When visiting relatives with a MacBook, you might find yourself improvising a workspace using available items. Alternatively, you could have purchased a stylish mechanical keyboard that surprisingly features a Windows layout. Either scenario can lead to frustration the first time you attempt a keyboard shortcut.

For instance, whenever you instinctively reach for a shortcut involving the Command key, you might inadvertently press Alt instead. This can trigger unintended actions on your Mac, leaving you feeling annoyed. Fortunately, there’s no need to learn a new keyboard or install additional software to address this issue—it can be resolved by simply tweaking a few settings within macOS.

The Trouble with Windows Keyboards on macOS

While Mac and Windows keyboards share many similarities, they differ primarily in their modifier keys. Modern Apple keyboards include Globe/Fn, Control, Option, and Command arranged in the lower-left corner. In contrast, typical Windows keyboards feature Ctrl, Fn, Windows, and Alt—usually in that order. Keyboards designed for Linux follow similar layouts, albeit with different labels for the Windows key.

macOS translates these keys: Ctrl becomes Control, Windows turns into Command, and Alt is recognized as Option.Refer to Apple’s documentation here. While the translation makes sense logically since keyboard shortcuts are similar across systems, the physical layout can lead to confusion. Even if the translations are clear, muscle memory often misleads users. Thus, adjusting the key assignments in System Preferences is advisable.

Tweaking Settings for Better Experience

To customize the layout for your particular Windows keyboard, navigate to System Preferences and select the Keyboard section. Click on the Keyboard Shortcuts button to access a new panel, and then choose the Modifier Keys section from the side menu.

It’s essential to select the specific Windows keyboard from the dropdown at the top of the window. Failing to do so will result in remapping all keyboards, which could create more confusion. After selecting your keyboard, you can reassign the modifier keys. A good approach is to swap Option with Command and vice versa, aligning them with your familiarity.

However, one limitation persists: the Fn key cannot be effectively remapped through this method, despite appearances. On a Mac, this key serves multiple functions, like opening the Emoji picker and acting as a modifier for customized shortcuts. It also allows the top row of keys to operate as traditional function keys instead of their default settings (like Brightness or Volume). Conversely, the Fn key on Windows devices primarily enables alternative functions without sending a signal to the computer. While it facilitates traditional function keys, it cannot trigger the emoji picker or similar shortcuts. If those functions are necessary, consider repurposing the Caps Lock key for this role.

While not a perfect solution, rearranging the Command and Option keys significantly enhances usability. This improvement can make a noticeable difference the next time you’re working with a Windows-style keyboard on your Mac.