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    • GBadmin
      Keymaster
      Post count: 5

      Learn about the Mac features and tools that you can access by holding down one or more keys during startup.

      To use any of these key combinations, press and hold the keys immediately after pressing the power button to turn on your Mac, or immediately after your Mac begins to restart. Keep holding until the described behavior occurs.

      If your Mac is using a firmware password, all of these key combinations are disabled, except as noted below. 

      Command (⌘)-R: Start up from the built-in macOS Recovery system. Or use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet. macOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS, depending on the key combination you use while starting up. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you’re asked to enter the password.

      Option (⌥): Start up to Startup Manager, which allows you to choose other startup disks or volumes, if available. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you’re asked to enter the password.

      Option-Command-P-R: Reset NVRAM or PRAM. If your Mac is using a firmware password, it ignores this key combination or starts up from macOS Recovery.

      Shift (⇧):  Start up in safe mode.

      D: Start up from the built-in Apple Hardware Test or Apple Diagnostics utility, depending on your Mac model. Or use Option-D to start up from this utility over the Internet.

      N: Start up from a NetBoot server, if your Mac supports network startup volumes. To use the default boot image on the server, hold down Option-N instead.

      Command-S: Start up in single-user mode. This key combination requires macOS High Sierra or earlier.

      T: Start up in target disk mode.

      Command-V: Start up in verbose mode.

      Eject (⏏) or F12 or mouse button or trackpad button: Eject removable media, such as an optical disc.

    • GBadmin
      Keymaster
      Post count: 5

      Newcomers and old pros alike use Windows keyboards with Macs. Why toss a perfectly good keyboard just because you switched platforms? Some people just like how the keys feel better than the keyboards supplied by Apple. Any wired USB keyboard or Bluetooth-based wireless keyboard will work fine with a Mac.

      In fact, Apple even sells the Mac Mini without a keyboard or mouse, requiring customers to supply their own. There’s just one little problem with using a non-Apple keyboard: figuring out some of the keyboard equivalents.

      Windows and Mac Keyboard Differences
      There are at least five keys that may have different names or symbols on a Windows keyboard than they do on a Mac keyboard, which can make it difficult to follow Mac-related instructions. For example, a software manual may tell you to hold down the command key ( ⌘ ), which appears to be missing from your Windows keyboard. It’s there, it just looks a little different.

      Here are the five most commonly used special keys on a Mac and their Windows keyboard equivalents.

      Mac Key

      Windows Key

      Control

      Ctrl

      Option

      Alt

      Command (cloverleaf)

      Windows

      Delete

      Backspace

      Return

      Enter

      Use these to control various Mac functions, including using Mac OS X startup shortcuts.

      Another helpful bit of information for new Mac users is to know which menu key symbols correspond to which keys on the keyboard. The symbols used in the Mac menus can be a bit strange to those new to the Mac, as well as old hands who may be more mousers than keyboard users.

      The Command and Option Key Swap
      Besides Windows and Mac keyboards having slightly different names, they also swap the positions of two often-used modifier keys: the Command and Option keys.

      If you’re a long-time Mac user transitioning to a Windows keyboard, the Windows key, which is equivalent to the Mac’s Command key, occupies the physical position of the Option key on a Mac keyboard. Likewise, the Windows keyboard’s Alt key is where you expect to find the Mac’s Command key. If you’re used to using the modifier keys from your old Mac keyboard, you’re likely to run into trouble for a while as you relearn the key locations.

      Instead of having to relearn key locations, use the Keyboard preference pane in System Preferences to reassign the modifier keys, allowing you to keep the fingering skills you already possess.

      Launch System Preferences by clicking its icon in the Dock, or clicking the Apple menu on the left side of the menu bar then selecting System Preferences.

      System Preferences icon in the macOS Dock
      In the System Preferences window that opens, select the Keyboard preference pane.

      Keyboard icon in System Preferences
      Click the Modifier Keys button.

      Modifier Keys button in Keyboard System Preferences pane
      Use the pop-up menu next to the Option and Command keys to select the action you wish the modifier keys to perform. In this example, you want the Option key (the Alt key on a Windows keyboard) to execute the Command action, and the Command key (the Windows key on a Windows keyboard) to perform the Option action.

      Don’t worry if this sounds a bit confusing, it will make more sense when you see the drop-down pane in front of you. Also, if things get a bit mixed up, you can just click the Restore Defaults button to put everything back the way it was.

      Modifier Keys drop-down panel showing Caps Lock, Control, Option, Command, and Function keys options
      Make your changes and click the OK button, then close System Preferences.

      With the modifier keys remapped, you shouldn’t have any problems using any Windows keyboard with your Mac.

      Keyboard Shortcuts
      People new to the Mac but proficient using keyboard shortcuts to speed up their workflow may be a little taken aback by the notation used in the Mac’s menu system to indicate when a keyboard shortcut is available.

      If a keyboard shortcut is available for a menu item, the shortcut will be displayed next to the menu item using the following notation:

      Menu Item Notation Key
      ⌃ Control
      ⌥ Option
      ⌘ Command
      ⌫ Delete
      ⏎ Return or Enter
      ⇧ Shift
      Keyboard Shortcut Notation

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