The steps you've just seen will help you evaluate and adjust your mappings as needed.
#Test alt key on mac windows
Plus, it's good to know that you're not limited to Mac-specific equipment when Windows keyboards abound. Testing and mapping your keyboard allows you to touch-type with ease. Often this involves nothing more than switching the Command and Option keys. Use the following dialog to map your keys into place. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse and click Modifier Keys. If your keyboard has Alt and Windows mixed up relative to that space bar, you can remap them in System Preferences. Updating the Command Key locationįor touch typists, the Command key should ideally be placed just to the left or right of the space bar. When you press those modifier keys, you'll see exactly how they're mapped and being interpreted. OS X uses the Keyboard Viewer palette to mirror all your keyboard entries. Once you see this palette, start tapping each of the shift modifiers on your keyboard, including the Control, Alt and Windows keys.
![test alt key on mac test alt key on mac](https://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/use-windows-pc-keyboard-on-mac-remap-keys-3.jpg)
When remapping keys, you'll first want to see how the original configuration is mapped. Whether or not the keyboard layout "makes sense," you'll want to know how keys are being interpreted by OS X and maybe make some changes to have them behave better with your touch-typing skills.
![test alt key on mac test alt key on mac](https://img.webnots.com/2020/02/How-to-Use-Alt-Code-Shortcuts.png)
As a rule, notebooks have pretty good layouts netbooks (their smaller brothers) do not. Larger notebooks and desktop systems use a more standard layout with the left and right sides mirrored. Obviously this configuration varies by laptop.Īlthough this layout is uniquely awful, it's not extremely common.
#Test alt key on mac mac os x
From a Mac OS X point of view, this is less than ideal the Alt key (which appears on both sides) is the best candidate for use as the Command key. On the right, there's Alt, the quote key, and then three arrows. On the left side, there's the control key, a function key, the Windows key, and then the Alt (option) key.
![test alt key on mac test alt key on mac](https://websetnet.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Test-Apple-keyboard-1.jpg)
Other than that, it offers typical keys, including the Alt and Windows items near the space bar. It's unusual only in how extreme its OS X-unfriendly layout is.
![test alt key on mac test alt key on mac](https://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/use-window-pc-keyboard-mac-swap-windows-alt-key.jpg)
#Test alt key on mac how to
The following mini tutorial will show you how to identify keyboard mappings and, if needed, switch around those mappings so you can touch type on that keyboard with familiar shift-modifier placements. Should you find yourself in such a situation, one of the first things you need to deal with is the lack of a standard Command key. There are times when the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune lead OS X users into using Windows keyboards.