You’ve made the switch to Mac OS X Lion from some version of Windows. Mac OS X is easy to learn, but Windows users may find a few of its keys and navigation elements a little mystifying at first. Use this Cheat Sheet to figure out Mac OS X keyboard symbols and shortcuts and to master Multi-Touch gestures to control your new Mac from its trackpad.
Deciphering Special Key Symbols in Mac OS X
Using keyboard shortcuts in Mac OSX means recognizing some important keys, such as Control, Shift, Escape, and more. The symbols for these Mac keys don’t look the same as they do on a Windows keyboard. Mac menus show keyboard shortcuts, when they’re available, using the following standard symbols for special keys:
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Jan 20, 2011 Open the Control Panel, click on Startup Disk, and change the setting; this item will only appear if the Boot Camp drivers are installed. Alternatively, restart the computer with the X or Option keys held down; in the second case, select the Mac OS X system, push the button with the straight arrow, and change the startup disk from System Preferences afterwards. Mar 24, 2020 If you haven't installed the latest Boot Camp updates, you might get the message ”Could not locate the OS X boot volume.' Or use Startup Manager as your Mac starts up: Restart your Mac from the Start menu in Windows. Press and hold the Option (or Alt) ⌥ key as your Mac begins to restart. To do this, simply press Command + Tab. You can keep pressing Tab to switch to another program. You can also use the application switcher to quit a program. When it is selected in the application switcher, press the Q key on your keyboard.
Commanding Keyboard Shortcuts on a Mac
Most Windows keyboard shortcuts, which require you to press Ctrl and a letter, work on a Mac if you press the Command key (the one with the four-leaf clover symbol) on the Mac instead of Ctrl. Thus, Command+C is copy, Command+X is cut, Command+V is paste, Command+Z is undo, and so on. Some shortcuts that are unique to the Mac include the following:
How to Give Commands with Mac Function Keys
A Mac keyboard has function keys, just like a Windows keyboard, but the keys likely issue different commands in Mac OS X than in Windows. On a Mac, the commands assigned to function keys vary by the keyboard’s size and manufacturer. Check Keyboard and Mission Control in System Preferences for your settings. The table shows typical default commands for function keys in Mac OS X Lion.
(Note: These commands work only on Apple-labeled keyboards, except for the Turn on VoiceOver command, which works on any keyboard.)
Navigating Mac OS X with Multi-Touch Gestures
Multi-Touch gestures are moves that you make on a Mac’s trackpad to send Mac OS X commands, mostly for navigating the Mac OS X interface. When you switch to a Mac from Windows, adjusting to Multi-Touch takes a little practice, so this table is here to help you:
Gesture | Command It Performs |
---|---|
Two-finger swipe | Scroll (up, down, left, or right) |
Two fingers on keypad+click | Right click (same as Control+click) |
Three-finger swipe | Switch spaces or open applications |
Three-finger double tap | Look up a word in the dictionary or on Wikipedia |
Four-finger swipe up | Show Mission Control |
Four-finger swipe down | Show all windows for the current application |
Four-finger pinch | Show Launchpad |
Four-finger spread | Show Desktop |
Top Mac OS X Hints for Windows Users
Windows users who have made the switch to Mac OS X have some new mouse clicks, keyboard techniques, and touchpad (trackpad) gestures to learn. Have a look at some top tips for working on a Mac:
- To right-click when using a single-button mouse, hold down Control and then click.
- To right-click on a laptop or track pad, click with two fingers resting on the trackpad. Control-click also works.
- The top row on Mac keyboards is used for special controls, such as audio volume and brightness. To use them as function keys, hold down the Fn key. You can reverse this behavior by choosing System Preferences@@→Keyboard. The Keyboard preferences pane also has a complete list of keyboard shortcuts.
- Closing an application’s last window usually doesn’t close the application itself.
- Apple applications and many third-party Mac applications save your edits automatically while you work and keep track of different versions.
- To rename a file in a Finder window, click the filename once and then press Return. The filename becomes editable.
Starting Your Mac with Boot Option Keys
When your Mac powers up, it normally uses the system on its internal hard drive unless you change this behavior by choosing System Preferences@@→Startup Disk. Flask app to mac app. You can also change what your Mac does by holding down the following keys or key combinations during startup.
Print these boot option keys, because they’re particularly helpful to have when your Mac is having trouble.
Right click
Click the right corner of your Apple mouse, or click with two fingers on your Apple trackpad. You can change this in Mouse preferences and Trackpad preferences.
Scroll, swipe, click
Settings for scroll direction, swipe gestures, and button assignments are also in Mouse and Trackpad preferences.
Close & resize windows
Where to find the apps downloaded on mac. Buttons for closing, minimizing, and maximizing a window are in the upper-left corner of the window.
Change volume
Use the volume control in the menu bar, or use the volume keys on your Apple keyboard.
Find files
Use Spotlight to quickly find and open apps, documents, and other files.
Open apps
You can also use Launchpad and the Dock to open your apps (programs).
Browse for files
Looking for Windows File Explorer? Learn about the Finder.
Throw files away
Looking for the Recycle Bin? Use the Trash, which is in the Dock.
Rename files
Click the file once to select it, then press the Return key and type a new name. Press Return when done.
Preview files
Preview most files on your Mac using Quick Look. Click the file once to select it, then press Space bar.
Back up files
Time Machine keeps a copy of all your files, and it remembers how your system looked on any given day.
Change Mac settings
Looking for the Control Panel? Use System Preferences instead.
Many Mac keyboard combinations use the Command (⌘) key. Learn more keys and keyboard shortcuts.
Cut
Copy
Paste
Undo
Close window
Switch apps
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Quit app
Forward delete
Find files
Force quit app
Take screenshot
Learn more
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- For more information to help you get to know your Mac, use the Help menu in the Finder menu bar.
- What’s it called on my Mac? includes additional Windows and Mac terms.