How to remap windows keyboard shortcuts in boot camp on a mac
Benj Edwards is an Associate Editor for How-To Geek. For over 15 years, he has written about technology and tech history for sites such as The Atlantic, Fast Company, PCMag, PCWorld, Macworld, Ars Technica, and Wired. In 2005, he created Vintage Computing and Gaming, a blog devoted to tech history. He also created The Culture of Tech podcast and regularly contributes to the Retronauts retrogaming podcast. Read more.
Would you like to use a different keyboard key to perform a certain task in Windows 10? Thanks to PowerToys, it’s easy to remap any key to another key or even a shortcut combination on your keyboard. Here’s how to set it up.
The Secret Is PowerToys
In the past, remapping keys in Windows 10 required a difficult-to-use third-party program. Today, Microsoft makes it easy with PowerToys, a free utility available for download online. Using PowerToys, you can make any key on your keyboard act like any other key—and even remap shortcuts.
If you don’t already have PowerToys installed, download it for free from Github. After you install it, launch PowerToys Settings, then click “Keyboard Manager” in the sidebar. In the “Keyboard Manager” settings, click “Remap a Key.”
When the “Remap Keyboard” window pops up, click the plus button (“+”) to add a new key mapping.
After that, you’ll need to define which key you want to remap (in the “Key:” column), and what key or shortcut you want it to perform (in the “Mapped To:” column).
First, select the key you’ll be remapping in the “To:” column by either clicking the “Type” button and pressing the key on your keyboard, or by selecting it from the list in the drop-down menu. For example, we’ll pick Scroll Lock here, since it often sits unused.
Next, select the key or shortcut you want to perform in the “Mapped To” column. For a single key, you can either choose it from the drop-down menu or click the “Type” button, then press it on your keyboard.
If you want to use a shortcut key combination, press the “Type” button, then press the combination on your keyboard. For example, here we’ve typed “Ctrl+C” for the standard Windows “Copy” shortcut.
After you have both “Key:” and “Mapped To:” columns defined, click “OK.”
If you see a warning that one key will be left unassigned, click “Continue Anyway.” This means that you won’t be able to access the original function of the key that you just remapped.
(In our example, there will be no way to use Scroll Lock unless you remap another key to perform the original Scroll Lock function).
Next, you’ll see the resulting mapping listed in the “Keyboard Manager” settings. That means your custom mapping has been saved and is now active.
If you want to add more mappings, click “Remap a key” again. When you’re done, close PowerToys Settings completely, and your remapped key (or keys) will remain in effect. Use them as much as you’d like. You can always go back and adjust your mappings later if necessary.
How to Remove the New Key Mapping
Later on, if you want to remove the custom mapping you made, relaunch Power Toys Settings, then click “Keyboard Manager” and “Remap a key” again. In the list of mappings, click the trash can icon beside the mapping you’d like to delete.
The mapping will be removed. After that, click “OK” to close the window. Then you can either exit PowerToys completely or create a new mapping using the guide above. Have fun!
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Heavy computer users are familiar with keyboard shortcuts such as ctrl-c to “copy” and ctrl-v to “paste.” If you’re a Mac user and you switch back and forth from Windows to OS X often you’ve probably felt some pain using keyboard shortcuts.
For some silly reason Apple decided to default standard keyboard shortcuts to use the Apple key (also called the Command key) instead of the ctrl key. That means to copy text in Windows you press ctrl-c, but to copy text in OS X you press Apple-c. RIDICULOUS!
Never the less, I’ve gotten use to working with the default OS X keyboard layout, and this has made switching back and forth from Windows Boot Camp to OS X incredibly confusing. I’ve started pressing ctrl when I should be pressing the Apple key and vice versa.
Luckily I’ve discovered a nifty tool that will update your Windows registry to make the Apple key act like ctrl in Windows. Here’s the simple step by step guide.
- Download and install SharpKeys.
- Run SharpKeys and click the “Add” button.
- In the “From key” column click “Type Key” and press the Apple key. Click “OK.”
- In the “To key” column click “Type Key” and press your left ctrl key. Click “OK.”
- Click “OK” to dismiss the key mapping menu.
- Click “Write to Registry” and reboot your Mac.
Alternatively, you can set your ctrl key to behave like the Apple key in OS X by going Settings -> Keyboard -> Modifier Keys : then swap “Control” and “Command” key functions in the drop down, and click “OK.”
Now you can have some hot-key sanity when switching back and forth from Windows Boot Camp to OS X.
12 thoughts on “ Map the Apple key to Ctrl in Windows Boot Camp ”
Locked my bootcamp windows with “command l” for the last time in Dominican Joe’s… #1 result on Google and recognized you from @conjunctured. Thanks for the post!
-Tom
Hah! Awesome. Small world! Glad the post helped. 🙂
Thanks! Worked out really good to be honost. Only thing I realised though is that my ctrl key doesn’t work as the windows key, but I’ll just use my right cmd key in windows boot camp.
Does it work in Win 7?
Yup! Works in Windows 7.
sweeeeet thanks so much for this. it does work in windows 7. i was a bit worried cuz this post was done in 2010 and the software was last updated in 2006 but it’s working so far.
I had already known about this and did it months ago.. recently reformatted my Macbook pro and put windows 7 on it again… went to do this key remap with sharpkeys and it worked fine. I did a windows update a few days ago and suddenly my control and command keys are only functioning as the Windows key and have lost the ability to CTRL-C/P/V ect. So just warning others, if this happens the only way to my knowledge to fix it is to either reinstall windows or get an unchanged keyboard registry from another windows 7 machine and replace it.
According to the FAQ you can boot into safe mode and delete HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout\[Scancode Map]. As I modify keyboard mappings this entry grows larger. Haven’t tried it myself.
This link will work better. Since you are the top hit on Google for this fix, you might want to update this post…!
Yes, this new version works on Win7 natively and wont cause any registry errors or stuck key maps
Question, does anyone know the code (if there is one) for the start screen in windows 8? Normally the command key takes you there, but now i want the control key to do this.
Thanks in advance,
Thank you so much for this post and for tek’s comment providing an updated link to the page containing the latest version of Sharpkeys. (I accidentally downloaded the 2.11 in the original post until I saw version 3.5 following tek’s link.) The process was super simple and now Control-C/X/V works just like windows while in bootcamp! I’m using Windows 7.
While every MacBook comes with a built-in keyboard, many users opt to use an external keyboard instead, either because they find it easier to type on a full-sized keyboard, or because the angle of their laptop’s built-in keys gives them wrist strain.
However, there isn’t a huge number of external Mac keyboards out there, particularly compared to the number of Windows keyboards currently on the market. In addition, external keyboards that are designed specifically for Mac tend to be more expensive than their Windows counterparts.
The good news is that your Mac will work with any USB or Bluetooth keyboard, so when you’re shopping for an external keyboard there’s no reason to limit yourself to keyboards that were designed specifically for Macs.
This compatibility is also handy if you already have access to a Windows external keyboard, for example if you’ve recently made the switch to a Mac, then you can just plug your old Windows keyboard into your new Mac and start typing away.
When you attach a Windows keyboard to a Mac, all of the modifier keys are mapped to the corresponding Mac modifier keys:
- ‘Command’ is mapped to the ‘Windows’ key.
- ‘Option’ is mapped to the ‘Alt (left)’ key.
- ‘Option + Control’ is mapped to the ‘Alt GR (right)’ key.
The problem with these mappings, is that the layout of a Mac keyboard is different to the layout of a Windows keyboard.
On a Windows keyboard, the bottom-left corner typically contains the following keys, in the following order: Ctrl, Windows, Alt. However, on a Mac keyboard, this section contains the Control, Option, and Command keys. Since the ‘Windows’ key is mapped to the ‘Command’ key and the ‘Alt’ key is mapped to the ‘Option’ key, the end result is that the ‘Option’ and ‘Command’ keys are reversed, compared to what Mac users are familiar with.
If you’ve spent months or even years typing away away at a Mac keyboard, then the fact that the ‘Command’ key isn’t where you expect it is going to play havoc with your muscle memory. For example, if you’re used to copying text with the ‘Control+C’ keyboard shortcut, then the fact that the ‘Control’ key isn’t in the “right” place can be a huge source of frustration. Keyboard shortcuts are supposed to save you time, so if you need to keep pausing to consciously think about where the ‘Control’ key is, then it defeats the entire point of using a keyboard shortcut.
If you’re struggling with the reversed ‘Option’ and ‘Command’ keys on your Windows keyboard, then you may want to tweak these default mappings so that the ‘Windows’ key is mapped to the ‘Option’ function, and the ‘Alt’ key is mapped to the ‘Command’ function:
- Click the ‘Apple’ logo in the toolbar, and select ‘System preferences…’
- Select ‘Keyboard.
- In the subsequent window, make sure the ‘Keyboard’ tab is selected.
- Click the ‘Modifier Keys…’ button towards the bottom-right of this window.
- Make sure your external keyboard is selected in the ‘Select keyboard’ dropdown.
- Open the ‘Option’ key dropdown, and select the ‘Command’ key from this menu.
- Open the ‘Command’ dropdown, and set it to ‘Option.’
- Save your changes, by clicking ‘OK.’
You can then test out your remapped ‘Windows/Option’ and ‘Alt/Command’ keys to make sure they’re functioning as expected.
Before you go
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Macs can use nearly all keyboards built for Windows PC, whether they are USB or Bluetooth, but you may notice that the layout of some of the modifier keys are different on a Mac keyboard from the layout of a Windows keyboard. Specifically, the WINDOWS and ALT key of a Windows keyboard are switched compared to the Mac keyboard layout of OPTION/ALT and COMMAND keys. This can lead to erroneous keyboard shortcuts or other unexpected key press behavior when using a PC keyboard with a Mac.
A simple solution to this problem is to remap the Windows and ALT key and the command and option/alt keys on the Windows PC keyboard connected to the Mac, so that the keyboard layouts will mimic expectations based on the standard Apple modifier key layout, rather than what it says on the PC keyboard. For most Mac users who connect a PC keyboard to their Mac, this will dramatically improve their typing experience when using a PC keyboard.
Using a Windows PC Keyboard on Mac with Remapped Windows & ALT Keys
This trick works the same with all Windows and PC keyboard with the standard CTRL / Windows / ALT key layout, and all versions of Mac OS:
- Connect the Windows PC keyboard to the Mac as usual, either by USB or Bluetooth
- Pull down the Apple menu and choose “System Preferences”
- Click on “Keyboard”
- Choose the “Keyboard” tab and then click on the “Modifier Keys” button in the lower right corner of the preference panel
- Choose the PC keyboard from the “Select Keyboard” dropdown menu at the top of the Modifier keys screen to insure you are modifying the proper keyboard connected to the Mac
Once finished you will have a new digital layout of the Windows PC keyboard keys when used on the Mac:
- WINDOWS key becomes the ALT / OPTION key on Mac OS
- ALT key becomes the COMMAND key on Mac OS
* NOTE: Some PC keyboards also have the “CNTRL” and “ALT” keys switched too, compared to a standard Mac key layout. If applicable, go ahead and switch those with the same Modifier Key trick outlined above.
A simple way to confirm the keyboard modifier keys are switched as expected is to issue a keyboard shortcut, like a screen capture (Command Shift 3) or a Close Window command (Command + W). It should work as you’d expect based on the Mac keyboard layout.
Obviously this isn’t going to change the actual physical keyboard appearance, so you’ll have to get used to the appearance of the keys saying one thing, but doing something else. But if you are mostly a touch-typer and never look at your hands when typing this shouldn’t be an issue.
Essentially you are reversing the Windows PC keyboard Windows and ALT keys (which become the Command and Option/ALT keys when connected to the Mac), which puts them in line with the default Mac and Apple keyboard layout of those buttons. Thus, the Windows PC keyboard Windows key becomes the new ALT / OPTION key on the Mac, and the Windows PC keyboard ALT key becomes the new COMMAND key on the Mac, just like it would be on an Apple keyboard.
For example, here’s a Windows PC keyboard with a different modifier key layout than the Apple keyboard layout:
And here’s a Apple keyboard with different modifier key layout than the Windows PC keyboard:
Thus you can see why switching the modifier key behavior when the PC keyboard is connected to the Mac can be helpful.
This trick should be particularly useful to Mac users who have a favorite PC keyboard laying around they want to use, or perhaps prefer a particular Windows PC keyboard for one reason or another. And yes this tip works the same regardless of the Windows PC keyboard connected to the Mac, and regardless of the Mac operating system or the Mac itself. You can switch the modifier keys in any release and with any keyboard this way.
By the way if you’re coming to the Mac from the Windows world, which is perhaps why you have a Windows PC keyboard in use on a Mac in the first place, you’ll probably appreciate learning the Home and END button equivalents on a Mac keyboard, what the Print Screen button equivalent is on a Mac, potentially using the Delete key as a Forward DEL on a Mac, or discovering how to use Page Up and Page Down on a Mac keyboard, and understanding what and where the OPTION or ALT key is on a Mac too.
So, try this out if you have a Windows keyboard you want to use with a Mac, or if you want to try an external PC keyboard on a Mac then go ahead and don’t be shy, because simply swapping those two modifier keys can remedy one of the biggest annoyances when using a Windows PC keyboard on a Mac.
If you have any other helpful tips for using a Windows or PC keyboard on a Mac, then share them with us in the comments below!
I’ve recently started using a Mac after using Windows for 20+ years and one annoying thing is that I have to re-learn all the shortcuts. I’ve found that you can change small stuff like swapping the Ctrl, Fn and Option buttons, but the shortcuts themselves would still be different from what I am used to. I’ve also found Karabiner helpful for remapping individual keys, but it won’t let me create more complex rules, such as assigning Alt-Tab to change between Windows.
Is there a program/extension/terminal command that would allow me to remap any shortcut in the system to any other shortcut combination?
3 Answers 3
The answer to my question is to use Karabiner along with their set of complex key modifications titled “PC-Style Shortcuts”. You can also add modifications of your own by editing the
The only shortcut I couldn’t get working is using Alt+Shift to switch between input languages, but it’s probably doable using more advanced scripting. I’m instead using Macs built-in language toggling using the Caps lock key. Top this off with Witch to enable Windows-style toggling between applications/windows and you get a full PC experience, completely customizable to your personal needs.
I agree with all the comments so far, your better off learning the Mac shortcuts. That being said, you can change a lot of shortcuts using the keyboard preferences:
Apple Menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts
Most of the finder an system shortcuts are in there. You can then create your own ones by selecting “App Shortcuts”, click the + button, select the app you want to modify, enter the menu title and a shortcut. This happen live with the application open. Have a dig around, you’d be surprised how many tasks can be changed.
Remember also that the Mac uses gestures a lot. Sometime they are faster than keyboard shortcuts if you have a touchpad.
Apple Menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Click the “Modifier Keys” button bottom right and swap the Alt/Option key and the Command key if needed.
Mac的键盘布局只是不适合Windows。 无论你是主要的Windows用户或主要的OS X的用户,当你的布局并不感到很正确的Boot Camp的运行Windows -但你可以解决这个问题。
Mac键盘布局与PC键盘布局略有不同。 在典型的PC键盘上,键盘左下角按照以下顺序包含键:Ctrl,Windows,Alt。 在Mac上的键盘,你会看到如下布局:控制选项,命令 。 在Boot Camp中,这些键用作Control,Alt和Windows。
换句话说,Alt和Windows键从你期望的位置被交换。 更糟糕的是,Mac用户将不得不使用Control键为需要在Mac OS X上的Command键的各种键盘快捷键。
有一种方法来解决这个问题 – 有。 我们将使用SharpKeys在Windows中重新映射这些键。 SharpKeys是一个易于使用的开源图形程序,它创建适当的Windows注册表项来重新映射密钥。 其实你可以做到这一切在注册表编辑器 ,如果你喜欢-它只是需要更多的工作。 此实用程序可用于Windows 7,8,8.1,甚至较旧版本的Windows。
解决方案1:如果你使用Mac快捷键
如果你习惯Mac键盘快捷键,你可能想要使Command键功能作为控制键。 然后,您就可以使用Mac的键盘快捷键像命令+ C,X,或V的复制,剪切和粘贴在Windows中。 按Command + L将在Windows上的Web浏览器中将位置栏集中在OS X上 – 而不重新映射,Command + L快捷键等于Windows键+ L,这将锁定您的Windows系统。
要做到这一点,安装SharpKeys并启动它。 单击添加按钮,然后单击左侧“发件人”列下的“类型键”。 按左指令键。 接下来,单击右侧“To key”列下的“类型键”按钮。 按控制键。
单击确定,然后单击“写入注册表。”注销并登录或重新启动以激活您的更改。 您的左命令键将作为第二个控制键,这意味着许多Mac Command键快捷键将只是工作,你会期望他们。 如果需要按Windows键,请按键盘右侧的Command键。
解决方案2:如果您习惯于Windows快捷方式
如果你已经习惯了Windows键盘快捷键 ,你可能要交换的命令/ Windows键选项/ Alt键。 这会将顺序从Control,Alt,Windows更改为Control,Windows,Alt – 您在标准Windows键盘上可以找到的顺序。 你为键盘快捷键建立的肌肉记忆不会失败你。
要做到这一点,安装SharpKeys并启动它。 单击添加按钮。 在左列中向下滚动并选择“特殊:左Alt”。接下来,单击右侧“To key”下的“类型键”按钮。 按键盘右侧的Command键,然后单击OK。
接下来,再次单击添加按钮。 单击左侧“From key”列下的“Type Key”。 按左指令键。 在右侧的“To key”列中向下滚动并选择“Special:Right Alt”。单击“确定”,然后单击“写入注册表”。
注销并重新登录,或重新启动Mac。 Alt / Option键将用作Windows键,Command键将用作Alt键。 这意味着键盘左侧的布局将是Control,Windows,Alt – 就像在Windows上一样。
解决方案3:使Mac OS X的键盘快捷键匹配Windows
您可以在Mac OS X中调整键盘快捷键,使其工作方式更像在Windows中操作。 例如,您可以在Mac OS X中交换Control和Command键 – 然后您将按Ctrl + C,X或V在Mac OS X中复制,剪切和粘贴,就像在Windows上一样。
为此,请引导到Mac OS X,单击菜单栏上的Apple菜单,然后选择系统首选项。 单击键盘图标,单击修改键按钮,并交换控制和命令键功能。 您也可以轻松地禁用Caps Lock键从这里开始。
In the past few weeks we’ve been using a keyboard designed for “Windows” users on Mac. What’s wonderful about it is that it reduces the potential wrist pain (the shallow key on Mac is to blame for that). It’s called AmazonBasics wired keyword. With it, you’d immediately feel at ease because it’s a keyboard designed for Windows, not Mac.
Remapping Windows Keyboards for Matching Mac Keyboard Layout (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
The ⌃, ⌥, and ⌘ keys on this device are replaced with Control, Windows and Alt keys. Each modifier key on this keyboard map with the Mac keys from the perspective of functionality. For instance, Control key does the thing function on Mac as it does on Windows, the Option key too does the thing thing, and the Alt key works like the Mac’s Command key.
Organization Rather Than Function Is The Issue
The issue isn’t with the key’s functions, before as we stated earlier, from the perspective of functionality, the modifying keys – Control, Option, Command – are mapping 1:1. The issues arise from the way they’re organized on the keyboard.
Here’s a look at the modifier key variances between Windows and Mac:
- Windows: ⌃ | ⌘ | ⌥
- Macintosh: ⌃ | ⌥ | ⌘
A tiny difference here, and swapping the Option and Command keys can result in issues for anyone who’s been using the Mac keyboard for years. Luckily, there’s a simple workaround for this problem.
Steps to remap MacOS modifier keys
1. Go to System Preferences – Keyboard – Modifier Keys.
2. Choose the third-party Windows keyboard through the drop down box for “Select keyboard.”
3. Choose ⌘ Command for the key setting of Option (⌥).
4. Choose (⌥) Option for the key setting of ⌘
5. Click Okay and go out of System Preferences.
There are several keyboards out there that work wonderfully well on Windows PCs. And there’s no reason why you should miss out on an intuitive keyboard that was originally designed for Windows. Benefit from the provision to start remapping modifier keys inside the System Preferences of MacOS.
What Keyboard to g=Get?
There’s AmazonBasics wired keyboard at the top of our recommendations’ list, but we’re he fans of AUKEY’s mechanical keyboards too. These generate a “clicky” impact without too much noise. The best one is from Das Keyboard, who also manufactures for Mac.
Pick the right keyboard and remap Windows keys on Mac today.
By Henry T. Casey published 29 January 16
If you’re switching from a Mac to a PC, one of the first hurdles you have to overcome is adjusting to a new keyboard. Not only does an entirely new operating system throw out many of the paradigms you’re already used to, but you’re trading in the Command button for the Windows Key and the Option key for the Alt key.
There are similarities between the sets of keyboard shortcuts that PCs and Macs have, but you’ll need to learn them sooner or later for maximum efficiency. For example: cut, copy and paste still have shortcuts that use X, C and Y, but you’ll need to switch out the Command button for the Control button on a PC.
Here’s a list of the Windows keyboard shortcuts that have similar — but sometimes slightly different — Mac counterparts. For a complete, master list of Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts, you’ll want to peruse this master list we’ve compiled.
Mac Shortcuts and their Windows 10 Equivalents
Command + X: Ctrl + X (Cut)
Command + C: Ctrl + C (Copy)
Command + V: Ctrl + V (Paste)
Command + P: Alt + P: (Print)
Command + Tab: Alt + Tab (Jump between programs)
Command + Shift +3:Windows Key + Print Screen Key (Create screenshot, in Windows it will be sent to the Pictures folder)
Command + Mission Control: Windows Key + D (Show the desktop)
Command + Space: Windows + Q (Search, without Spotlight to search your computer, Cortana will find what you need from your PC)
Command + N: Windows + E (While you can’t jump to Finder with a single keyboard shortcut, Command + N opens a new finder window)
Command + W: Alt + F4 (Close window. This opens the Shutdown options window if you’re already viewing the desktop)
Command + Option + Esc: Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Opens Force Quit/Task Manager)
Control + Command + F: Windows Key + Up (Maximize a window to Full Screen)
While the standard Windows keyboard layout has stayed the same over the years for good reason, there are times when you want to tweak this layout to your liking. Whether one of the keys on your keyboard suddenly stopped working or you want to make better use of the keys you don’t use, the ability to remap keys and keyboard shortcuts is a great way to personalize your keyboard experience.
Previously, Windows users had to rely on third-party software to remap keys or create custom shortcuts. But with Microsoft’s PowerToys, key reassignment has become a secure and hassle-free experience.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at how to remap buttons and shortcuts on Windows 10 using PowerToys.
Setting up PowerToys
To remap buttons and shortcuts in Windows 10, you must first download PowerToys and install it on your PC. Read on to learn how.
Step 1: Go to the Microsoft PowerToys Versions page (link below) on GitHub. There you will find the latest version under the assets. Look for an ‘.exe’ file with a name similar to ‘PowerToysSetup-0.37.2-x64.exe’.
Step 2: Once downloaded, open the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to install PowerToys on your PC.
Step 3: Start PowerToys and enable the option “Run at startup”.
Now PowerToys starts and runs automatically in the background when you start or restart your PC.
How to remap keys in Windows 10
As soon as the PowerToys has been set up, you can now reassign each of the keys on your keyboard in the settings of the PowerToys keyboard manager. Here is how.
Step 1: Start PowerToys on your PC. Go to the Keyboard Manager tab on the left and toggle the “Enable Keyboard Manager” option on if you haven’t already.
Step 2: Under Remap Key, tap the ‘Remap Key’ button.
Step 3: In the Remap Keys window, click the ‘+’ button to add a key mapping.
Step 4: Now add a key that you want to remap. You can either select the key to reassign using the scroll-down menu or click the Type button and press the key on your keyboard.
Step 5: Under Assigned to, assign a key or shortcut to be executed using the Type button or the scroll-down menu. There is also an option to disable the button via the scroll-down menu.
To assign a shortcut, you can use the Type button and press the keyboard shortcut. For example, I assigned the Shift (Right) key on the keyboard to run ‘Ctrl + S’ which is used to perform the save function in most Windows programs.
Step 6: Finally, press the OK button above to confirm the reassignment of the buttons. If you are prompted with a warning message, click Continue Anyway.
That’s it. Now the Shift key (right) has been reassigned to execute the key combination Ctrl + S. Similarly, you can remap additional keys using the “+” button. To remove a newly assigned key, open the Reassign key window again and click the trash can icon next to the newly assigned key.
How to remap shortcuts in Windows 10
Similar to remapping buttons, PowerToys also lets you remap shortcuts on Windows 10. This can be handy when the existing shortcuts don’t work or assign custom shortcuts in a particular app or game. Read on to learn how.
Step 1: Start PowerToys again and go to the Keyboard Manager tab. This time, click the Reassign Link button under Reassign Links.
Step 2: In the Reassign link window that opens, click the “+” button to reassign a link. Again, you can use the scroll-down menu or the Type button. In this case, we assign the key combination “Ctrl + F” (a shortcut for searching for words in browsers and programs) to the “F4” key.
Step 3: Under Target apps, you can specify apps in which the link change should take effect. If left blank, the change will be applied to each app.
Step 4: When you’re done, press OK at the top to apply the changes.
Again, you can delete any of the newly assigned shortcuts by tapping the trash can icon next to the newly assigned shortcut.
Bonus: quick start guide in PowerToys
Aside from remapping buttons and shortcuts, PowerToys also gives you a clear guide to the shortcuts that use the Windows key.
To enable this guide, start PowerToys, go to the Shortcut Guide tab on the left and toggle Enable Shortcut Guide on.
Once activated, you can tap and hold the Windows key for about a second to see the keyboard shortcut overlay, including common Windows keyboard shortcuts, system tray keyboard shortcuts, window controls, and more. Alternatively, you can also use Windows Key +? to overlay the quick start guide.
You can further optimize the appearance of the overlay guide under “Appearance & Behavior”. Again, PowerToys must be running and the quick start guide must be activated for this to work.
Endless possibilities
With this level of keyboard customization, you can remap the entire keyboard or some elements of it to your liking. And besides remapping the buttons, PowerToys has many other useful functions like resizing images in bulk, creating the multiwindow layout, identifying colors and more.
Introduction
Maybe you want to use the Apple Magic Keyboard on your Windows PC as well. I took a try. It works fine, and the shortcut ” CTRL+ALT+DELETE ” can also work after key remapping. Setup is very simple. ( No Boot Camp driver installation required.)
Validation Environment:
Apple Magic Keyboard – English (US)
OS: Windows 10
Don’t forget switch on your Magic Keyboard ( green becomes visible)。
“Settings” -> “Devices” -> “Bluetooth & other devices” -> “Add bluetooth or other device”
Click “Bluetooth” to add your Magic keyboard.
Click “Connect” button to start the connection.
The connection is complete when you get the following message.
After connecting, you can use the keyboard immediately. No driver installation is required.
DELETE Key
As you konw, the “delete” key on the Magic keyboard is equivalent to the “Backspace” key on Windows PC. If you want to delete forwards on Mac, you need to type “fn+delete”.
Unfortunately, “fn+delete” doesn’t work on Windows PC. When you want to delete forward, “shift+delete” will work. (No key remapping is required.)
CTRL+ALT+DELETE Key
The “option” key on the Magic keyboard is equivalent to ALT, but when I type “control+option+delete”, there is no response. “control+option+shift+delete” doesn’t work either.
So how can I type “CTRL+ALT+DELETE” ? With the help of following software and key remapping, this issue can be solved.
Name: Microsoft PowerToys (Product web page)
Supported OS: Windows 10 v1903 and later
Click here for installation.
Keyboard Manager
Startup PowerToys and select “Keyboard Manager”.
Remap Key
This example remaps “F12” to “Delete”. (Choose your favorite key.)
Click “Type” to show the key input screen.
Type “F12” and click the OK button.
Select “Delete” from the list under “Mapped To”, then click “OK” button to remap.
Continue anyway when you get the following message.
After remapping:
Now the key remapping is complete. If you type ” control+option+F12 “, the operation will be the same as “CTRL+ALT+DELETE”.
※The Keyboard Manager can NOT remap shortcut “CTRL+ALT+DELETE” directly. Please refer to the document for details of usage.
The keyboards for Mac and Windows PC are largely the same, however there’s one key difference (no put intended) that has annoyed users who switch between these two platforms for years. Yes, we are talking about the difference in position for the modifier keys. On any Mac keyboard you find Control – Option – Command keys while on PC keyboard you find Control – Windows – Alt keys.
While the Control key is at the same position on both platforms, its Option and Command keys that cause the confusion. The Command key is equivalent to Windows logo key while the Option key is equivalent to Alt key in functionality. So instead of pressing pressing Command-Shift-3 for screenshot you have to press Windows-Shift-3. The flipped positions can take a while to get used to.
The difference in position not only causes problem for users who switch from Windows to Mac and vice versa on regular basis, for example you may be using Mac at work but Windows at home. But is also annoying for those who are using a keyboard designed for Windows PC on a Mac or a Hackintosh machine.
Good news is you can switch what these keys do by going to Mac’s Settings preferences. Read on to learn how you can configure a windows keyboard for Mac or Hackintosh. By the end of this guide you will be able to remap Windows keyboard for Mac.
Configure Windows Keyboard For Mac or Hackintosh
- On your Mac open Settings Preferences.
- Now go to Keyboard > Modifier Keys and select your keyboard from the keyboard drop down list.
- Now for the Option key select ‘⌘ Command’ and for Command (⌘) key choose ‘⌥ Option’.
- Click on the OK button and exit.
After making this change your Windows keyboard will act the same as a normal Mac keyboard would do. Pressing the Windows key will perform the same function as Option key whereas pressing the Alt key should perform the same function as pressing Command on a normal Mac keyboard.
After this change now Mac Command key on Windows keyboard will be the Windows key where as Mac Option Key on Windows keyboard will be Alt key.
So this is how you can configure your Windows keyboard to better working with your Mac or as a hackintosh keyboard. If you have any questions, then feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
All of the Fn keys on a Mac are mapped by default to perform specific functions that can be quickly accessible by users. For example, the F1 and F2 keys, when pressed, increase and decrease your screen’s brightness respectively. While some of the Fn keys and their associated functions are used regularly, some of them, like F3 – Expose view, might not be used that much, and it will be more useful to remap it to perform another function. Here we’ll show you how to remap the Fn keys on your macOS.
Also read: How to Add Options to macOS’s Services Menu
The first thing we need to do is to disable the default actions assigned to the Function keys. To do this:
1. Open System Preferences on your Mac.
2. Select Keyboard.
3. From the “Keyboard” menu, enable the option to “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys.”
Once this option is enabled, you’ll see that the Fn keys, when pressed, will not perform the normal actions that are inscribed on them.
We’ll now assign our own custom shortcuts to them.
1. In the same window, open the “Shortcuts” tab.
2. Using the first and second tab, you can select a specific function you want and click on the keyboard shortcut in front of it to remap the function to a Fn key.
For example, if you want to use the F5 to turn “Do Not Disturb” on/off, simply click on the shortcut in front of it and press the F5 key on your keyboard.
Also read: How To Set a Do Not Disturb Keyboard Shortcut on Your Mac
It’s simple to assign one of the functions listed by default to a specific Fn key, but if you want to assign a custom function from an app’s menu, you can do so as follows:
1. In the “Shortcuts” section, select “App Shortcuts” from the left-hand pane and click on the “+” icon.
2. Here you have a few options. Firstly, you can choose to create a shortcut that is common to all applications that offer the function. In this example, we’ll be creating a custom shortcut to enter “Full Screen” mode. Since I’d like that to happen in all applications, I’ll select “All Applications.” If you would like to create a shortcut for a specific app, you can choose that specific app from the list.
3. We now need the exact function we want the keyboard shortcut to perform. Keep in mind that the shortcut will perform the specific function from the app menu, so we need to know the exact function name.
To check this, simply navigate to the app menu and note down the exact name of the function you want. Since we want our keyboard shortcut to enter full-screen mode on any app when pressed, we’ll find the option from the app menu and take note of it.
The function name is “Enter Full Screen.” We’ll enter this in the “Menu Title” section of the System Preferences tab.
4. Simply specify the Fn key you want to use as the shortcut. You can specify any other keyboard key combinations as well.
Using the tutorials specified above, you can disable the default functions assigned to the Fn keys and replace them with custom functions of your own.
If you’d like to use a few of the default Fn key functions, while remapping a few for your custom shortcuts, you’ll need to install a third-party program to do so. We recommend using Karabiner. It is free and gets the job done.
In the application, you’ll find the option to remap the Fn keys to perform some different functions as well as work as another key. For any Fn key whose function you want to leave as is, don’t change any setting.
However, for the key you’d like to change, select the particular Fn key (for example, F8) from the list in front of it and use the guide mentioned above to assign a shortcut to it from your keyboard settings. Keep in mind, for this you’ll need to keep the “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” option disabled.
It is easy to remap the Fn keys in macOS. Did you find the guide useful? Let us know in the Comments section below.
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There may be instances when you wish you could change the layout of a keyboard according to your preference.
You can also remap your keyboard when you utilize your Windows keyboard with the Mac operating system.
If you typically use your PC for gaming, you can consider remapping keys that will help you play games comfortably.
If you have a job that requires you to use a single key frequently, remapping it to a key that is easily accessible can have a positive effect on your workflow.
In all of these cases, remapping the keyboard keys is a simple solution. When you hit a key on the keyboard, it transmits a “scan code” to Windows to know which key is pressed. To map one key to another, scan codes are changed in the system registry. However, manually changing the registry is challenging. Some applications do not run in the background, while others do.
Third-Party Tools for Remapping Your Keyboard Keys in Windows
Numerous software are available for remapping keys. In this article, you will learn how to remap your keyboard keys using two different methods. So let’s begin:
Remap Your Keyboard Keys Using PowerToys
Microsoft “PowerToys” is a collection of tools designed to help users optimize and streamline their Windows 10 experience for increased productivity. It is a free program downloaded online. In PowerToys, the “Keyboard Manager” is a built-in feature that permits you to remap one keyboard key to another, as well as remap keyboard shortcuts. PowerToys application operates in the background, and it does not require changing the scan code of keys. If you do not have PowerToys installed on your Windows, download it for free, and follow the installation procedure below:
At this point, a PowerToys setup wizard will appear on the screen. Click on “Next” to continue:
Click the “Install” button to start the PowerToys installation process on your Windows:
Once you have installed the PowerToys software, open it and explore the “Key Manager” section:
PowerToys offers you the functionality to remap keyboard keys and shortcuts. Now, we will show you how to remap keys using this software. For that, click on the “Remap a key” button under the “Remap Keys” section:
A window will pop up on your screen. Click on the “[+]” button to remap a key:
Next, assign the key you wish to remap in the “Key” column and add the other key in the “Mapped to” column with the key you want to be remapped. For instance, we selected “Scroll Lock“:
Then, in the “Mapped To” column, choose a single or combination of keys according to your preference:
In the “Keyboard Manager” settings, the mapped key will be listed, which indicates that your customized mapping has been saved, and it is currently operating:
Remap Your Keyboard Keys Using SharpKeys
The “SharpKeys” is a simple, open-source software that forces the Windows registry to remap a single key to another. It is ideal for one-to-one key remapping because it publishes this information directly to the Windows registry. As Windows interprets the keystrokes, you do not need to rely on any other program as a middleman, and you will experience the fewest compatibility concerns. Start the application after downloading it.
Click on the Downloaded file; then you will be welcomed by the SharpKeys Setup Wizard:
Browse for your SharpKeys installation folder. Install this useful software for every user by selecting the “Everyone” option, then click the “Next” button:
Wait for few minutes as the SharpKeys application is being installed on your system:
After you have successfully installed the software, Open it by searching “SharpKeys” in the search box:
The interface of the SharpKeys will look like this:
Click on the “Add” Button to remap any keyboard key. Next, define the key you wish to remap in the “Make this key (from_key)” column and add the preferred key in the “To this key (To_key)” column with what you want your keyboard key to be remapped:
You can also “Type a key” for the key remap assignment. Then, click on the “OK” button:
Congratulations! Your keyboard is successfully remapped. Now, restart your system to make these changes permanently:
Conclusion
While the basic Windows keyboard layout has stayed consistent over time for good reason, there may be instances when you want to change your keyboard layout for gaming or use with macOS. Remapping keys is an excellent method to customize your keyboard, whether one of your keys has unexpectedly stopped working or you simply want to utilize the less-used keys. In this article, you learned how to change your keyboard key on Windows using PowerToys and SharpKeys software. We recommend you use PowerToys for the key remapping, as it also offers many other customization options.
About the author
Talha Saif Malik
Talha is a contributor at Linux Hint with a vision to bring value and do useful things for the world. He loves to read, write and speak about Linux, Data, Computers and Technology.
It’s long since that I have discussed a tutorial on how you can remap several unused keys on your keyboard with some other keys that are useful, or has been damaged on your keyboard. I talked about, you can do that with the help of SharpKeys, a neat utility on Windows, but now you can do that and even more with the help of PowerToys, which is a cool app available for Windows that adds a number of new functionalities to the operating system. In the latest version of PowerToys, you can also remap several keys on the keyboard with some other keys, or you can even assign certain shortcut keys to another key on your keyboard.
For example, if you do not want to use the scroll lock any longer, which is hardly in use nowadays you can map scroll lock to some other key on your keyboard. With the second thing available on PowerToys, you can also assign a shortcut key to another key on the keyboard. For example, if your Windows key is not functioning, you can assign a certain shortcut key that will be mapped to the Windows key. This can be useful if you do not want to sacrifice a key for any reason. I will talk about, how you can use PowerToys on Windows 10 to remap the different keys on a keyboard with some other keys. It is going to be easy and it is easier to deal with compared to other programs that offer the same functionality.
So, without any further delay, let’s get started with how you can use PowerToys to remap keys on your keyboard with some other keys or accomplish the same with shortcut keys.
Remapping keys and shortcut keys on Windows 10
Step 1: Download and install the latest version of PowerToys from the following link . After you have downloaded and installed it, just like most other Windows programs, open the PowerToys interface from the system tray.
Step 2: Now, if PowerToys don’t open with administrator privileges, click on ‘ Restart as administrator ’. After PowerToys restart with administrator privileges, turn on ‘ Always run as administrator ’.
Step 3: In the PowerToys interface, click on ‘Keyboard Manager’ on the left, and then ‘ Remap a key ’ on the right. You should also click on the ‘ Enable Keyboard Manager ’ to enable the module.
Guest blog post from support team member: Dhanasekaran Vijayarajan
Configuring Keyboard Shortcuts in Parallels Desktop
We all know Parallels Desktop allows you to run Windows on your Mac. But have you ever wanted your favorite Mac keyboard shortcuts to work in the virtual machine as well? Or maybe change them and assign certain hot keys like Alt key? We can help – below are all the instructions you’ll need for configuring your keyboard shortcuts in Parallels Desktop!
By default, Parallels Desktop maps common Mac OS X keyboard shortcut key combinations to the equivalent Windows key combinations. That way, if you’re used to, for example, pressing Command-C to copy text in Mac OS X, you don’t have to switch to the Windows equivalent, Control-C.
Want to customize these shortcuts?
To customize keyboard shortcuts:
- Click the Parallels icon in the Mac menu bar and choose Preferences (or click on Parallels Desktop >Preferences).
- Select Shortcuts.
- Choose your VM from the list. (i.e., Windows 10)
When you’re using a Windows application, pressing a key combination in the From column triggers the key combination in the To column.
- If the lock icon is locked, click it and enter an administrator password.
- Do one of the following:
* To edit an existing key combination, double-click the key combination, or select it and click the Edit button . Click modifier keys to select or deselect them. If you wish, change the character in the text field.
* To delete a key combination, select it and click the Remove button .
* To add a new key combination, click the Add button .
- Some key combinations can’t be edited or deleted.
- There are Mac shortcuts that do not have similar shortcuts in Windows. For example, you can use the F11 key or Fn+F11 combination to see your Mac OS desktop with Expose, but in Windows there are no keys or key combinations that enable you to perform the same action, because there is no Expose in Windows.
Another awesome trick is to enable or disable Mac OS X System Shortcuts. Our dev team made this trick very simple!
In Mac OS X, the function keys on your keyboard (F1, F2, F3 and so on) control functions like activating Dashboard and Mission Control, adjusting screen brightness, and controlling the volume. By default, when a Windows application is active, the function keys and other Mac system shortcut key combinations (such as pressing Cmd + Tab to switch between open applications) continue to activate Mac OS X functions.
To set whether function keys and OS X system shortcut key combinations activate functions in OS X or Windows:
- Click System Shortcuts in the sidebar.
- Select one of the following from the Send system shortcuts menu:
* Always: When Windows or Windows applications are active, function keys and other system shortcuts always trigger functions in Windows.
* Never: Function keys and other system shortcuts always trigger functions in OS X.
* On Condition or Auto: If you’re working with Windows, system shortcuts that don’t function in Windows (for example, Control-Up Arrow button to display Mission Control) trigger functions in OS X. If you’re using OS X as a guest OS and a guest OS or its application is active, system shortcuts that are typical only to OS X trigger functions in the guest version of OS X.
This is simple, right? So performing these steps will make it more comfortable for you to use our software regardless of the difference in OS and shortcut combinations.
Want to customize the keyboard menu?
In Window mode, you can enter key combinations by clicking the keyboard icon in the status bar at the bottom of the window and then choosing a key combination. To customize available key combinations, do the following:
Do one of the following:
* Click the Parallels icon in the menu bar, press and hold the Option (Alt) key, and choose Preferences.
* If the Parallels Desktop menu bar is visible at the top of the screen, choose Parallels Desktop > Preferences.
* Click Shortcuts > Keyboard Menu.
- If the lock icon is locked, click it and enter an administrator password.
- Do one of the following:
- To add a new key combination, click the Add button .
- To remove a key combination from the Keyboard menu, select it and click the Remove button .
- To edit an existing key combination, double-click the key combination, or select it and click the Edit button . Click modifier keys to select or deselect them. If you wish, change the character in the text field.
Need additional instructions? Please see the KB instructions here.
We hope this blog helped you to customize your keyboard shortcuts. As always, follow our Support team on Twitter for tips, tricks, and help. You can also message us on Facebook if you have any questions.
Bố cục bàn phím của máy Mac không phù hợp lắm với Windows. Cho dù bạn chủ yếu là người dùng Windows hay chủ yếu là người dùng OS X, bố cục không hoàn toàn đúng khi bạn chạy Windows trong Boot Camp – nhưng bạn có thể khắc phục điều đó.
Có một số cách có thể bạn muốn sắp xếp lại các phím tắt này tùy thuộc vào những gì bạn đã sử dụng. Tất cả chỉ mất vài cú nhấp chuột với SharpKeys và bạn sẽ cảm thấy thoải mái hơn khi ở nhà trong Boot Camp
Vấn đề
Bố cục bàn phím Mac khác biệt tinh tế với bố trí bàn phím PC. Trên bàn phím PC thông thường, góc dưới bên trái của bàn phím chứa các phím theo thứ tự này: Ctrl, Windows, Alt. Trên bàn phím Mac, bạn sẽ thấy bố cục sau: Điều khiển, Tùy chọn, Lệnh. Trong Boot Camp, các phím này có chức năng như Control, Alt, Windows.
Nói cách khác, phím Alt và Windows được hoán đổi từ nơi bạn mong đợi. Tệ hơn nữa, người dùng Mac sẽ phải sử dụng phím Control cho các phím tắt khác nhau yêu cầu phím Command trên Mac OS X.
Phải có một cách để khắc phục điều này – và có. Chúng tôi sẽ sử dụng SharpKeys để ánh xạ lại các phím này trong Windows. SharpKeys là một chương trình đồ họa mã nguồn mở dễ sử dụng, tạo các mục đăng ký Windows thích hợp để ánh xạ lại các khóa. Bạn thực sự có thể làm tất cả điều này trong trình soạn thảo sổ đăng ký nếu bạn muốn – nó chỉ cần nhiều công việc hơn. Tiện ích này hoạt động trên Windows 7, 8, 8.1 và thậm chí các phiên bản Windows cũ hơn.
Giải pháp 1: Nếu bạn đã quen với phím tắt Mac
Nếu bạn đã quen với các phím tắt trên bàn phím Mac, bạn có thể muốn tạo chức năng phím Lệnh làm phím Điều khiển. Sau đó, bạn sẽ có thể sử dụng các phím tắt bàn phím Mac như Command + C, X hoặc V để Sao chép, Cắt và Dán trong Windows. Nhấn Command + L sẽ tập trung thanh vị trí trong trình duyệt web của bạn trên Windows giống như trên OS X – không cần ánh xạ lại, phím tắt Command + L đó bằng Windows Key + L, sẽ khóa hệ thống Windows của bạn.
Để làm điều này, cài đặt SharpKeys và khởi chạy nó. Nhấp vào nút Thêm và nhấp vào Cột Loại khóa Chính trong cột Từ Từ khóa Chính ở bên trái. Nhấn phím lệnh bên trái. Tiếp theo, nhấp vào nút Kiểu khóa của người dùng ở bên dưới. Bấm phím điều khiển.
Nhấp vào OK và nhấp vào Viết Ghi vào Sổ đăng ký. Đăng xuất và đăng nhập hoặc khởi động lại để kích hoạt các thay đổi của bạn. Phím Command bên trái của bạn sẽ hoạt động như một phím Điều khiển thứ hai, có nghĩa là nhiều phím tắt Mac Lệnh sẽ hoạt động như bạn mong đợi. Nếu bạn cần nhấn phím Windows, thay vào đó hãy nhấn phím Command ở bên phải bàn phím của bạn.
Giải pháp 2: Nếu bạn đã quen với Phím tắt Windows
Nếu bạn đã quen với các phím tắt Windows, có lẽ bạn sẽ muốn trao đổi Phím Tùy chọn / Phím Alt bằng phím Lệnh / Windows. Điều này sẽ thay đổi thứ tự từ Control, Alt, Windows sang Control, Windows, Alt – cùng thứ tự bạn sẽ tìm thấy trên bàn phím Windows tiêu chuẩn. Bộ nhớ cơ bạn đã tích hợp cho các phím tắt sẽ không làm bạn thất vọng.
Để làm điều này, cài đặt SharpKeys và khởi chạy nó. Nhấp vào nút Thêm. Cuộn xuống ở cột bên trái và chọn Đặc biệt: Bên trái Alt. Tiếp theo, nhấp vào nút Loại phím Chính xác bên dưới. Nhấn phím Command ở bên phải bàn phím của bạn và sau đó nhấp vào OK.
Tiếp theo, nhấp vào nút Thêm một lần nữa. Nhấp vào Kiểu gõ Key Loại dưới cột Từ trên cột Từ khóa bên trái. Nhấn phím lệnh bên trái. Cuộn xuống trong cột To To key trên cột bên phải và chọn Đặc biệt: Phải Alt. Nhấp vào OK và nhấp vào Viết Ghi vào Sổ đăng ký.
Đăng xuất và đăng nhập lại hoặc khởi động lại máy Mac của bạn. Phím Alt / Option sẽ hoạt động như một phím Windows và phím Command sẽ hoạt động như phím Alt. Điều này có nghĩa là bố cục ở bên trái bàn phím của bạn sẽ là Control, Windows, Alt – giống như trên Windows.
Giải pháp 3: Tạo bàn phím tắt của Mac OS X khớp với Windows
Thay vào đó, bạn có thể điều chỉnh các phím tắt trong Mac OS X để chúng hoạt động giống như trong Windows. Ví dụ: bạn có thể hoán đổi các phím Control và Command trong Mac OS X – sau đó bạn nhấn Control + C, X hoặc V để Sao chép, Cắt và Dán trong Mac OS X, giống như bạn làm trên Windows.
Để thực hiện việc này, hãy khởi động vào Mac OS X, nhấp vào menu Apple trên thanh menu và chọn Tùy chọn hệ thống. Nhấp vào biểu tượng Bàn phím, nhấp vào nút Phím điều chỉnh và hoán đổi các chức năng phím Điều khiển và Lệnh. Bạn cũng có thể dễ dàng vô hiệu hóa phím Caps Lock từ đây.
Nếu bạn quyết định bạn không thích ánh xạ lại bàn phím mà bạn đã chọn, bạn có thể mở lại SharpKeys, xóa các quy tắc bạn đã tạo và nhấp vào Viết Ghi vào Sổ đăng ký. khởi động lại.
Tín dụng hình ảnh: Faruk Ates trên Flickr, abdallahh trên Flickr
By Bryan Clark published 7 February 21
Tired of that pesky Command key location? Remap it
There’s not a lot of difference between a Mac and Windows keyboard. But even though they’re mostly the same, the subtle differences are sure to be frustrating to anyone who regularly uses both operating systems.
For those who use Windows regularly, it makes a lot of sense to remap the out-of-place keys on a Mac like Control and Command. And it’s not all that difficult to make the change, which should be welcome news for anyone still getting tripped up by the layout on a Mac keyboard.
In this tutorial, we’re going to change the Command key to Control, and vice-versa, leaving us with a more Windows-like keyboard experience.
1) Click the Apple icon to open the menu.
2) In the menu that opens, open System Preferences.
3) In the System Preferences window, select Keyboard.
4) In the dialogue box that opens, click Modifier Keys in the bottom right corner.
5) Click the down arrow to open the Select keyboard menu.
6) Select the keyboard you want to remap.
7) Open the drop down menu in front of the Control Key.
8) Select Command from the drop-down menu.
9) Open the drop down menu in front of the Command Key.
10) Select Control from the drop-down menu.
11) Click OK to confirm the changed settings.
You may feel difficult to use the keyboard when switching to Mac from Windows. The same problem happens if you are in a situation to use both Windows 10 and macOS computers. The situation is quite common that you may have MacBook for personal use and need to use Windows PC on office. Here is a list of Windows equivalent Mac keyboard shortcuts that will help you to get things done on both environments easily.
Windows Equivalent Mac Shortcuts
Unfortunately, some Windows equivalent shortcuts are not available in Mac. However, you can setup custom keyboard shortcuts in Mac for that.
| Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Alt + F4 | Cmd + Q | Close open window |
| Alt + Tab | Cmd + Tab | Switch through open next apps |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | Cmd + Shift + Tab | Switch through open previous apps |
| Ctrl + A | Cmd + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + C | Cmd + C | Copy content |
| Ctrl + D | Cmd + Delete | Delete and move to Recycle Bin |
| Ctrl + Shift | Ctrl + Space | Toggle keyboard layout |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Cmd + Opt + Esc | Task manager or Force quit |
| Ctrl + V | Cmd + V | Paste content |
| Ctrl + X | Cmd + X | Cut content |
| Ctrl + Y | Cmd + Shift + Z | Redo action |
| Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z | Undo previous action |
| Shift + Delete | Cmd + Option + Delete | Permanently delete item |
| Shift + F10 | Custom | Show shortcut menu |
| Windows Logo + L | Cmd + Ctrl + Q | Lock computer |
| Windows Logo + ; | Cmd + Ctrl + Space | Emoji keyboard |
| Windows Logo + . | Cmd + Ctrl + Space | Emoji keyboard |
| Windows Logo + + | Cmd + Opt + = or – | Magnifier / Zoom in or out in Mac |
| Windows Logo + Spacebar | Cmd + Space + Key configured in preferences | Switch keyboard language input |
| Windows Logo + A | Custom | Action Center in Windows / Notification Center in Mac |
| Windows Logo + Alt + D | Custom | Toggle date and time |
| Windows Logo + , | Cmd + F3 | Peek desktop |
| Windows Logo + Ctrl + Enter | Cmd + Fn + F5 | Narrator in Windows / VoiceOver in Mac |
| Ctrl + S | Cmd + Opt + D | Start menu in Windows / Dock in Mac |
| Windows Logo + D | Cmd + Mission Control | Show or hide desktop |
| Windows Logo + Down arrow | Cmd + M | Resize or minimze app |
| Windows Logo + E | Cmd + Option + Space | File Explorer in Windows / Open Search in Finder |
| Windows Logo + I | Cmd + , | Settings / Preferences |
| Windows Logo + M | Cmd + Opt + M | Minimize all apps |
| Windows Logo + Number | Fn + Ctrl + F3 then Left arrow and enter | Launch taskbar app with the position specified by the number |
| Windows Logo + O | Custom Selectable | Lock orientation |
| Windows Logo + P | Opt F1 or F2 | Project menu in Windows / Display settings in Mac |
| Windows Logo + R | Cmd + Space and search | Run dialog box in Windows / Terminal in Mac |
| Windows Logo + S | Cmd + Space | Open search |
| Windows Logo + Shift + M | Cmd + Tab then select | Restore minimized apps from desktop |
| Windows Logo + Shift + S | Command + Shift + 5 | Take screenshot |
| Windows Logo + Shift + Up arrow | Not available | Strecth app to touch top and bottom of screen |
| Windows Logo + Shift + V | Custom | Navigate through notifications |
| Windows Logo + T | Ctrl + Fn + F3 then Left Arrow | Navigate through taskbar apps |
| Windows Logo + Tab | Cmd + Tan | Task view in Windows / Toggle apps in Mac |
| Windows Logo + U | Cmd + Opt + Fn + F5 | Ease of Access Center |
| Windows Logo + Up arrow | Cmd + L | Maximize window |
| Windows Logo + V | Cmd + Shift + Opt + V | Clipboard history |
| Windows Logo + X | Not applicable | Quick link menu |
| Windows Logo + Ctrl + Q | Not applicable | Quick Assist |
| Win Logo + B | Custom | Focus notification area |
| F2 | Enter | Rename |
| Alt + F | Cmd + F2 and F | File menu |
| Alt + E | Cmd + F2 and E | Edit menu |
| Alt + V | Cmd + F2 and V | View menu |
| Ctrl + P | Cmd + P | |
| Ctrl + N | Cmd + T | New browser tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Cmd + Shift + N | New folder |
| Enter | Cmd + O | Open file or folder or program |
| Win Logo + X then U then S | Cmd + Opt + Eject | Sleep or standby |
| Win Logo + X then U then U | Cmd + Ctrl + Opt + Eject | Shutdown |
| Win Logo + X then U then R | Cmd + Ctrl + Power | Restart |
| Hold power button | Cmd + Opt + Eject | Force shutdown |
| Win Logo + Print Screen | Cmd + Shift + 3 | Save screenshot of the screen |
| Print Screen | Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + 3 | Copy screen screenshot to clipboard |
| Alt + Print Screen | Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + 3 | Copy active window screenshot |
| Ctrl + F | Cmd + F | Find |
| Ctrl + H | Cmd + H | Search and replace |
| Ctrl + B | Cmd + B | Bold |
| Ctrl + I | Cmd + I | Italic |
| Ctrl + U | Cmd + U | Underline |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Cmd + Opt + C | Toggle uppercase and lowercase |
| Ctrl + Shift + = | Cmd + Ctrl + + | Superscript |
| Ctrl + = | Cmd + Ctrl + – | Subscript |
| Alt + D | Cmd + L | Browser address bar |
| Alt + Home | Cmd + Home | Browser home page |
| Ctrl + B | Cmd + B | Bookmarks menu in browser |
| Ctrl + Enter | Cmd or Ctrl + Enter | Add .com to URL in browser |
| Shift + Enter | Shift + Enter | Add .net to URL in browser |
| Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Cmd + Shift + Enter | Add .org to URL in browser |
| Ctrl + D | Cmd + D | Add to bookmark in browser |
| Ctrl + W | Cmd + F11 | Close current window |
Note, some shortcuts are applicable only for some applications. For example, browser shortcuts may work only with web browsers.
How to Run Windows With a Mac Keyboard
I wrote a bit about PowerToys previously, but today we’re gonna talk about my second-favorite feature: the keyboard manager.
My first-favorite feature is Powertoys Run – the spotlight-like feature for Windows. I talked about this one last post.
I switched to Windows from Mac a few months back, and I’m used to just about everything except the keyboard. Muscle memory keeps kicking in and my thumbs reach for the cmd key instead of ctrl . There’s no cmd on Windows – it just opens the start menu. I’ve opened the start menu a lot.
The key feature (see what I did there?) of PowerToys that lets my keyboard be all apple-ey is the keyboard manager. It looks like this:
There’s a lot going on in that window. Let’s break it down…
Remap Keyboard 🗺
This one is simple in theory. Like the heading says, you get to map a single key. Take the first one in there – I mapped Page Up to the home key (that one wasn’t Mac specific – I just kept accidentally hitting it 😉).
Here are the keys I remapped to Mac-ify:
- Caps Lock => Win (Left)
- Win (Left) => Ctrl (Left)
This is basically making the Windows key to the left of the spacebar into the Ctrl key, which does similar things as the Cmd key on a Mac. Since I was overriding the Windows key, I moved that up to Caps Lock, since I never use it anyway. You could also do this with the Windows key on the right, if you have one.
To do these mappings, you click “Remap a Key’, then the Plus icon at the bottom. Click on each box and type the keys you want to map. The “before” key goes on the left, and the “after” key on the right.
Remap Shortcuts 🍕
This one piggybacks on key remapping. As you know, Windows has lots of key combinations that “do stuff”™. For example, alt+tab cycles through Windows, alt+tab switches Windows, win+s opens the search menu, win+d shows the desktop, win+e the explorer, and so on.
Here are the shortcuts I set for mac-ifying:
- Ctrl (Left) + Tab => Alt (Left) + Tab
- cmd+tab on Mac lets you cycle through Windows. This makes it feel the same. This still has a bug, but it’s usable enough for now
- Ctrl (Left) + Shift (Left) + [ => Ctrl (Left) + Shift (Left) + Tab
- This lets me cycle through tabs quickly, just like on a Mac. This particular one cycles left.
- Win (Right) + Shift (Right) + [ => Ctrl (Left) + Shift + Tab
- Cycle to the left, from the right side of the keyboard
- Ctrl (Left) + Shift (Left) + ] => Ctrl (Left) + Tab
- Cycle to the right, from the left side of the keyboard
- Win (Right) + Shift (Right) + ] => Ctrl (Left) + Shift + Tab
- Cycle to the right, from the right side of the keyboard
- Win (Right) + Shift (Right) + ] => Ctrl (Left) + Shift + Tab
I hope those help! It’s by far not everything to make Windows feel like a mac – some Windows things just don’t apply to Mac and vice versa. But I think you’ll find this a good setup.
I’m using Ubuntu in VirtualBox on Mac. As I switch frequently, I would like to use the same shortcuts. Please, does anyone know how to have the same shortcuts on Ubuntu, as they are on Mac?
Specifically, I would like to Copy, Paste, Select All, . work with Cmd + C , Cmd + V , Cmd + A , . (even in terminal – no Ctrl + Shift , just Ctrl ).
I tried to change Keyboard Layout to Apple Laptop, but that didn’t help.
9 Answers 9
There’s no need to use xbindkeys to achieve OSX-like keyboard mapping on Ubuntu. This is a built-in option:
- Go into your Ubuntu Settings
- Navigate to Keyboard → Keyboard Layout Settings
- add English (Macintosh)
couldn’t you add custom shortcuts?? If that wasn’t possible or didn’t work you might want to change the keybindings of your vmbox. You’ll need to do the following:
Xbindkeys is a very versatile program that lets you remap keys very easily. It uses a config file, my default located in your home directory, to change key bindings into certain commands.
To create a default config file you use the command:
Which prints the default config file. So if you want to create the file containing the default values you would use:
Which prints the default values into a hidden file named .xbindkeysrc located in home.
Now to actually change the bindings of keys we first need to know what the name or keysym of those keys is. xbindkeys allows us to use the -k handle to find the name of a key or key combination. Run:
Now press ctrl (of cmd) and check the output
Try pressing ctrl + c (after disabling that shortcut in the terminal using the second part of this explination)
It will tell you the name of the key/key combination.
Now we need to tell linux to call upon cmd when ctrl is pressed.
for this we will need an extra piece of software as xbindkeys does not support this on it’s own. I know of two programs which we can use, xdotool and xte. I prefer xte so I’m going to use that.
( To call a single key press: xte ‘key keyName’
To call a key combination: xte ‘keydown keyName’ ‘keydown secondKeyName’ ‘keyup keyName’ ‘keyup secondKeyName
For more info you can read the manual man xte )
Lets open up the config file you made earlier: (the one you made using xbindkeys –defaults > $HOME/.xbindkeysrc )
You’ll get something like this:
Earlier you extracted the key/key combination. now that you know the command for simulating key presses you can call it from your xbindkeys script, like this:
“xte ‘ctrl'” Cmd (or something like this depended upon the name given to you by xbindkeys)
Add this to you’re xbindkeys script and save it.
You’ll notice that it doesn’t work (yet). That’s because xbindkeys isn’t running yet. start it with the following command.
Your commands should work now. If it doesn’t work you might wanna try adding commands to your key-combinations like copy and paste. If that doesn’t work either there is an alternative but that’s quite a lot of writing. You could also try xmodmap or xkeycaps.
I would like to note that xbindkeys and xte don’t always work well together.
As for your terminal shortcuts: You can change them ALL by opening your terminal and clicking edit in the top bar. Then click keyboard shortcuts and change the value of copy and paste under the header “edit” into ctrl (or in your case cmd) + c and ctrl + v
Searching in other questions I’ve found this tool to map the Ctrl to the Macbook key board CMD Left to do CMD + C or CMD + V or something else:
Install gnome-tweaks application:
sudo apt-get install gnome-tweaks
Open the application Applications -> Gnome Tweaks and map the CTRL to WIN(Same as CMD in Mac) doing this:
- Keyboard and Mouse
- Additional Layout Options(Left Super)
- Alt/Win key Behavior
- Ctrl is mapped to Win and the usual Ctrl keys`
Enjoy the CMD + C or CMD + V in your OSX VirtualBox using ubuntu-18 VM.
This is an updated answer for anyone struggling with this issue with more recent versions of Ubuntu.
I have just installed Ubuntu 16.04.1 via VirtualBox and was unable to get the keyboard settings to match my MacBook.
Here’s what I did to fix it:
- Navigate to System Settings.
- Select Text Entry (i.e. notKeyboard).
- Underneath the list with the heading Input sources to use: there is a plus and a minus sign – click on the plus sign.
- In the text box under Choose an input source type in the keyboard layout that you require (in my case I choose English (UK, macintosh).
- Use the up arrow to make it your default keyboard layout on Ubuntu.
- Remove the other keyboard layouts. It wasn’t until I removed the other layouts that the changes took effect.
I’m on Ubuntu 16.04, VirtualBox 5.1.22 and none of these answers worked for me – including David Brower’s unfortunately.
Here’s what did to get my left OSX Command key working (persistently!):
- First you need to ensure VirtualBox isn’t using Left ⌘ as the Host key
- In the top menu bar of your VM window select Input > Keyboard > Keyboard Settings..
- In the list of settings, find Host Key Combination, and change shortcut to something other than Left ⌘ (I just used Right ⌘ as I never use it).
- Now that you can definitely use the Left ⌘ in within the VM environment, remap the keys with XKB:
- Open and (carefully) edit: /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc
- I simply swapped and around, so it looks like this:
- key ;
- key ;
- Now clear the old mappings from xkb cache:
- rm -rf /var/lib/xkb/*
- Restart ubuntu for changes to take effect.
Word of warning: I’d avoid making more than one change at a time via xkb unless you really know what you’re doing, a couple of keys mapped incorrectly at the same time could be a real headache!
Full Credit to Radu Cotescu for the xkb remapping instructions – they were for ubuntu 14.04, however they work fine for ubuntu 16.04.
รูปแบบแป้นพิมพ์ของ Mac นั้นไม่ถูกต้องสำหรับ Windows ไม่ว่าคุณจะเป็นผู้ใช้ Windows หรือผู้ใช้ OS X เป็นหลักโครงร่างจะไม่ค่อยรู้สึกเมื่อคุณใช้ Windows ใน Boot Camp – แต่คุณสามารถแก้ไขได้.
มีหลายวิธีที่เป็นไปได้ที่คุณอาจต้องการจัดเรียงแป้นพิมพ์ลัดเหล่านี้ใหม่โดยขึ้นอยู่กับสิ่งที่คุณคุ้นเคย ใช้เวลาเพียงไม่กี่คลิกกับ SharpKeys และคุณจะรู้สึกเหมือนอยู่บ้านมากขึ้นใน Boot Camp
ปัญหา
รูปแบบแป้นพิมพ์ Mac นั้นแตกต่างจากเค้าโครงแป้นพิมพ์ PC อย่างละเอียด บนแป้นพิมพ์ PC ทั่วไปมุมล่างซ้ายของแป้นพิมพ์มีแป้นตามลำดับนี้: Ctrl, Windows, Alt บนแป้นพิมพ์ Mac คุณจะเห็นเค้าโครงดังต่อไปนี้: การควบคุมตัวเลือกคำสั่ง ใน Boot Camp ปุ่มเหล่านี้ทำหน้าที่เป็นตัวควบคุม, Alt, Windows.
กล่าวอีกนัยหนึ่งปุ่ม Alt และ Windows จะถูกสลับจากตำแหน่งที่คุณคาดหวังให้เป็น ที่แย่กว่านั้นคือผู้ใช้ Mac จะต้องใช้ปุ่มควบคุมสำหรับแป้นพิมพ์ลัดต่าง ๆ ที่ต้องใช้คีย์คำสั่งบน Mac OS X.
จะต้องมีวิธีการแก้ไข – และมี เราจะใช้ SharpKeys เพื่อทำการแมปปุ่มเหล่านี้ใหม่ใน Windows SharpKeys เป็นโปรแกรมกราฟิกแบบโอเพ่นซอร์สที่ใช้งานง่ายซึ่งสร้างรายการรีจิสตรีของ Windows ที่เหมาะสมเพื่อทำการแมปคีย์ใหม่ จริงๆแล้วคุณสามารถทำสิ่งนี้ได้ในเครื่องมือแก้ไขรีจิสทรีหากต้องการ – มันใช้งานได้มากกว่า ยูทิลิตีนี้ใช้งานได้กับ Windows 7, 8, 8.1 และแม้กระทั่ง Windows เวอร์ชั่นที่เก่ากว่า.
โซลูชันที่ 1: ถ้าคุณคุ้นเคยกับทางลัด Mac
หากคุณคุ้นเคยกับแป้นพิมพ์ลัดของ Mac คุณอาจต้องการใช้ฟังก์ชันแป้น Command เป็นปุ่มควบคุม จากนั้นคุณจะสามารถใช้แป้นพิมพ์ลัด Mac เช่น Command + C, X หรือ V สำหรับ Copy, Cut และ Paste ใน Windows การกด Command + L จะเน้นแถบตำแหน่งในเว็บเบราว์เซอร์ของคุณบน Windows เช่นเดียวกับใน OS X – โดยไม่ต้องทำการแมปทางลัด Command + L นั้นจะเท่ากับ Windows Key + L ซึ่งจะล็อคระบบ Windows ของคุณ.
ในการทำสิ่งนี้ติดตั้ง SharpKeys และเปิดใช้งาน คลิกปุ่มเพิ่มและคลิก“ พิมพ์รหัส” ใต้คอลัมน์“ จากรหัส” ทางด้านซ้าย กดปุ่ม Command ทางซ้าย จากนั้นคลิกปุ่ม“ พิมพ์รหัส” ใต้คอลัมน์“ ถึงคีย์” ทางด้านขวา กดปุ่มควบคุม.
คลิกตกลงและคลิก“ เขียนไปยังรีจิสทรี” ออกจากระบบและเข้าสู่ระบบหรือรีบูตเพื่อเปิดใช้งานการเปลี่ยนแปลงของคุณ คีย์คำสั่งทางซ้ายของคุณจะทำหน้าที่เป็นปุ่มควบคุมตัวที่สองซึ่งหมายความว่าทางลัดคีย์คำสั่งของ Mac จะใช้งานได้ตามที่คุณคาดหวัง หากคุณต้องการกดปุ่ม Windows ให้กดปุ่ม Command ทางด้านขวาของแป้นพิมพ์แทน.
โซลูชันที่ 2: ถ้าคุณคุ้นเคยกับทางลัด Windows
หากคุณคุ้นเคยกับแป้นพิมพ์ลัดของ Windows คุณอาจต้องการสลับปุ่มตัวเลือก / Alt ด้วยปุ่ม Command / Windows สิ่งนี้จะเปลี่ยนลำดับจาก Control, Alt, Windows เป็น Control, Windows, Alt – ลำดับเดียวกันกับที่คุณพบบนแป้นพิมพ์ Windows มาตรฐาน หน่วยความจำของกล้ามเนื้อที่คุณสร้างขึ้นสำหรับแป้นพิมพ์ลัดจะไม่ทำให้คุณผิดหวัง.
ในการทำสิ่งนี้ติดตั้ง SharpKeys และเปิดใช้งาน คลิกที่ปุ่มเพิ่ม เลื่อนลงในคอลัมน์ด้านซ้ายและเลือก“ พิเศษ: Alt ด้านซ้าย” ถัดไปคลิกปุ่ม“ พิมพ์รหัส” ภายใต้“ ถึงคีย์” ทางด้านขวา กดปุ่ม Command ที่ด้านขวาของแป้นพิมพ์แล้วคลิกตกลง.
ถัดไปคลิกปุ่มเพิ่มอีกครั้ง คลิก“ พิมพ์รหัส” ใต้คอลัมน์“ จากรหัส” ทางด้านซ้าย กดปุ่ม Command ทางซ้าย เลื่อนลงในคอลัมน์“ ถึงคีย์” ทางด้านขวาและเลือก“ พิเศษ: ขวา Alt” คลิกตกลงและคลิก“ เขียนไปยังรีจิสทรี”
ออกจากระบบและกลับเข้าสู่ระบบหรือรีบูตเครื่อง Mac ของคุณ ปุ่ม Alt / Option จะทำหน้าที่เป็นปุ่ม Windows และปุ่ม Command จะทำหน้าที่เป็นปุ่ม Alt ซึ่งหมายความว่าเลย์เอาต์ที่ด้านซ้ายของคีย์บอร์ดของคุณคือการควบคุม, Windows, Alt – เหมือนกับบน Windows.
โซลูชันที่ 3: ทำให้แป้นพิมพ์ลัดของ Mac OS X ตรงกับ Windows
คุณสามารถปรับแป้นพิมพ์ลัดของคุณใน Mac OS X เพื่อให้ทำงานได้เหมือนใน Windows ตัวอย่างเช่นคุณสามารถสลับปุ่มควบคุมและคำสั่งใน Mac OS X – จากนั้นคุณกด Control + C, X หรือ V เพื่อคัดลอกตัดและวางใน Mac OS X เช่นเดียวกับที่คุณทำบน Windows.
หากต้องการทำสิ่งนี้ให้บูตเข้าสู่ Mac OS X คลิกเมนู Apple บนแถบเมนูแล้วเลือกการตั้งค่าระบบ คลิกที่ไอคอน Keyboard คลิกที่ปุ่ม Modifier Keys และสลับฟังก์ชั่นปุ่มควบคุมและคำสั่ง คุณสามารถปิดการใช้งานปุ่ม Caps Lock ได้อย่างง่ายดายจากที่นี่.
หากคุณตัดสินใจว่าไม่ชอบการแมปแป้นพิมพ์ที่คุณเลือกคุณสามารถเปิด SharpKeys อีกครั้งลบกฎที่คุณสร้างและคลิก“ เขียนไปที่ Registry” ทุกอย่างจะกลับสู่ปกติหลังจากคุณออกจากระบบและลงชื่อเข้าใช้ใหม่หรือ รีบูต.
เครดิตภาพ: Faruk Ates บน Flickr, abdallahh บน Flickr
Mac users who have Windows running in Boot Camp will appreciate this utility which grants complete keyboard access equivalency to Apple keyboards in Windows. The appropriately named “Apple Wireless Keyboard Helper” is a nice free Windows tool that restores many of the Windows-specific functions and keys that are seemingly lost when using an Apple keyboard, including the Delete key, Print Screen, CTRL+ALT+DEL, volume adjustment, function toggle, and more.
After running the exe, function keys on an Apple keyboard will be assigned to the following Windows commands:
- F3: Print Screen (rather than default)
- F4: Task Manager
- F7-F9: iTunes control
- F10-F12: System volume Control
- Eject button toggles Fkeys/Functions.
- Fn + F key triggers function (useful when in F keys mode)
- Fn + Backspace = Delete
- Fn+ Eject: Eject CD
Whether you use Boot Camp to run Windows on a Mac or just use an Apple Keyboard with a generic Windows PC, you’ll probably find this app useful. (Despite the name, the app works with Apple’s wireless keyboards in addition to Apple wired USB keyboards.)
Nice find by Lifehacker for anyone who switches regularly between the Mac and Windows worlds.
Would you like to use a different keyboard key to perform a certain task in Windows 10? Thanks to PowerToys, it’s easy to remap any key to another key or even a shortcut combination on your keyboard. Here’s how to set it up.
The Secret Is PowerToys
In the past, remapping keys in Windows 10 required a difficult-to-use third-party program. Today, Microsoft makes it easy with PowerToys, a free utility available for download online. Using PowerToys, you can make any key on your keyboard act like any other key—and even remap shortcuts.
If you don’t already have PowerToys installed, download it for free from Github. After you install it, launch PowerToys Settings, then click “Keyboard Manager” in the sidebar. In the “Keyboard Manager” settings, click “Remap a Key.”
When the “Remap Keyboard” window pops up, click the plus button (“+”) to add a new key mapping.
After that, you’ll need to define which key you want to remap (in the “Key:” column), and what key or shortcut you want it to perform (in the “Mapped To:” column).
First, select the key you’ll be remapping in the “To:” column by either clicking the “Type” button and pressing the key on your keyboard, or by selecting it from the list in the drop-down menu. For example, we’ll pick Scroll Lock here, since it often sits unused.
Next, select the key or shortcut you want to perform in the “Mapped To” column. For a single key, you can either choose it from the drop-down menu or click the “Type” button, then press it on your keyboard.
If you want to use a shortcut key combination, press the “Type” button, then press the combination on your keyboard. For example, here we’ve typed “Ctrl+C” for the standard Windows “Copy” shortcut.
After you have both “Key:” and “Mapped To:” columns defined, click “OK.”
If you see a warning that one key will be left unassigned, click “Continue Anyway.” This means that you won’t be able to access the original function of the key that you just remapped.
(In our example, there will be no way to use Scroll Lock unless you remap another key to perform the original Scroll Lock function).
Next, you’ll see the resulting mapping listed in the “Keyboard Manager” settings. That means your custom mapping has been saved and is now active.
If you want to add more mappings, click “Remap a key” again. When you’re done, close PowerToys Settings completely, and your remapped key (or keys) will remain in effect. Use them as much as you’d like. You can always go back and adjust your mappings later if necessary.
How to Remove the New Key Mapping
Later on, if you want to remove the custom mapping you made, relaunch Power Toys Settings, then click “Keyboard Manager” and “Remap a key” again. In the list of mappings, click the trash can icon beside the mapping you’d like to delete.
The mapping will be removed. After that, click “OK” to close the window. Then you can either exit PowerToys completely or create a new mapping using the guide above. Have fun!
Розкладка клавіатури Mac просто не підходить для Windows. Незалежно від того, чи ви в першу чергу користуєтеся Windows або користуєтеся OS X, макет не виглядає цілком правильним під час запуску Windows у Boot Camp – але ви можете виправити це.
Є кілька можливих способів змінити комбінації клавіш, залежно від того, до чого ви звикли. Все, що потрібно, – це кілька кліків за допомогою SharpKeys, і ви будете почувати себе як вдома в Boot Camp
Проблема
Розкладки клавіатури Mac тонко відрізняються від розкладки клавіатури ПК. На типовій клавіатурі ПК нижній лівий кут клавіатури містить ключі в такому порядку: Ctrl, Windows, Alt. На клавіатурі Mac ви побачите наступне розташування: Control, Option, Command. У Boot Camp ці клавіші функціонують як Control, Alt, Windows.
Іншими словами, клавіші Alt і Windows поміняються місцями, звідки ви очікуєте, що вони будуть. Ще гірше, користувачам Mac доведеться використовувати клавішу Control для різних комбінацій клавіш, які потребують клавіші Command у Mac OS X.
Тут має бути спосіб виправити це – і є. Ми будемо використовувати SharpKeys для перепризначення цих ключів у Windows. SharpKeys це проста у використанні, з відкритим вихідним кодом графічна програма, яка створює відповідні записи реєстру Windows для перепризначення ключів. Ви могли б зробити це все в редакторі реєстру, якщо хочете – це просто займе більше роботи. Ця утиліта працює на Windows 7, 8, 8.1 і навіть старіших версіях Windows.
Рішення 1: Якщо ви використовували комбінації клавіш Mac
Якщо ви звикли до комбінацій клавіш Mac, можливо, ви захочете зробити клавішу Command функцією Control. Потім ви зможете використовувати комбінації клавіш Mac, такі як Command + C, X або V для копіювання, вирізання та вставки у Windows. Натискання кнопки Command + L зосереджуватиме панель розташування у веб-переглядачі Windows так само, як і на OS X – без перепризначення, що ярлик Command + L дорівнює клавіші Windows + L, що заблокує вашу систему Windows.
Для цього встановіть SharpKeys і запустіть його. Натисніть кнопку Додати і натисніть кнопку “Тип ключа” у стовпці “З ключа” зліва. Натисніть ліву клавішу Command. Далі натисніть кнопку “Тип ключа” під стовпцем “До ключа” праворуч. Натисніть клавішу Control.
Натисніть кнопку ОК і натисніть кнопку “Записати в реєстр”. Вийдіть і увійдіть або перезавантажте систему, щоб активувати зміни. Ліва клавіша Command буде функціонувати як друга контрольна клавіша, що означає, що багато ярликів клавіш Mac Command працюватимуть так, як ви очікуєте від них. Якщо потрібно натиснути клавішу Windows, замість цього натисніть клавішу Command у правій частині клавіатури.
Рішення 2: Якщо ви використовували ярлики Windows
Якщо ви звикли до комбінацій клавіш Windows, ви, ймовірно, захочете змінити клавішу Option / Alt за допомогою клавіші Command / Windows. Це змінить порядок з Control, Alt, Windows на Control, Windows, Alt – те саме, що і на стандартній клавіатурі Windows. М’язова пам’ять, яку ви створили для комбінацій клавіш, не підведе вас.
Для цього встановіть SharpKeys і запустіть його. Натисніть кнопку Додати. Прокрутіть вниз у лівій колонці та виберіть “Спеціальний: лівий Alt”. Потім натисніть кнопку “Тип ключа” в розділі “До клавіші” праворуч. Натисніть клавішу Command у правій частині клавіатури та натисніть кнопку OK.
Потім ще раз натисніть кнопку Додати. Натисніть “Тип ключа” у стовпці “З ключа” зліва. Натисніть ліву клавішу Command. Прокрутіть вниз у стовпці “До ключа” праворуч і виберіть “Special: Right Alt.” Натисніть OK і натисніть “Записати в реєстр”.
Вийдіть і увійдіть знову або перезавантажте ваш Mac. Клавіша Alt / Option буде функціонувати як клавіша Windows, а клавіша Command буде функціонувати як клавіша Alt. Це означає, що розташування в лівій частині клавіатури буде Control, Windows, Alt – так само, як на Windows.
Рішення 3: Зробити клавіатурні скорочення Mac OS X відповідними Windows
Замість цього ви можете налаштувати комбінації клавіш у Mac OS X, щоб вони працювали більше, як у Windows. Наприклад, ви можете поміняти клавіші Control і Command в Mac OS X, а потім натиснути Control + C, X або V, щоб скопіювати, вирізати і вставити в Mac OS X, як і у Windows.
Для цього завантажте Mac OS X, клацніть меню Apple на панелі меню та виберіть System Preferences. Натисніть піктограму Клавіатура, клацніть кнопку Модифікатор і поміняйте функції керування та клавіш. Тут також можна легко вимкнути клавішу Caps Lock.
Якщо ви вирішили, що вам не подобається перепризначення клавіатури, ви можете знову відкрити SharpKeys, видалити створені вами правила і натиснути кнопку “Записати в реєстр”. перезавантаження.
Зображення: Фарук Атес на Flickr, abdallahh на Flickr
How to remap one Mac OS X keyboard key to the other without using any external tools? Is it even possible to do without being a mac developer? It turns out to be pretty simple in the new macOS X 10.12 Sierra using a little util named hidutil .
Problem
You don’t like your Mac keyboard layout, or worse you have to work with a different layout at work than you have at home. In either case you can install some external tool which will do the remapping for you but maybe you don’t like to have additional application just for remapping a single key? My problem was connected with having British keyboard at home and American at work. While it is IMO not a problem to get used to any of those switching between them on a daily basis is annoying. There was one key in particular which makes things a bit hard from a developer perspective. It was a tilde key `. Tilde key is placed next to the 1/! on the American keyboard and replaced by a section sign § key on the British one.
Solution
As it turns out for macOS X 10.12 Sierra you don’t have to do anything more than running a short piece of code to do the required remapping.
Here is an simple example for the problem which I was facing which was remapping §/£ to `/
As you can see you have to place appropriate values (usage ID) for HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc and HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst which you will have to find in a table in the official docs. What is more for each “Usage ID (hex)” you will have to calculate bitwise “OR” with 0x700000000 which is very easy in most cases, but if you are facing any difficulties with that you can also use the following Bash command:
Where 0x64 should be replaced with a value from “Usage ID (hex)” column.
In order to check current/effective mappings you can run:
And last but not least. In order to reset everything you have setup so far just execute:
All changes made with hidutil are immediate, so you don’t have to restart anything.
Automatically set custom key mapping after each reboot
Create plist file e.g. /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.custom.keyboard-remap.plist:
Then load it with sudo launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.custom.keyboard-remap.plist so it will be loaded on each system reboot.
If you want to check if your plist file was loaded successfully you can use sudo launchctl list | grep org.custom.keyboard-remap.plist .
NOTE In order to unload plist file from system autostart use sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.custom.keyboard-remap.plist
Issues
I have only one issue with this problem which was finding an appropriate “Usage ID (hex)” for the section sign § key. As it turns out it was named in the Apple docs as Keyboard Non-US \ and |. In order to find that out I’ve used trial and error approach, so nothing fancy. If you will come across any better way of finding “Usage ID (hex)” codes please share.
In case of are receiving Invalid property list error message after loading plist file you are most probably trying to use the old syntax for plist file with Program instead of mentioned ProgramArguments .
Comments
androidek commented May 28, 2020 •
I am using non-UK keyboard layout, however I find myself constantly in the need of usage GBP symbol. In my keyboard layout, there is no direct option to type £ symbol, so I find myself constantly copying & pasting the symbol. Adding support for symbols (and possibly other characters) would really make the Keyboard Remap extremely useful.
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GoodClover commented May 29, 2020
You can probably get the £ symbol by changing or adding a keyboard layout in Windows settings.
If you have multiple press Ctrl+Shift to move between variations of the same language (e.g. UK to UK Extended) or Win+Space to change between all layouts.
I do second this addition though, being able to type in any symbol e.g. something in Unicode that isn’t on keyboards would be brilliant, if we could combine the shortcut and key remapping into one tool and let the user type in any symbol so you can copy & paste non-standard symbols.
I know you can use the keypad for typing Unicode, but most (including mine) laptops don’t have one and having a shortcut would be way easier anyways.
Bragolgirith commented May 30, 2020 •
Either this or allow shortcut remapping for the [ALT + numpad] code shortcuts.
It is not only useful for currencies, but also for typing the odd umlaut character one might need while using the US keyboard layout.
This feature alone will be reason enough for a lot of people to install the power toys.
Jay-o-Way commented May 30, 2020
The € is often inserted by typing Ctrl + Alt + 5 , but this may depend on the keyboard? I was also going to say Alt + 0128 will do the trick and Alt + 0163 is for the Pound, but then I read
I know you can use the keypad for typing Unicode, but most (including mine) laptops don’t have one and having a shortcut would be way easier anyways.
and I think you are right on that one.
androidek commented May 30, 2020
You can probably get the £ symbol by changing or adding a keyboard layout in Windows settings.
If you have multiple press Ctrl+Shift to move between variations of the same language (e.g. UK to UK Extended) or Win+Space to change between all layouts.
I do second this addition though, being able to type in any symbol e.g. something in Unicode that isn’t on keyboards would be brilliant, if we could combine the shortcut and key remapping into one tool and let the user type in any symbol so you can copy & paste non-standard symbols.
I know you can use the keypad for typing Unicode, but most (including mine) laptops don’t have one and having a shortcut would be way easier anyways.
I know, but I find myself randomly pressing ctrl + shift (i.e. when accessing the task manager) and unintentionally triggering keyboard change. I was even considering changing the shortcut to something else, but this would make the access to pound symbol even more difficult.
The € is often inserted by typing Ctrl + Alt + 5 , but this may depend on the keyboard? I was also going to say Alt + 0128 will do the trick and Alt + 0163 is for the Pound, but then I read
I know you can use the keypad for typing Unicode, but most (including mine) laptops don’t have one and having a shortcut would be way easier anyways.
and I think you are right on that one.
In the case of the layout i use, Ctrl + Alt + U yields € sign, so this one is not problematic, but I am mostly interested in £ and maybe other special characters. Support for all Unicode characters would be a dream.
snarum commented Jul 3, 2020
This would be very useful. I need to be able to type the ō character (unicode 0x14d) and for this the alt+numpad trick doesn’t work. In MS Word I can type 14dAlt+x, but that don’t work outside Office.
Jon999999 commented Aug 18, 2020 •
I agree. As I wrote in a separate thread that is now closed (sorry about that!):
Thought this might be useful to some people. I posted the code to my blog too.
Basically I want to get all of my “command” shortcuts to work in OSX. I started by just remapping the command key (it’s the windows key in windows) to the more useful control key. Then I went farther:
-kept win-L, win-tab and win-D because I use them
-remapped all other command-X keys to control-X
-except remapped command-q to alt-F4
-except remapped command-w to control-F4
-changed behavior of alt-arrow keys to match OSX text navigation
-changed behavior of command-arrow keys to match OSX text navigation
-changed behavior of alt-del and command/alt-backspace to match OSX for deleting whole words and lines
I hope this is useful for others, I’ve been enjoying boot camp a lot more since making this.
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Thanks for posting this. I certainly found it helpful for me. I’m using a Logitech K810 keyboard for my Windows laptop and my iPad, and swapping shortcut keys between the two was slowing me down a lot. I’ve taken your work and modified it slightly, notably keeping the default Windows+Arrow Keys which have significantly functionality in Windows 7 onwards.
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i want to change the shortcut win + q to alt+space key! please help!
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Try !Space::send #q
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Thanks to johnwalkr and oldmankit for working this up – I use Windows virtualized for work on my Macbook and switching between the different shortcut sets was getting very confusing. I retooled things a bit to my liking, mostly by disabling the old shortcuts in Windows to force me to cut my reliance on them, and by adding in a few other specific shortcuts that I use frequently in Office.
That’s all well and good, but I’ve spent some time trying to figure out unsuccessfully how to get AHK to make Windows mimic OSX’s click-drag-key-drop behavior. That is to say, when you click and drag a file and want to change the default behavior to for instance copy instead of move a file, or vice versa you use different keys in each environment, and I was hoping to code AHK to unify that behavior.
At a basic level, it would look something like:
As a .Net Developer, I need my MacBook Pro to run Windows. I did so using Boot Camp (which was okay, but my mouse wouldn’t scroll) In Windows I use alt+tab a lot. But the cmd and alt keys are not in the right place (from a Windows keyboard perspective). I use the Windows key a lot too (like Windows+r for run). So let’s swap those keys!
I used SharpKeys to remap each key:
- Install SharpKeys from Github: I used the MSI installer.
- Launch the program. Start > type: SharpKeys
- First we’ll map alt to Windows:
- Click the Add button
- Select in the Map this key field Special: Left Alt (00_38)
- Select in the To this key field Special: Left Windows (E0_5B)
- Click the Okay button
- Next we’ll map the Windows to alt:
- Click the Add button
- Select in the Map this key field Special: Left Windows (E0_5B)
- Select in the To this key field Special: Left Alt (00_38)
- Click the Okay button
- It should look something like this:
I haven’t found a way to swap the fn and ctrl buttons (I’m used to Dell keyboard layout). I also haven’t found way to swap the power button and the esc keys. So if you have a solution, please let me know!
Having the alt key back where it belongs is a huge improvement for ardent Windows users!