RibbonWindows keyboard shortcuts on a Mac
The one rule that covers most of it: where Windows uses Ctrl, the Mac uses ⌘ Command. Copy is ⌘C, save is ⌘S, new tab is ⌘T. The differences are in windows, desktops and system tools, and those are in the tables below.
The modifier keys
| Windows key | Mac key | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl | ⌘ Command | For almost every app shortcut |
| Alt | ⌥ Option | Typing special characters, alternate menu items |
| Win | No direct equivalent | ⌘Space opens Spotlight, which is the nearest thing to the Start menu search |
| Ctrl (in terminals) | ⌃ Control | ⌃C still stops a program in Terminal |
On a Windows keyboard plugged into a Mac, the Windows key acts as ⌘ and Alt as ⌥, which swaps their positions. Fix that in System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Modifier Keys, choosing that keyboard from the menu at the top.
Windows and apps
| On Windows | On a Mac |
|---|---|
| AltTab | ⌘Tab (apps), ⌘` (windows of one app). See Alt-Tab on a Mac |
| AltF4 | ⌘Q quits the app; ⌘W closes the window |
| WinD | ⌘F3 or F11 (show desktop) |
| WinM | ⌘⌥H hides other apps; ⌘⌥M minimizes the front app's windows |
| Win← / → | Fn⌃← / → (macOS 15 and later) |
| Win↑ | Fn⌃F (Fill, macOS 15 and later) |
| WinTab | ⌃↑ (Mission Control) |
| WinCtrl← / → | ⌃← / → (switch desktop) |
| F11 (full screen) | ⌃⌘F |
System
| On Windows | On a Mac |
|---|---|
| CtrlShiftEsc (Task Manager) | ⌘⌥Esc for Force Quit; Activity Monitor for the full view |
| WinE (File Explorer) | Click Finder in the Dock, or press ⌘N while Finder is the front app |
| WinL (lock) | ⌃⌘Q |
| WinShiftS (snip) | ⌘⇧4 (area), ⌘⇧5 (all options) |
| PrtScn | ⌘⇧3 |
| WinV (clipboard history) | Built into Spotlight on macOS 26 Tahoe; on earlier versions use a launcher such as Raycast |
| Win. (emoji) | ⌃⌘Space, or the Globe key if it's set to show emoji |
Text editing
| On Windows | On a Mac |
|---|---|
| Home / End | ⌘← / ⌘→ (start and end of line) |
| CtrlHome / End | ⌘↑ / ⌘↓ (start and end of document) |
| Ctrl← / → (word) | ⌥← / ⌥→ |
| CtrlBackspace (delete word) | ⌥Delete |
| Delete (forward delete) | FnDelete |
| CtrlY (redo) | ⌘⇧Z in most apps |
If your hands won't adjust
Some switchers remap instead of relearning. In System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Modifier Keys you can swap Control and Command, though it then affects every shortcut, including in Terminal. For finer control, Karabiner-Elements (free) can remap keys per app, for example making Home and End behave like Windows in text fields.
Most people find it easier to learn ⌘ within a week or two. The thumb reaches it the way it reached Alt.
Window management, the Mac way
Windows 11's Snap is decent; macOS 15's tiling is about the same (see Windows Snap on a Mac). If you used FancyZones or just juggled many windows, a window manager helps. Ribbon is a scrolling window manager: every window gets a column on a strip wider than the screen, nothing overlaps, and all of its shortcuts are ⌃⌥ plus one key, so they never clash with the Command shortcuts above. Try the live demo; pricing is $9.99 once.
FAQ
What is Ctrl on a Mac?
For app shortcuts, use ⌘ Command. The Mac's own Control key (⌃) is used in Terminal and for a few system shortcuts.
What is Alt-F4 on a Mac?
⌘Q quits the app. ⌘W closes just the window; on a Mac, closing the last window often leaves the app running.
What is Ctrl-Alt-Delete on a Mac?
⌘⌥Esc opens Force Quit. Activity Monitor (in Applications → Utilities) is the full Task Manager equivalent.
What is Win+D on a Mac?
⌘F3 or F11 shows the desktop.