Originally Answered: What is the command key on a Mac? The reason the command key exists on Apple products is that they didn't have hardware encoding to account for the simultaneous pressing of two modifier keys (ctrl, shift or alt/option) on the Apple II. This is my white whale. I can't use Emacs without the control key being on the left hand side. Recently I got a new MacBook so I had a chance to do this without Karabiner. This is what worked for me to rebind the function key to control (for the built-in keyboard only), on macOS 10.15.6. Amaya keyboard shortcuts for Mac OSX. Amaya defines two kinds of keyboard shortcuts for Mac OS X: shortcuts using standard Apple modifier keys (ex. Cmd+C to copy the selection) and shortcuts using sequences (ex. Ctrl-t Ctrl-t to create a table). As Mac OS X users are not familiar with shortcut sequences in menu entries, only standard shortcuts. Some keys on some Apple keyboards have special symbols and functions, such as for display brightness, keyboard brightness, Mission Control, and more. If these functions aren't available on your keyboard, you might be able to reproduce some of them by creating your own keyboard shortcuts. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3, or other standard. By default, Function keys on a Mac control the computer itself, things like screen brightness, volume, video pause and play, and so on. This means that if press only the function keys in Excel, you'll end up controlling the Mac, and not Excel. To make function keys work like you expect in Excel, you need to add a key: the function or fn key.
Control features on your Mac
By default, the top row of keys on your Apple keyboard control many different features on your Mac. For example, pressing the keys with speaker icons adjusts the volume.
If your Mac has a Touch Bar, learn about using function keys on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
Apple Alt Key
Use standard function keys
Standard function keys work differently depending on the app and the keyboard shortcuts that you've set up. Some apps have their own keyboard shortcut preferences that you can customize.
Connect hp printer to mac. To use the standard function keys, hold the Fn (Function) key when pressing a function key. For example, pressing both Fn and F12 (speaker icon) performs the action assigned to the F12 key instead of raising the volume of your speakers.
If your keyboard doesn't have an Fn key, try pressing and holding the Control key when pressing a function key.
Change the default function key behavior
If you want to change the top row of keys to work as standard function keys without holding the Fn key, follow these steps:
Ctrl Key Disabled
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Click Keyboard.
- Select 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys'.
If you don't see 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys'
If you don't see 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys', you might be using a keyboard not made by Apple. These keyboards might need a utility to change the keyboard functions. Check with your keyboard manufacturer for more information.
If you don't see 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys'
If you don't see 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys', you might be using a keyboard not made by Apple. These keyboards might need a utility to change the keyboard functions. Check with your keyboard manufacturer for more information.
Learn more
Learn about using function keys on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
Alt key on Mac is indeed exist. And it's called Option key.
Windows vs Mac—there are so many differences. A lot of our customers have used a PC before and then decide they want to switch to Mac for better performance, nicer design, or for better security. However, they were afraid they would have a hard time getting used to the macOS keyboard. We hear questions like, 'How can I close a Window? The Mac keyboard doesn't have the Alt + F4 shortcut.' We always give them two answers:
1. With Parallels Desktop for Mac you have the choice to use the same keyboard shortcuts you had on your PC.
2. If you want to use the Mac keyboard you will experience that the alt key is very different, as we explain in this blog post.
Where is the Alt key on a Mac keyboard?
The PC-keyboard equivalent of Alt on a Mac is called the Option key, and you'll find the Option Key on your Mac if you go two keys to the left of the spacebar. However, the option key on a Mac keyboard is used in a different way than the alt key on a Windows PC. In terms of functionality, the alt key in Windows is often more comparable with the Command key than with the Option key on a Mac. You might be also familiar with the Ctrl and Alt keys from your PC. On your Mac keyboard, you have Command (⌘ cmd), Control (ctrl), and Option (⌥ alt) keys.
How do Windows shortcuts change on a Mac?
Check out some equivalents of popular Windows alt shortcuts on a Mac, which might be especially helpful for those users who are new to Mac:
Ctrl Key On Mac Air
| Windows | Mac | |
| Closing a window | Alt-F4 | Command-W |
| Restarting | Control-Alt-Delete | Control-Command-Eject |
| Shutting down | Control-Alt-Delete | Control-Option-Command-Eject |
| Logging out | Control-Alt-Delete | Shift-Command-Q |
| Switch between open apps | Alt + Tab | Command-tab |
| Go back | Alt + Left arrow | Command + Left arrow |
| Go forward | Alt + Right arrow | Command + Right arrow |
| Move up one screen | Alt + Page Up | Command + Page Up |
| Move down one screen | Alt + Page Down | Command + Page Down |
How To Find Windows 10 Product Key
When running Windows on a Mac with Parallels Desktop, is it possible to use Windows shortcuts on a Mac?
If you run Windows on your Mac with Parallels Desktop for Mac, you can configure your keyboard shortcuts the way you want to work, with either macOS or Windows shortcuts. Click here for more information on how to set the different shortcuts.
Ctrl Key On Mac
You can find even more useful Mac shortcuts in the infographic here.
Missing your Start Menu and familiar Windows look and feel? You can use Parallels Desktop and have Windows 10 along with your favorite Windows apps on your new Mac.
