there are many Premium keyboards designed It was developed for Windows devices. Just because it was designed specifically for Windows doesn't mean you can't use it on a Mac. Most vendors offer both Windows and Mac versions, and mechanical keyboards come with keycaps for both Windows and macOS use. But if you're having trouble using a Windows keyboard, here's how to use it on a Mac.
Last week, we faced a similar situation where I started MacBook Air butterfly keyboard It responds strangely when using the spacebar. We had to use another keyboard, but the one we had was one with only Windows keys. We remapped the keys and started using them as if they were designed specifically for Mac.
Before we show you how to use a Windows keyboard with a Mac, let's understand how Windows keyboards differ from Mac keyboards at the basic levels.
Change in the system
There are five main differences between Windows and Mac keyboards. The key Enter In Windows as a key Return On Mac. Similarly, the key Backspace On Windows it works as Delete On a Mac, though, you won't have any problems with these keys.
Problems start when you try to use other Mac functions using the Windows key.
Starting from the left, the Control, Option, and Command keys interchange with the Control, Windows, and Alt keys on a Windows keyboard.
All the modifier keys on a Windows keyboard are exactly the same as those on a Mac from a functional point of view.
For example, the key Control The same thing works on a Mac as it does on a Windows keyboard. The key works Option Similar to the Alt key, the Windows key works similarly to the Command key on a Mac.
lie The main problem In the key arrangement. On Windows, you have control | Windows | مفاتيح الخيار (Alt) included instead of control | Option | Order of commands On Mac.
Due to muscle memory, you will keep pressing the Alt (Option on Mac) key instead of the Command key and Windows (Command on Mac) instead of the Option function.
Of course, you can continue using a Windows keyboard with the new key arrangement, but this can be problematic for someone who has been typing on a Mac for years. Fortunately, Apple has a way to fix the glitch.
Remap modifier keys
This is what you need to do. Instead of the new Control | Command | Option layout, you need to go back to Control | Option | Command order. Look closely and notice that you only need to ask the system to modify the two keys. Options and commands.
Apple has added a built-in option to let you modify the keys on your keyboard. Here's how to use it.
Step 1: Connect the keyboard to the device. Mac Click on the icon Apple The small one in the upper left corner.
Step 2: Open menu System Preferences.
Step 3: go to the keyboard> Modifier keys.
Step 4: Specify a keyboard name USB Or Bluetooth Caller from dropdown list.
Step 6: For the Option key, change the action to Command and for the Command key, change the action to Option.
Step 7: click on the button OK And everything will be fine.
From now on, the Windows key on your Windows keyboard will act as the Option key, and the Alt key next to the spacebar will act as the Command key. No more confusion as you train your brain.
Use a third-party app
As you can see from the screenshots above, Apple's default approach is limited in certain ways. Using a third-party keyboard customizer, you can customize your keyboard experience to your liking. One such app is Carabiner element.
The app allows you to remap every key on your keyboard. You can also create your own rules or choose from predefined rules. The app is free to download, and detailed tutorials for each function can be found on the website.
This helps when using a small/compact mechanical keyboard without arrow or function keys. You can use key combinations, enable arrow keys for command + hjkl keys, and more. You get the idea, right?
Download Karabiner-Elements for Mac
Customize your Windows keyboard on Mac
As a Mac user, don't be discouraged by checking out custom Windows keyboards on Amazon. You can easily purchase them, modify the Option and Command keys, and continue using your Windows keyboard on your Mac without any problems. Which third-party Windows keyboard do you plan to use with your Mac? Share your choice in the comments below.
