How to use commands with a windows keyboard
keybindings - Command and Option keys on Windows keyboard - Ask Different
Does any know where the command button is on this keyboard (sorry for sideways photo and camera quality)
Run Command Keyboard Shortcut With No Windows Logo Key
I recently got a keyboard with windows keys but when I go to use commands such as copy and paste, the windows key won’t work as the command one. Any help is appreciated!
The Windows key will operate as the Command key, so cmd-c is win-c.
Further, the Alt key will operate as the Option key.
In macOS the copy command is invoked by the key combo command + C. The Windows key is normally the command key. As your keyboard does not have a command key you can map that key behavior to another key.
To swap the behavior of keys, go to System Preferences --> Keyboard --> Modifier Keys, select the right keyboard and set the desired behavior per key.
An option would be to set your alt \ option key to act like command and have your Caps Lock act like alt \ option.
Alternatively you can use Karabiner-Elements to set more advanced key remaps.
Quite simply, use this AutoHotKey script. (Tutorial on how to create a script here)
RCtrl::RWin
RWin::RCtrl
LCtrl::LWin
LWin::LCtrl
Works for all but CtrlAltDel.
A workaround for allowing simultaneous CtrlAlt, is to map left to right, and right to left (as opposed to left-left, right-right) i.e..
LAlt::RCtrl
RAlt::LCtrl
RCtrl::LAlt
LCtrl::RAlt
Disclaimer: this answer may no longer be relevant in modern Windows 10/11 versions as it was written originally for Windows 7.
Warning
This answer was first posted on 22/4/2017. Please verify that everything in it is still applicable, and make corrections to this answer, as needed.
SharpKeys
SharpKeys is a utility that manages a Registry key that allows Windows to remap one key to any other key.
Apply Key Swap
Swap the Ctrland Alt keys through a two step process. Using SharpKeys, map:
Left Alt (00_38)toLeft Ctrl (00_1D)Left Ctrl (00_1D)toLeft Alt (00_38)
Presumably you can do similar things to a right Alt and a right Ctrl.
I successfully applied the two step remapping to Windows 10 as of 2017/04/21.
Remove Key Swap
By choosing Delete All and following that up with Write to Registry in SharpKeys I was able to delete the registry key that SharpKeys created in the first place. You could also manually delete the relevant registry key using regedit.
Background
How to Disable Caps Lock Key in Windows 7, 8, 10, or Vista provides a nice explanation of the registry key that SharpKeys modifies (creates?). I've posted my registry key FYI.
After SharpKeys ran, my registry key:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout\Scancode Map
Contained:
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
03 00 00 00 1D 00 38 00
38 00 1D 00 00 00 00 00
A separate SuperUser question provides a bit of extra context: How to remap Right-Win and Right-Alt keyboard keys and Mehper C. Palavuzlar's answer to this question pointed me in the right direction. Rather than edit his question, I thought it more appropriate to post my answer as a separate answer.
Editorial comment
It does feel nice to be able to do cut, copy and paste with the thumb and Alt rather than the awkward pinky reach required with the Ctrl key in Windows. But, even though I grew up a Mac user (25 years) and would dearly love to be able to use my thumb (a natural position) to activate short cuts in Windows, I think it'll be too confusing to do a whole-sale swap of Ctrl and Alt for me. For example, Command/Alt-Tab are in the same spot so remapping Alt-Tab to Ctrl-Tab just won't work. Too bad that Apple made the right decision (thumb-based short cuts) and Microsoft went with the not-so-logical "industry standard" of its day. But, I guess "industry standard" is how we ended up typing with QWERTY and all its inglorious variants in the first place.
PS Windows still has three command keys?! Apple's solution of one modifier key for special letters and one for short cuts was a sensible design choice and allowed for easy access to less common (in English) but still important symbols and diacrits (e.g. °, ´, ¸, ˆ, ¨). In Windows you've got Ctrl, Alt and Windows all doing essentially the same thing and, I find that the vast majority of users rarely, if ever use the Alt or Windows shortcuts. Plus Alt gets especially confusing since it's sometimes a method to enter non-standard characters with the keypad or with AltGr but it's also a short-cut modifier at times). But, I digress... I've inspired myself to search for or ask an actual question.