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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.

Windows

Macintosh

CONTROL

COMMAND (for most shortcuts) or CONTROL

ALT

OPTION

Windows/Start

COMMAND/Apple

BACKSPACE

DELETE

DELETE

DEL

SHIFT

SHIFT

ENTER

RETURN

More Information

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

System Shortcuts

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.

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.

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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