# Windows keyboard shortcuts on a Mac

Source: https://ribbonformac.com/windows-shortcuts-on-mac  
Updated: 2026-10-29

The one rule that covers most of it: where Windows uses <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>, the Mac uses <kbd>⌘</kbd> Command. Copy is <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>C</kbd>, save is <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>S</kbd>, new tab is <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>T</kbd>. The differences are in windows, desktops and system tools, and those are in the tables below.

## The modifier keys

| Windows key | Mac key | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> | <kbd>⌘</kbd> Command | For almost every app shortcut |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd> | <kbd>⌥</kbd> Option | Typing special characters, alternate menu items |
| <kbd>Win</kbd> | No direct equivalent | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>Space</kbd> opens Spotlight, which is the nearest thing to the Start menu search |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> (in terminals) | <kbd>⌃</kbd> Control | <kbd>⌃</kbd><kbd>C</kbd> still stops a program in Terminal |

On a Windows keyboard plugged into a Mac, the Windows key acts as <kbd>⌘</kbd> and Alt as <kbd>⌥</kbd>, 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 |
| --- | --- |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd><kbd>Tab</kbd> | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>Tab</kbd> (apps), <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>`</kbd> (windows of one app). See [Alt-Tab on a Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/alt-tab-on-mac) |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd><kbd>F4</kbd> | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>Q</kbd> quits the app; <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>W</kbd> closes the window |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>D</kbd> | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>F3</kbd> or <kbd>F11</kbd> (show desktop) |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>M</kbd> | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>⌥</kbd><kbd>H</kbd> hides other apps; <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>⌥</kbd><kbd>M</kbd> minimizes the front app's windows |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>←</kbd> / <kbd>→</kbd> | <kbd>Fn</kbd><kbd>⌃</kbd><kbd>←</kbd> / <kbd>→</kbd> (macOS 15 and later) |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>↑</kbd> | <kbd>Fn</kbd><kbd>⌃</kbd><kbd>F</kbd> (Fill, macOS 15 and later) |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>Tab</kbd> | <kbd>⌃</kbd><kbd>↑</kbd> (Mission Control) |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>Ctrl</kbd><kbd>←</kbd> / <kbd>→</kbd> | <kbd>⌃</kbd><kbd>←</kbd> / <kbd>→</kbd> (switch desktop) |
| <kbd>F11</kbd> (full screen) | <kbd>⌃</kbd><kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>F</kbd> |

## System

| On Windows | On a Mac |
| --- | --- |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd><kbd>Shift</kbd><kbd>Esc</kbd> (Task Manager) | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>⌥</kbd><kbd>Esc</kbd> for Force Quit; Activity Monitor for the full view |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>E</kbd> (File Explorer) | Click Finder in the Dock, or press <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>N</kbd> while Finder is the front app |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>L</kbd> (lock) | <kbd>⌃</kbd><kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>Q</kbd> |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>Shift</kbd><kbd>S</kbd> (snip) | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>⇧</kbd><kbd>4</kbd> (area), <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>⇧</kbd><kbd>5</kbd> (all options) |
| <kbd>PrtScn</kbd> | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>⇧</kbd><kbd>3</kbd> |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>V</kbd> (clipboard history) | Built into Spotlight on macOS 26 Tahoe; on earlier versions use a launcher such as Raycast |
| <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>.</kbd> (emoji) | <kbd>⌃</kbd><kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>Space</kbd>, or the Globe key if it's set to show emoji |

## Text editing

| On Windows | On a Mac |
| --- | --- |
| <kbd>Home</kbd> / <kbd>End</kbd> | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>←</kbd> / <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>→</kbd> (start and end of line) |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd><kbd>Home</kbd> / <kbd>End</kbd> | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>↑</kbd> / <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>↓</kbd> (start and end of document) |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd><kbd>←</kbd> / <kbd>→</kbd> (word) | <kbd>⌥</kbd><kbd>←</kbd> / <kbd>⌥</kbd><kbd>→</kbd> |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd><kbd>Backspace</kbd> (delete word) | <kbd>⌥</kbd><kbd>Delete</kbd> |
| <kbd>Delete</kbd> (forward delete) | <kbd>Fn</kbd><kbd>Delete</kbd> |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd><kbd>Y</kbd> (redo) | <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>⇧</kbd><kbd>Z</kbd> 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](https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/)** (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 <kbd>⌘</kbd> 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](https://ribbonformac.com/windows-snap-layouts-on-mac)). If you used FancyZones or just juggled many windows, a window manager helps. [Ribbon](https://ribbonformac.com/) 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 <kbd>⌃</kbd><kbd>⌥</kbd> plus one key, so they never clash with the Command shortcuts above. [Try the live demo](https://ribbonformac.com/#demo); [pricing](https://ribbonformac.com/#pricing) is $9.99 once.

## FAQ

### What is Ctrl on a Mac?

For app shortcuts, use <kbd>⌘</kbd> Command. The Mac's own Control key (<kbd>⌃</kbd>) is used in Terminal and for a few system shortcuts.

### What is Alt-F4 on a Mac?

<kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>Q</kbd> quits the app. <kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>W</kbd> closes just the window; on a Mac, closing the last window often leaves the app running.

### What is Ctrl-Alt-Delete on a Mac?

<kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>⌥</kbd><kbd>Esc</kbd> opens Force Quit. Activity Monitor (in Applications → Utilities) is the full Task Manager equivalent.

### What is Win+D on a Mac?

<kbd>⌘</kbd><kbd>F3</kbd> or <kbd>F11</kbd> shows the desktop.

## Keep reading
- [Alt-Tab on Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/alt-tab-on-mac) — Command-Tab vs Alt-Tab, Command-backtick, the AltTab app, and a strip of windows.
- [Windows Snap on Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/windows-snap-layouts-on-mac) — Win+arrow, Snap Layouts and Snap Assist mapped to macOS tiling and apps.
- [Window keyboard shortcuts](https://ribbonformac.com/mac-window-keyboard-shortcuts) — Switching, hiding, closing, full screen, desktops and tiling, in one table.
- [FancyZones for Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/fancyzones-for-mac) — Built-in tiling, custom snap areas, saved layouts, and a strip that replaces zones.
- [Linux keyboard habits on Mac](https://ribbonformac.com/linux-keyboard-shortcuts-on-mac) — Super, Ctrl and Cmd, terminal keys, Emacs bindings, remapping, and a WM layer.