Mac vs PC keyboards: what's different and what's the same
It's common for a kid to use a Mac at home and a Windows PC or Chromebook somewhere else, or the other way around. Good news first: the letters, numbers, and punctuation are in the same places. Touch typing transfers completely. What changes are a handful of special keys and shortcuts. Here they are side by side.
The big picture
| Same on both | Different |
|---|---|
| All the letters (QWERTY) | The shortcut key: Ctrl on PC, cmd on Mac |
| The number row and punctuation | Some key names: Backspace vs delete, Alt vs option, Enter vs return |
| The home row, F and J bumps | Mac has no Insert key, no Windows key, and no Num Lock |
| Shift, Space, Tab, Caps Lock, Esc, arrows | cmd + arrow for the start or end of a line. fn + arrow acts as Home/End |
Side-by-side chart
| What you want to do | PC (Windows) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Ctrl + C | cmd + C |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | cmd + V |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | cmd + Z |
| Switch apps | Alt + Tab | cmd + Tab |
| Erase to the left | Backspace | delete |
| Erase to the right | Delete | fn + delete |
| Start of the line | Home | cmd + ← in most apps |
| End of the line | End | cmd + → in most apps |
| Page up / down | Page Up / Page Down | fn + ↑ / fn + ↓ |
| Type an accent like é | (varies) | option key |
| Right-click | Menu key or right mouse button | control-click |
| Open the Start menu | Windows key | (no Windows key) |
| Screenshot | Print Screen | cmd + shift + 3 |
| Type-over mode | Insert | (no Insert key) |
On a Mac, fn + left or right arrow acts as Home or End. That usually jumps to the top or bottom of the document, not the start or end of the line.
The function keys
In a web browser like Chrome, F1 often opens help, F5 refreshes the page, and F11 makes the window full screen. Other apps may use them differently. On either kind of computer you may need fn for F1 to F12, depending on the keyboard's settings. On a Mac, those top keys often control brightness and volume until you hold fn.
A tip: in a browser, F5 refreshes the page, and that can wipe out typing that wasn't saved. It's worth knowing before an important essay.
The number pad
PC number pads have Num Lock, which switches the pad between typing numbers and moving the cursor. Apple keyboards have clear instead of Num Lock and normally type numbers. If the keypad moves the pointer, Mouse Keys may be on (System Settings, Accessibility, Pointer Control). Some other-brand pads used on a Mac do have Num Lock. See number pad finger placement for the common PC-style chart.
Chromebooks
Chromebook keyboards follow the same letter layout, so touch typing works the same. They have their own special keys and usually no number pad. If your child is learning 10-key on a Chromebook, see practicing 10-key without a number pad.
Printable cheat sheet
Tape this near a shared computer:
COPY PC: Ctrl+C Mac: cmd+C
PASTE PC: Ctrl+V Mac: cmd+V
UNDO PC: Ctrl+Z Mac: cmd+Z
ERASE LEFT PC: Backspace Mac: delete
ERASE RIGHT PC: Delete Mac: fn+delete
F KEYS Either computer: you may need fn
Teaching tip
Don't make it a big deal. Teach typing once, then show the five or six differences for whichever other computer your child uses. Kids switch faster than most grown-ups do.
In Home Row Mojo
The Keyboard Tour lesson in Home Row Mojo has a PC/Mac switch at the top. Flip it, and every key on the tour shows its Mac name and Mac shortcut instead. The Fixing Mistakes lesson also points out that the Mac key labeled delete is the one that erases to the left.
Try Home Row Mojo free as a guest. It runs in a web browser and needs a physical keyboard. Many Chromebooks don't have some of the keys the Keyboard Tour covers, so if you're on one, try the free version first.