Mac equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl (app shortcuts) | Command (⌘) | Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V and Ctrl+S become ⌘C, ⌘V and ⌘S |
| Ctrl (some uses) | Control (⌃) | Control-click opens the context menu; a few Excel shortcuts keep Control |
| Alt | Option (⌥) | Types alternate characters; does not open the Excel Ribbon |
| Windows logo key | Command (⌘) on a Windows keyboard | Spotlight search is ⌘Space, not the Windows key alone |
| Shift | Shift (⇧) | Same behaviour |
The pattern to remember: Command on a Mac does what Ctrl does on Windows for copy, paste, save, undo and most other app shortcuts. For the full story on each key, see Where Is the Ctrl Key on a Mac, and When Do You Use It Instead of Command?.
Editing and navigation keys
| Windows key | Mac equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Backspace | Delete | The key labelled delete removes the character to the left |
| Delete (forward) | Fn+Delete | Full-size Apple keyboards also have a forward-delete key (⌦) |
| Home / End | Fn+Left / Fn+Right | In text fields, ⌘Left / ⌘Right moves to line start or end |
| Page Up / Page Down | Fn+Up / Fn+Down | Same combination scrolls a page in most apps |
| Enter | Return (⏎) | Fn+Return gives Enter on a MacBook; keypads have an Enter key |
| Insert | No key | Excel inserts cells with Ctrl+Shift+= |
| Num Lock / Scroll Lock | No keys | Excel toggles Scroll Lock with Shift+F14 |
On a MacBook, Microsoft documents Home, End, Page Up and Page Down in Excel as the Fn key plus an arrow key. Outside Excel, ⌘ with the left or right arrow moves to the start or end of a line in most text fields.
System shortcuts people look for
| Windows shortcut | Mac shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Print Screen | ⌘⇧3 / ⌘⇧4 / ⌘⇧5 | Screenshot of screen, selection, or the toolbar |
| Alt+Tab | ⌘Tab | Switch applications |
| Alt+F4 | ⌘Q | Quit the current app (⌘W closes the window) |
| Ctrl+Alt+Delete / Task Manager | ⌥⌘Esc | Force Quit Applications window |
| Right-click / Menu key | Two-finger click or Control-click | Open the context menu |
Each of these has its own guide: What's the Alt+Tab Equivalent on a Mac?, What's the Alt+F4 Equivalent on a Mac? and What Is Ctrl+Alt+Delete on a Mac?.
Using a Windows keyboard on a Mac
A Windows keyboard works on a Mac without drivers, but the modifier keys are interpreted like this:
The key labelled Alt acts as Option.
The key with the Windows logo acts as Command.
The Ctrl key acts as Control.
Because the Windows layout puts Alt next to the space bar and Windows logo to its left, Option and Command can feel swapped compared with an Apple keyboard. You can swap them in System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts ▸ Modifier Keys.
Common frustrations
Delete does not delete forward. On a MacBook the Delete key removes the character to the left. Hold Fn to delete forward.
There is no Insert key. In Excel, inserting cells uses Ctrl+Shift+= on a Mac.
Function keys control brightness or volume. Hold Fn, or change the keyboard setting so F1 to F12 act as standard function keys.
Typing symbols with Alt codes does not work. See How to Type Alt Codes and Special Characters on a Mac.
FAQs
Is there a Windows key on a Mac?
No. The closest equivalent is Command (⌘). A Windows keyboard connected to a Mac uses its Windows key as Command.
How do I press Home and End on a MacBook?
In Excel, use Fn with the Left or Right arrow. In most text fields, use ⌘ with the Left or Right arrow to jump to the start or end of a line.
How do I take a screenshot on a Mac?
Press ⌘⇧3 for the whole screen, ⌘⇧4 to select an area, or ⌘⇧5 for the screenshot toolbar.
How do I right-click on a Mac?
Click with two fingers on the trackpad, or hold Control and click.