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Keyboard mappings using a PC keyboard on a Macintosh

Article ID: 970299 - View products that this article applies to.

INTRODUCTION

When you use a Windows (PC) keyboard on a Macintosh computer, the keyboard shortcuts that you use map to different keys. In particular, the primary key that is used in keyboard shortcuts in combination with other keys is frequently different. The following are the primary key substitutions on the Windows keyboard, and their Macintosh equivalents.

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Windows	Macintosh
CONTROL	COMMAND (for most shortcuts) or CONTROL
ALT	OPTION
Windows/Start	COMMAND/Apple
BACKSPACE	DELETE
DELETE	DEL
SHIFT	SHIFT
ENTER	RETURN

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MORE INFORMATION

The following are typical Windows keyboard shortcuts and their Macintosh equivalents that apply to the operating system.

System Shortcuts

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Action	Windows	Macintosh
Backward delete	BACKSPACE	DELETE
Capture whole screen to Clipboard	PRINT SCREEN	COMMAND+CONTROL+SHIFT+3
Capture front most window	ALT+PRINT SCREEN	COMMAND+SHIFT+3
Close active window	CONTROL+W	COMMAND+W
Copy a file/folder	CONTROL+ drag icon	OPTION+ drag icon
Copy to Clipboard	CONTROL+C	COMMAND+C
Create an alias or shortcut	Mouse right-click, then select Create Shortcut	Select item, then COMMAND+L
Delete to Clipboard	CONTROL+X	COMMAND+X
Exit a dialog box without changes	ESC	ESC
Find/Search	CONTROL+F	COMMAND+F
Force exit from unresponsive application	CONTROL+ALT+DELETE	COMMAND+OPTION+ESC
Forward delete	DELETE	DEL (Mac notebooks: Function (fn)+DELETE)
View item information or properties	ALT+ENTER	COMMAND+I
Log off Current User	Windows logo key +L	COMMAND+SHIFT+Q
Maximize window	CONTROL+F10	CONTROL+F3, then UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW to select minimized windows on Dock, then ENTER
Minimize windows	Windows logo key +M	COMMAND+M
New folder	CONTROL+N	COMMAND+SHIFT+N
Open file	CONTROL+O	COMMAND+O
Paste Clipboard content	CONTROL+V	COMMAND+V
Print	CONTROL+P	COMMAND+P
Exit/quit program	ALT+F4	COMMAND+Q
Rename file/folder	Select item, then F2	Select item, then ENTER
Save file	CONTROL+S	COMMAND+S
Select all items	CONTROL+A	COMMAND+A
Select more than one item in a list (noncontiguous)	CONTROL, then click each item	COMMAND, then click each item
Send items to Recycle Bin/Trash	Select items, then DELETE	Select items, then COMMAND+DELETE
Send/receive e-mail	CONTROL+K	COMMAND+K
Shut down	Windows logo key +U+U	COMMAND+OPTION+CONTROL+Eject key
Switch to next window	CONTROL + F6	COMMAND+~ (tilde)
Switch to previous window	CONTROL+SHIFT+F6	COMMAND+SHIFT+~ (tilde)
Toggle through open applications	ALT+TAB	COMMAND+TAB
Type special characters	ALT+ character key	OPTION+ character key
Undo	CONTROL+Z	COMMAND+Z

Microsoft Office / iWork

The following are typical Windows keyboard shortcuts and their Macintosh equivalents that are specific to the Microsoft Office and Apple iWork office suites.

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Action	Windows	Macintosh
All Caps	CONTROL+SHIFT+A	COMMAND+SHIFT+A
Bold	CONTROL+B	COMMAND+B
Extend selection word left	CONTROL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW	OPTION+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
Extend selection word right	CONTROL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW	OPTION+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
Font menu	CONTROL+D	COMMAND+D (Office) or COMMAND+T (iWork)
Italic	CONTROL+I	COMMAND+I
Move to beginning of current or previous word	CONTROL+LEFT ARROW	OPTION+LEFT ARROW
Move to end of current or next word	CONTROL+RIGHT ARROW	OPTION+RIGHT ARROW
Move to end of current line	CONTROL+END	OPTION+END
New document, new e-mail message, and so on	CONTROL+N	COMMAND+N
Underline	CONTROL+U	COMMAND+U

Windows Internet Explorer / Safari Shortcuts

The following are typical Windows keyboard shortcuts and their Macintosh equivalents that are specific to the Microsoft Internet Explorer and Apple Safari Web browsers.

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Action	Windows	Macintosh
Back	ALT+LEFT ARROW or BACKSPACE	COMMAND+LEFT ARROW or DELETE
Find word/phrase on a page	CTRL+F	COMMAND+F
Forward	ALT+RIGHT ARROW or SHIFT+BACKSPACE	COMMAND+RIGHT ARROW or SHIFT+DELETE
Browse to home page	ALT+HOME	COMMAND+SHIFT+H
Open new browser window	CTRL+N	COMMAND+N
Open new tab	CTRL+T	COMMAND+T
Print page	CTRL+P	COMMAND+P
Refresh Web page	CTRL+R	COMMAND+R
Switch to next tab	CTRL+TAB	COMMAND+} (right brace)
Switch to previous tab	CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	COMMAND+{ (left brace)
Toggle full screen	F11	None
Increase text size	CTRL+PLUS SIGN (+)	COMMAND+PLUS SIGN (+)
Reduce text size	CTRL+MINUS SIGN (-)	COMMAND+MINUS SIGN (-)

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REFERENCES

For more information, visit the Apple Support Web site for the following articles:

Switch 101: On Windows, I used to...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2514

(http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2514)

Apple Pro external keyboard mapping in Windows

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1168

(http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1168)

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

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