Mac OS X provides a way for you to switch the primary modifier keys and use the control key instead of command for every applicable keystroke in OS X. For example, while you press Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, and Ctrl+V to copy, cut, and paste on Windows, you press Command+C, Command+X, and Command+V to do the same on a Mac. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. One of the most subtle differences between a Mac and a PC is also one of the biggest: the functionality of the control key on the keyboard. When you buy a Mac, you'll need to start using the command key instead of the control key. On keyboards made for Windows PCs, use the Alt key instead of Option, and the Windows logo key instead of Command. If you ever want to switch the command and control keys back again, just follow the instructions above to revert to OS X's default functionality. It’s a modifier key you can press to issue keyboard shortcuts to applications. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Matt Cone, the author of Master Your Mac, has been a Mac user for over 20 years. Mac OS X provides a way for you to switch the primary modifier keys and use the control key instead of command for every applicable keystroke in OS X. For example, instead of pressing Control-S to save and Control-C to copy like you did in Windows, you'll have to press Command-S and Command-C to do the same thing in OS X. Here's how to switch the command and control keys: You Mac will now recognize the control key as the primary modifier. Copyright © 2016 Macinstruct. You can email him at: [email protected]. If this switch from control to command is driving you nuts, you'll be happy to know that there's a fix. This symbol appears throughout the Mac’s menus to indicate when you can press the Command ke… For example, pressing the keys with speaker icons adjusts the volume. It's a great feature for new Mac users who keep forgetting they have to use the command key, and it's also beneficial for those who use a Mac at home and a PC at work and want consistency between the keyboards. The Command key doesn’t do anything on its own. Try it! If your Mac has a Touch Bar, learn about using function keys on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. This key has the ⌘ symbol on it. A former ghost writer for some of Apple's most notable instructors, Cone founded Macinstruct in 1999, a site with OS X tutorials that boasts hundreds of thousands of unique visitors per month. By default, the top row of keys on your Apple keyboard control many different features on your Mac. Create a new document and save it by pressing Control-S. All of the other available keyboard shortcuts are similarly affected. It's a great feature for new Mac users who keep forgetting they have to use the command key, and it's also beneficial for those who use a Mac at home and a PC at work and want consistency between the keyboards.