Mac-Win KeyMap

Suggested by @maayavicoder

Keyboard Mapper direction

Source InterfaceWindows Layout

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Target EquivalentsmacOS Equivalents

Live Hotkey Capture

Click here & start typing shortcut

Equivalent:No keys captured

Modifier Key Mapping Positions

Physical key swaps are the largest source of layout confusion when switching keyboards.

Windows Bottom-Left Modifier Row

Ctrl

Win

Alt

Space

Windows places the system/start modifier key (Win) in the middle, between Ctrl and Alt.

macOS Bottom-Left Modifier Row

Ctrl

Opt ⌥

Cmd ⌘

Space

macOS shifts the primary modifier key (Command) directly next to the Spacebar. This confuses muscle memory for Ctrl layouts.

OS System Transition Guides

Solve common configuration gaps and usage confusions when moving between macOS and Windows.

Uninstalling Applications

Unlike Windows where you uninstall programs via Settings or Control Panel, macOS uses multiple methods depending on where the app came from.

macOS Methods

Finder (Drag to Trash)Open Finder > Applications folder. Drag the app's icon to the Trash bin on your dock, or select the app and press Cmd + Delete. Empty your Trash to complete.

Launchpad (App Store Apps)Open Launchpad (F4). Click and hold the app icon until it jiggles. Click the 'X' badge on the corner of the app icon to delete it immediately.

App Cleaners (Recommended)Dragging an app to Trash often leaves orphaned cache and preference folders behind in ~/Library. Use a free utility like AppCleaner to drag-and-drop the app and clean all associated files.

Dedicated UninstallersFor large suites (e.g. Adobe Creative Cloud, Steam, or MS Office), check the Application's folder or /Applications/Utilities for a dedicated 'Uninstall' program.

Windows Equivalent

Settings PageGo to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, find the application, click the three dots, and select 'Uninstall'.

Control PanelOpen Control Panel > Programs and Features, select the application, and click 'Uninstall' at the top.

Pro Tip for Switchers:If an app requires an administrator password when dragged to the Trash, it is because it installed helper utilities or system extensions. Always check for a built-in uninstaller first for such software.

Shortcut Directory Library

Copy SelectionCopy selected text or files to clipboard.	Ctrl + C	Cmd + C	System & Finder
Paste SelectionPaste text or files from clipboard.Note: On macOS Finder, pasting files using Cmd+Option+V functions as a 'Move' (similar to Cut & Paste in Windows).	Ctrl + V	Cmd + V	System & Finder
Cut SelectionCut selected text or prepare files to be moved.In macOS Finder, files cannot be cut using Cmd+X. Instead, copy them with Cmd+C, then paste/move them using Cmd + Option + V.	Ctrl + X	Cmd + C (Finder) / Cmd + X (Text)	System & Finder
UndoRevert the last action.	Ctrl + Z	Cmd + Z	System & Finder
RedoRe-apply the undone action.	Ctrl + Y	Cmd + Shift + Z	System & Finder
Delete File / FolderMove selected item to the Recycle Bin / Trash.	Delete	Cmd + Delete	System & Finder
Force Delete PermanentlyBypass the Recycle Bin / Trash and delete the file immediately.	Shift + Delete	Cmd + Option + Delete	System & Finder
Screenshot Region / CropCapture a cropped selection of your screen to the clipboard or file.On Mac, this saves to the Desktop by default. Hold Ctrl during selection to copy to clipboard instead.	Win + Shift + S	Cmd + Shift + 4	System & Finder
Screenshot Entire ScreenCapture the full viewport instantly.	PrintScreen / Win + PrintScreen	Cmd + Shift + 3	System & Finder
Lock SystemLock computer session instantly.	Win + L	Cmd + Ctrl + Q	System & Finder
Force Quit / Activity ControlsOpen task monitors or termination manager to kill unresponsive processes.Windows opens Task Manager directly. macOS opens the Force Quit dialog. Search 'Activity Monitor' on macOS for full stats.	Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Cmd + Option + Esc	System & Finder
System Global SearchTrigger search tool / search dialog bar.macOS opens Spotlight search. Windows triggers Windows Search Index.	Win + S / Win	Cmd + Space	System & Finder
Close Active WindowClose current browser tab or explorer panel.	Ctrl + W / Alt + F4	Cmd + W	System & Finder
Quit Application CompletelyTerminate all processes of the running app.Crucial difference: Closing all windows of a Mac application does NOT quit it. You must use Cmd+Q to fully exit.	Alt + F4	Cmd + Q	System & Finder
Show Desktop / Minimize AllHide all windows to inspect the desktop interface.	Win + D	Cmd + F3 / Mission Control	System & Finder
Open New TabLaunch a clean tab layout in the active browser window.Universal standard: maps to command layouts next to active Space keys on macOS.	Ctrl + T (Chrome)	Cmd + T (Chrome / Safari)	Chrome & Safari
Reopen Closed TabRestore the last closed tab in history.	Ctrl + Shift + T (Chrome)	Cmd + Shift + T (Chrome / Safari)	Chrome & Safari
Open Developer ToolsInspect elements, console statements, and network requests.Chrome for Windows exposes DevTools via F12. On macOS Safari, you must first enable web developer features under Safari Settings > Advanced, then press Cmd+Option+I.	F12 / Ctrl + Shift + I (Chrome)	Cmd + Option + I (Chrome / Safari)	Chrome & Safari
Private / Incognito ModeOpen browser session without tracking history.Windows uses Ctrl+Shift+N for Chrome. macOS Safari uses Cmd+Shift+N to create a Private Browsing window (similar to Chrome).	Ctrl + Shift + N (Chrome)	Cmd + Shift + N (Chrome / Safari)	Chrome & Safari
Hard Refresh PageReload page by bypassing local caching models.Chrome on macOS supports Cmd+Shift+R for hard refresh. Safari requires you to Empty Caches (Cmd+Option+E) first, then reload the page (Cmd+R).	Ctrl + F5 / Ctrl + Shift + R (Chrome)	Cmd + Shift + R (Chrome) / Cmd + Option + E then Cmd + R (Safari)	Chrome & Safari
Focus Address BarHighlight the URL input field to type a search query.	Ctrl + L / F6 (Chrome)	Cmd + L (Chrome / Safari)	Chrome & Safari
Chrome (Win) vs Safari (Mac) InfoKey architectural and usability differences between the two systems.Safari is exclusive to Apple devices and heavily optimized for macOS battery life. Chrome is available across both platforms. Modifiers translate directly from Ctrl on Windows Chrome to Cmd on macOS Safari.	Chrome Browser for Windows	Safari Browser for macOS	Chrome & Safari
Command PaletteOpen the prompt search for settings, commands, and options.	Ctrl + Shift + P / F1	Cmd + Shift + P / F1	VS Code
Quick Open FileSearch and jump to a workspace file instantly.	Ctrl + P	Cmd + P	VS Code
Find & Replace in FileSearch and swap strings locally.	Ctrl + H	Cmd + Option + F	VS Code
Toggle Explorer SidebarCollapse or expand file navigator panels.	Ctrl + B	Cmd + B	VS Code
Toggle Built-in TerminalOpen or hide console panel.	Ctrl + `	Cmd + `	VS Code
Toggle Line CommentComment out current text selection.	Ctrl + /	Cmd + /	VS Code
Format DocumentTrigger code prettier/formatter.	Shift + Alt + F	Shift + Option + F	VS Code
Zoom In CanvasIncrease size scales.	Ctrl + +	Cmd + +	Figma
Group ElementsBundle selections under a single node.	Ctrl + G	Cmd + G	Figma
Copy PropertiesCopy styling styles, shadows, alignments, and fills.	Ctrl + Alt + C	Cmd + Option + C	Figma
Paste PropertiesApply copied styling styles to target node.	Ctrl + Alt + V	Cmd + Option + V	Figma
Build ProjectCompile source files and compile binary assets.	N/A (macOS Only) / Ctrl + Shift + B (Visual Studio equivalent)	Cmd + B	Xcode
Run / Launch AppCompile and start application on active simulator/device.	N/A (macOS Only) / F5 (Visual Studio equivalent)	Cmd + R	Xcode
Clean Build FolderClear compiled artifacts and logs to force rebuild.	N/A (macOS Only) / Ctrl + Shift + Enter (Clean Solution in VS)	Cmd + Shift + K	Xcode
Open Quickly (File Search)Quickly lookup files, classes, methods, or resources.	N/A (macOS Only) / Ctrl + , (Visual Studio equivalent)	Cmd + Shift + O	Xcode
Toggle Debug Area / ConsoleHide or show terminal output and debugger window.	N/A (macOS Only)	Cmd + Shift + Y	Xcode
Show Quick Help / DocumentationInspect signature definition or symbol docs.	N/A (macOS Only) / F1 (Visual Studio equivalent)	Option + Click / Cmd + Option + ?	Xcode
Search EverywhereSearch classes, files, actions, symbols, and settings.	Double Shift	Double Shift	Android Studio
Project Structure / SettingsOpen IDE settings / configuration preference screens.Universal macOS standard maps Preferences to Cmd+, while Windows uses Ctrl+Alt+S.	Ctrl + Alt + S	Cmd + ,	Android Studio
Reformat Source CodeApply linting layouts and formatting configurations.	Ctrl + Alt + L	Cmd + Option + L	Android Studio
Run / Launch ApplicationCompile project modules and launch on active emulator.Significant mapping difference: macOS maps Run to Ctrl+R, bypassing standard system defaults.	Shift + F10	Ctrl + R	Android Studio
Debug ApplicationRun application with step-by-step debugger attachment.Significant mapping difference: macOS maps Debug to Ctrl+D.	Shift + F9	Ctrl + D	Android Studio
Generate Code BlockCreate constructors, getters, setters, or toString override helpers.	Alt + Insert	Cmd + N / Ctrl + Enter	Android Studio
Find Action PromptDirectly trigger IDE actions, plugins, or configurations by typing name.	Ctrl + Shift + A	Cmd + Shift + A	Android Studio

Copy SelectionCopy selected text or files to clipboard.

System & Finder

Windows:Ctrl + C

macOS:Cmd + C

Paste SelectionPaste text or files from clipboard.

System & Finder

Windows:Ctrl + V

macOS:Cmd + V

Note: On macOS Finder, pasting files using Cmd+Option+V functions as a 'Move' (similar to Cut & Paste in Windows).

Cut SelectionCut selected text or prepare files to be moved.

System & Finder

Windows:Ctrl + X

macOS:Cmd + C (Finder) / Cmd + X (Text)

In macOS Finder, files cannot be cut using Cmd+X. Instead, copy them with Cmd+C, then paste/move them using Cmd + Option + V.

UndoRevert the last action.

System & Finder

Windows:Ctrl + Z

macOS:Cmd + Z

RedoRe-apply the undone action.

System & Finder

Windows:Ctrl + Y

macOS:Cmd + Shift + Z

Delete File / FolderMove selected item to the Recycle Bin / Trash.

System & Finder

Windows:Delete

macOS:Cmd + Delete

Force Delete PermanentlyBypass the Recycle Bin / Trash and delete the file immediately.

System & Finder

Windows:Shift + Delete

macOS:Cmd + Option + Delete

Screenshot Region / CropCapture a cropped selection of your screen to the clipboard or file.

System & Finder

Windows:Win + Shift + S

macOS:Cmd + Shift + 4

On Mac, this saves to the Desktop by default. Hold Ctrl during selection to copy to clipboard instead.

Screenshot Entire ScreenCapture the full viewport instantly.

System & Finder

Windows:PrintScreen / Win + PrintScreen

macOS:Cmd + Shift + 3

Lock SystemLock computer session instantly.

System & Finder

Windows:Win + L

macOS:Cmd + Ctrl + Q

Force Quit / Activity ControlsOpen task monitors or termination manager to kill unresponsive processes.

System & Finder

Windows:Ctrl + Shift + Esc

macOS:Cmd + Option + Esc

Windows opens Task Manager directly. macOS opens the Force Quit dialog. Search 'Activity Monitor' on macOS for full stats.

System Global SearchTrigger search tool / search dialog bar.

System & Finder

Windows:Win + S / Win

macOS:Cmd + Space

macOS opens Spotlight search. Windows triggers Windows Search Index.

Close Active WindowClose current browser tab or explorer panel.

System & Finder

Windows:Ctrl + W / Alt + F4

macOS:Cmd + W

Quit Application CompletelyTerminate all processes of the running app.

System & Finder

Windows:Alt + F4

macOS:Cmd + Q

Crucial difference: Closing all windows of a Mac application does NOT quit it. You must use Cmd+Q to fully exit.

Show Desktop / Minimize AllHide all windows to inspect the desktop interface.

System & Finder

Windows:Win + D

macOS:Cmd + F3 / Mission Control

Open New TabLaunch a clean tab layout in the active browser window.

Chrome & Safari

Windows:Ctrl + T (Chrome)

macOS:Cmd + T (Chrome / Safari)

Universal standard: maps to command layouts next to active Space keys on macOS.

Reopen Closed TabRestore the last closed tab in history.

Chrome & Safari

Windows:Ctrl + Shift + T (Chrome)

macOS:Cmd + Shift + T (Chrome / Safari)

Open Developer ToolsInspect elements, console statements, and network requests.

Chrome & Safari

Windows:F12 / Ctrl + Shift + I (Chrome)

macOS:Cmd + Option + I (Chrome / Safari)

Chrome for Windows exposes DevTools via F12. On macOS Safari, you must first enable web developer features under Safari Settings > Advanced, then press Cmd+Option+I.

Private / Incognito ModeOpen browser session without tracking history.

Chrome & Safari

Windows:Ctrl + Shift + N (Chrome)

macOS:Cmd + Shift + N (Chrome / Safari)

Windows uses Ctrl+Shift+N for Chrome. macOS Safari uses Cmd+Shift+N to create a Private Browsing window (similar to Chrome).

Hard Refresh PageReload page by bypassing local caching models.

Chrome & Safari

Windows:Ctrl + F5 / Ctrl + Shift + R (Chrome)

macOS:Cmd + Shift + R (Chrome) / Cmd + Option + E then Cmd + R (Safari)

Chrome on macOS supports Cmd+Shift+R for hard refresh. Safari requires you to Empty Caches (Cmd+Option+E) first, then reload the page (Cmd+R).

Focus Address BarHighlight the URL input field to type a search query.

Chrome & Safari

Windows:Ctrl + L / F6 (Chrome)

macOS:Cmd + L (Chrome / Safari)

Chrome (Win) vs Safari (Mac) InfoKey architectural and usability differences between the two systems.

Chrome & Safari

Windows:Chrome Browser for Windows

macOS:Safari Browser for macOS

Safari is exclusive to Apple devices and heavily optimized for macOS battery life. Chrome is available across both platforms. Modifiers translate directly from Ctrl on Windows Chrome to Cmd on macOS Safari.

Command PaletteOpen the prompt search for settings, commands, and options.

VS Code

Windows:Ctrl + Shift + P / F1

macOS:Cmd + Shift + P / F1

Quick Open FileSearch and jump to a workspace file instantly.

VS Code

Windows:Ctrl + P

macOS:Cmd + P

Find & Replace in FileSearch and swap strings locally.

VS Code

Windows:Ctrl + H

macOS:Cmd + Option + F

Toggle Explorer SidebarCollapse or expand file navigator panels.

VS Code

Windows:Ctrl + B

macOS:Cmd + B

Toggle Built-in TerminalOpen or hide console panel.

VS Code

Windows:Ctrl + `

macOS:Cmd + `

Toggle Line CommentComment out current text selection.

VS Code

Windows:Ctrl + /

macOS:Cmd + /

Format DocumentTrigger code prettier/formatter.

VS Code

Windows:Shift + Alt + F

macOS:Shift + Option + F

Zoom In CanvasIncrease size scales.

Figma

Windows:Ctrl + +

macOS:Cmd + +

Group ElementsBundle selections under a single node.

Figma

Windows:Ctrl + G

macOS:Cmd + G

Copy PropertiesCopy styling styles, shadows, alignments, and fills.

Figma

Windows:Ctrl + Alt + C

macOS:Cmd + Option + C

Paste PropertiesApply copied styling styles to target node.

Figma

Windows:Ctrl + Alt + V

macOS:Cmd + Option + V

Build ProjectCompile source files and compile binary assets.

Xcode

Windows:N/A (macOS Only) / Ctrl + Shift + B (Visual Studio equivalent)

macOS:Cmd + B

Run / Launch AppCompile and start application on active simulator/device.

Xcode

Windows:N/A (macOS Only) / F5 (Visual Studio equivalent)

macOS:Cmd + R

Clean Build FolderClear compiled artifacts and logs to force rebuild.

Xcode

Windows:N/A (macOS Only) / Ctrl + Shift + Enter (Clean Solution in VS)

macOS:Cmd + Shift + K

Open Quickly (File Search)Quickly lookup files, classes, methods, or resources.

Xcode

Windows:N/A (macOS Only) / Ctrl + , (Visual Studio equivalent)

macOS:Cmd + Shift + O

Toggle Debug Area / ConsoleHide or show terminal output and debugger window.

Xcode

Windows:N/A (macOS Only)

macOS:Cmd + Shift + Y

Show Quick Help / DocumentationInspect signature definition or symbol docs.

Xcode

Windows:N/A (macOS Only) / F1 (Visual Studio equivalent)

macOS:Option + Click / Cmd + Option + ?

Search EverywhereSearch classes, files, actions, symbols, and settings.

Android Studio

Windows:Double Shift

macOS:Double Shift

Project Structure / SettingsOpen IDE settings / configuration preference screens.

Android Studio

Windows:Ctrl + Alt + S

macOS:Cmd + ,

Universal macOS standard maps Preferences to Cmd+, while Windows uses Ctrl+Alt+S.

Reformat Source CodeApply linting layouts and formatting configurations.

Android Studio

Windows:Ctrl + Alt + L

macOS:Cmd + Option + L

Run / Launch ApplicationCompile project modules and launch on active emulator.

Android Studio

Windows:Shift + F10

macOS:Ctrl + R

Significant mapping difference: macOS maps Run to Ctrl+R, bypassing standard system defaults.

Debug ApplicationRun application with step-by-step debugger attachment.

Android Studio

Windows:Shift + F9

macOS:Ctrl + D

Significant mapping difference: macOS maps Debug to Ctrl+D.

Generate Code BlockCreate constructors, getters, setters, or toString override helpers.

Android Studio

Windows:Alt + Insert

macOS:Cmd + N / Ctrl + Enter

Find Action PromptDirectly trigger IDE actions, plugins, or configurations by typing name.

Android Studio

Windows:Ctrl + Shift + A

macOS:Cmd + Shift + A

macOS Remap: Karabiner Profile

Generate remap rules to swap modifiers for a Windows-style keyboard experience on macOS.

{
  "title": "Windows Shortcuts on macOS (Swap Ctrl & Cmd)",
  "rules": [
    {
      "description": "Map left_control to left_command, and left_command to left_control",
      "manipulators": [
        {
          "type": "basic",
          "from": {
            "key_code": "left_control"
          },
          "to": [
            {
              "key_code": "left_command"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "basic",
          "from": {
            "key_code": "left_command"
          },
          "to": [
            {
              "key_code": "left_control"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Copy this block and insert it inside your `~/.config/karabiner/karabiner.json` rules array to apply changes.

Windows Remap: PowerToys Guide

Instructions to configure Microsoft PowerToys Keyboard Manager to swap layout modifiers on Windows.

Install Microsoft PowerToys via Github or MS Store.

Open Settings, navigate to the Keyboard Manager module, and toggle it to **Enabled**.

Click Remap a key, select **Ctrl (Left)** as Key and map it to **Win (Left)** or **Alt (Left)** to mimic macOS Command finger spacing.

PowerToys remaps settings at the OS kernel level, ensuring zero latency during shortcuts.

Mac to Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Transition

Transitioning between macOS and Windows can disrupt your workflow, as modifier spacing and key arrangements differ. The primary source of confusion is the position of the Command key next to the spacebar on Mac, which is occupied by the Windows key or Alt key on PC.

Common Pain Points

Cut and Paste Files: macOS does not support standard "Cut" on folders/files with a key command. Instead, you copy (Cmd+C) and press Option+Cmd+V to move it.
Closing vs Quitting: Clicking the red window controls on Mac does not quit the application. The background processes remain active. Press Cmd+Q to quit.
Force Quit Manager: Cmd+Option+Esc triggers Mac's Force Quit dialog. It functions as the counterpart to Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows.

How to remap modifiers

If you want to preserve your muscle memory, you can swap modifier keys natively on macOS. Navigate to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Modifier Keys. From this screen, select your current keyboard and remap Caps Lock, Control, Option, and Command modifiers. To enable similar options on Windows, install Microsoft PowerToys Keyboard Manager.