# Linux keyboard habits on a Mac
Source: https://ribbonformac.com/linux-keyboard-shortcuts-on-mac
Updated: 2026-10-29
On a Mac, ⌘ Command does what Ctrl does in Linux desktop apps (copy, paste, save, new tab), while ⌃ Control keeps its terminal meaning: ⌃C still interrupts, ⌃R still searches history. That split is the good news for Linux users. The awkward parts are the missing Super key for your window manager, and Home and End.
## Command, Control and Option
| Linux | Mac | What it's for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ctrl in GUI apps | ⌘ Command | Copy, paste, save, find, new tab, close tab |
| Ctrl in a terminal | ⌃ Control | Interrupt, EOF, readline, tmux prefix |
| Alt | ⌥ Option | Special characters when typing; Meta in terminals if you turn it on |
| Super | Nothing fixed | Free for your window manager (see below) |
This is why terminal copy and paste are easy on a Mac: ⌘C and ⌘V work in the terminal, and ⌃C still sends SIGINT. No CtrlShiftC needed.
## Option as Meta in the terminal
By default ⌥ types special characters (⌥3 is # on a UK layout, for example), so AltB and AltF for word movement don't work. Every Mac terminal can send Option as Meta:
- **Terminal.app:** Settings → Profiles → Keyboard → **Use Option as Meta key**.
- **iTerm2:** Settings → Profiles → Keys → set Left Option key to **Esc+**.
- **Ghostty and kitty:** a config option (`macos-option-as-alt` in Ghostty, `macos_option_as_alt` in kitty). WezTerm has its own setting for the left and right Option keys.
## Emacs keys work everywhere
macOS text fields support the readline-style Emacs bindings out of the box, in nearly every app: ⌃A and ⌃E for start and end of line, ⌃K to kill to end of line, ⌃Y to yank it back, ⌃F/B/N/P to move. Many Linux users find this the nicest surprise of the switch.
## Home, End and friends
Mac laptops have no Home or End keys, and on external keyboards they scroll the document instead of moving the cursor in many apps. The Mac equivalents:
| Linux | Mac |
| --- | --- |
| Home / End | ⌘← / ⌘→, or ⌃A / ⌃E |
| Ctrl← / → | ⌥← / ⌥→ |
| CtrlBackspace | ⌥Delete |
| CtrlHome / End | ⌘↑ / ⌘↓ |
If you'd rather make Home and End behave like Linux, [Karabiner-Elements](https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/) has ready-made rules for it.
## Your Super key and window manager
On Linux, Super usually belongs to the window manager: SuperEnter for a terminal, SuperH/L to move focus, Super plus a number for workspaces. On a Mac, ⌘ sits where Super sits, but it's taken by every app, so a window manager needs a different modifier.
Common choices:
- **⌃⌥ together.** Rarely used by apps. [Ribbon](https://ribbonformac.com/) uses it for every shortcut: ⌃⌥H/J/K/L to focus, ⌃⌥⇧ plus the same keys to move, ⌃⌥1–9 to jump.
- **⌥ alone.** AeroSpace's defaults use it. It clashes with typing special characters on many non-US layouts.
- **A Hyper key.** Caps Lock remapped to all four modifiers. See [how to set up a Hyper key](https://ribbonformac.com/hyper-key-mac).
If you came from niri, PaperWM or a sway setup with a scrolling layout, Ribbon gives you the same strip on macOS; [niri keybindings on a Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/niri-keybindings-mac) maps each bind. From i3, see [i3 for Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/i3-for-mac). You can [try Ribbon's keys in the live demo](https://ribbonformac.com/#demo), and [pricing](https://ribbonformac.com/#pricing) is $9.99 once.
## Launchers
⌘Space opens Spotlight, the dmenu/rofi stand-in. Many Linux switchers prefer [Raycast](https://www.raycast.com/) (free for personal use), which is closer to rofi with scripts and extensions. The [Linux to Mac app replacements guide](https://ribbonformac.com/linux-to-mac-app-replacements) covers the rest of the toolkit.
## FAQ
### What is the Super key on a Mac?
There isn't one in the Linux sense. ⌘ sits where Super does, but apps use it for their shortcuts, so window managers on macOS use ⌃⌥, ⌥ or a Hyper key instead.
### Does Ctrl-C work in the Mac terminal?
Yes. ⌃C interrupts as on Linux. Copy is ⌘C, so the two never clash.
### Should I swap Command and Control?
Most Linux users don't need to, because Control keeps its terminal role. A system-wide swap moves the terminal's Control keys to the Command key too; Karabiner-Elements can swap them only in the apps you choose.
## Keep reading
- [Linux to Mac replacements](https://ribbonformac.com/linux-to-mac-app-replacements) — Window manager, launcher, bar, hotkeys, terminal and more: the Mac equivalents.
- [Vim keys for windows](https://ribbonformac.com/vim-keys-window-management-mac) — hjkl for focus and moving windows, the right modifier, and Vim keys beyond the editor.
- [Hyper key on Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/hyper-key-mac) — Caps Lock as Hyper with Raycast or Karabiner, the built-in option, and what to bind.
- [i3 for Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/i3-for-mac) — No i3 or sway on macOS. Match the i3 habit you miss to the right Mac tiler.
- [Niri keybindings on Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/niri-keybindings-mac) — Each default niri bind next to its Ribbon shortcut, and the ones with no Mac twin.