Computer users who have used the Windows operating system for a long time before making the switch to Mac need some time to get familiar with macOS.
While the macOS user interface is clean and pretty easy to use, just like Windows OS, the problem is that most of the function buttons are located at places that we Windows users aren’t familiar with. Take, for example, the close, minimize, and maximize buttons that appear on the upper-left corner of a window, whereas in Windows, they appear on the upper-right side.
Windows users who are used to moving the mouse cursor to the upper-right of a window to access the close button need to get used to the new placement after switching to the Mac.
Users who often use keyboard shortcuts to perform common tasks need to unlearn PC keyboard shortcuts first before memorizing Mac keyboard shortcuts. As you likely know, on a Mac keyboard, Option and Command keys are present, whereas Windows and Alt keys are on a standard Windows keyboard. Even though the Control (Ctrl) key is very much present, it can’t be used like in Windows. For instance, we can’t use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V keys to perform copy and paste operations.
Since most PC users are used to Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V hotkeys, many find it difficult to unlearn those keyboard shortcuts while using a Mac, especially when going back and forth between Windows and Mac.
Luckily, there is an option in all recent versions of the macOS operating system to swap Control and Command keys, allowing users to use many Windows OS keyboard shortcuts on Mac as well. After swapping Control and Command keys, you’ll be able to use Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+T, Ctrl+S, and many other keyboard shortcuts.
If you love the idea of swapping Control and Command keys on a Mac to get Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V on a Mac, please follow the given below instructions.
NOTE: After swapping the Ctrl and Command keys, the Ctrl key will function as the Command key.
Swap Command and Control keys
Step 1: Open System Preferences by clicking the System Settings (previously called System Preferences) icon in the dock. You could also launch System Settings by clicking the Launchpad icon in the dock and then clicking the System Settings icon. Typing System System in the Spotlight search box is another option.
Step 2: In the left pane of System Settings, click Keyboard to open Keyboard settings.
Step 3: Here, click the Keyboard shortcuts button.
Step 4: On the left side of the dialog, click Modifier keys. Now, on the right side, expand the drop-down menu next to the Control key and select Command. Likewise, expand the drop-down menu next to the Command key and select Control key.
Click the Done button. That’s all!
Karen Whiting says
This did not work. It is still switched in using shortcut keys where I need to use control c to copy, etc..
visar says
Thank you
Quen10 says
If you get stuck and want to restore – go to Settings->Keyboard->Modifier Keys->Restore Defaults.
I want to override ONLY certain keys (Ctl-v, Ctl-c, Shift-Insert…)… still looking for ways to best do that
Cobra says
Hi kuppy, for it to work you have to change Control to Command and Command to Contrtol. If you have the same key for two or more options it won’t work anymore. Default settings are in this order if trying to restore everything, Caps Lock, Control, Option, Command, Function
K says
THANK YOU ILYSM (heart eye emojis)
kuppy says
After the steps you describe above shortcut copy/paste and all other shortcut options don’t work anymore on my mac
Because I don’t know the default settings, I am not able to roll back.
Please help !
kuppy
AZ says
Thank you!
KJ says
THANK YOU SO MUCH! It took a few seconds for my system to catch up to the change, but it worked!
Rachael says
Thank you – I love my MacBook and didn’t know I lost this setting but your instruction was so simple to follow THANK YOU!
Noor Khawaja says
Thanks for your help sir. I had started to hate my MacBook but now I am loving it. Thank you.
Chris says
Thank you for the free advise that saves hours, energy and frustration!
ANNA says
OMG THANK YOU!!!
Fer says
GUYS, YOU ROCK, THANK YOU!!!!
Sorry for yelling…
Blake Turner says
THANK YOU SO MUCH
taylor melton says
This worked! Thank you!
chloe says
thank you so much!! saved me so much time and energy with my photo editing by simply doing cntrl v and the step by step direction on how to do so on a mac (changing settings in preferance )
John Rickett says
THANK YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!
Amber says
Worked great for enabling my ergo Bluetooth Microsoft keyboard. Thanks for the tips! I was in there but it seemed weird to change those keys – happy I found your site!
fu says
that doesnt work