- Macbook Air Keyboard Function Keys
- Macbook Air Keyboard Function Keys Replacement
- Fix Macbook Air Keyboard
- Macbook Windows 10 Function Keys
Alt key on Mac is indeed exist. And it’s called Option key.
Windows vs Mac—there are so many differences. A lot of our customers have used a PC before and then decide they want to switch to Mac for better performance, nicer design, or for better security. However, they were afraid they would have a hard time getting used to the macOS keyboard. We hear questions like, “How can I close a Window? The Mac keyboard doesn’t have the Alt + F4 shortcut.” We always give them two answers:
1. Quicklinks shortcut creator 2 1. With Parallels Desktop for Mac you have the choice to use the same keyboard shortcuts you had on your PC.
Head to your MacBook’s System Preferences, select Keyboard, then select Shortcuts. From there, choose the Function Keys section and hit the + button. Update your macOS. Your keyboard may not be working because your operating system is not up to. However, the option key on a Mac keyboard is used in a different way than the alt key on a Windows PC. In terms of functionality, the alt key in Windows is often more comparable with the Command key than with the Option key on a Mac. You might be also familiar with the Ctrl and Alt keys from your PC. If these functions aren't available on your keyboard, you might be able to reproduce some of them by creating your own keyboard shortcuts. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3, or other standard function keys, combine them with the Fn key.
2. If you want to use the Mac keyboard you will experience that the alt key is very different, as we explain in this blog post.
Where is the Alt key on a Mac keyboard?
The PC-keyboard equivalent of Alt on a Mac is called the Option key, and you’ll find the Option Key on your Mac if you go two keys to the left of the spacebar. However, the option key on a Mac keyboard is used in a different way than the alt key on a Windows PC. In terms of functionality, the alt key in Windows is often more comparable with the Command key than with the Option key on a Mac. You might be also familiar with the Ctrl and Alt keys from your PC. On your Mac keyboard, you have Command (⌘ cmd), Control (ctrl), and Option (⌥ alt) keys.
How do Windows shortcuts change on a Mac?
Check out some equivalents of popular Windows alt shortcuts on a Mac, which might be especially helpful for those users who are new to Mac:
Windows | Mac | |
Closing a window | Alt-F4 | Command-W |
Restarting | Control-Alt-Delete | Control-Command-Eject |
Shutting down | Control-Alt-Delete | Control-Option-Command-Eject |
Logging out | Control-Alt-Delete | Shift-Command-Q |
Switch between open apps | Alt + Tab | Command-tab |
Go back | Alt + Left arrow | Command + Left arrow |
Go forward | Alt + Right arrow | Command + Right arrow |
Move up one screen | Alt + Page Up | Command + Page Up |
Move down one screen | Alt + Page Down | Command + Page Down |
When running Windows on a Mac with Parallels Desktop, is it possible to use Windows shortcuts on a Mac?
If you run Windows on your Mac with Parallels Desktop for Mac, you can configure your keyboard shortcuts the way you want to work, with either macOS or Windows shortcuts. Click here for more information on how to set the different shortcuts.
You can find even more useful Mac shortcuts in the infographic here.
Missing your Start Menu and familiar Windows look and feel? You can use Parallels Desktop and have Windows 10 along with your favorite Windows apps on your new Mac.
The Touch Bar of your MacBook Pro changes to show the function keys for you to select, and then it returns to its previous state when you release the Function key.
For some apps, you can make the function keys display permanently in Touch Bar:
- In System Preferences, choose Keyboard.
- Click Shortcuts.
- From the left sidebar, select Function Keys.
- Click the “+” symbol, then navigate to the app and select it.
Now when you open or switch to this app, Touch Bar always displays the function keys.
You can also use an on-screen keyboard to access function keys:
- From System Preferences, select Keyboard.
- Check “Show Keyboard, Emoji and symbol viewers in menu bar”.
- Choose the viewer icon in the menu bar, then choose Show Keyboard Viewer.
An on-screen keyboard appears with function keys that you can click.
Macbook Air Keyboard Function Keys
Using function keys in Windows
Macbook Air Keyboard Function Keys Replacement
When you use Boot Camp to run Windows on your MacBook Pro, the function keys work the same as they do in macOS. Hold down the Function key on your keyboard, and the function keys appear.
You can also use the Windows on-screen keyboard to access function keys:
Fix Macbook Air Keyboard
- From the Windows menu, select the Windows Ease of Access menu item.
- Click On-Screen Keyboard.
- Click the fn key. The function keys appear in the on-screen keyboard.
You can also make the function keys appear continuously in the Touch Bar while using Windows, without having to hold down the Function key:
Macbook Windows 10 Function Keys
- In the Windows System Tray, click the up arrow to show additional icons.
- Click on the dark grey diamond-shaped Boot Camp icon.
- Select Boot Camp Control Panel from the menu that appears.
- Click Yes to allow the Control Panel to run.
- Click the Keyboard tab.
- Select 'Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys' to make the function keys appear continuously in the Touch Bar all the time. Deselect the checkbox to return the function keys to standard behavior.