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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!
Remapping a Windows keyboard so that the key positions match a standard Mac keyboard is pretty easy.
Just open Keyboard Preferences, and click the Modifier Keys… button in the Keyboard tab.
This lets you change the behaviour of the keys on each attached keyboard (make sure you select your external one from the top drop-down menu).
To turn the Windows standard Ctrl⊞WinAlt configuration to the Mac standard controloptioncommand ⌘, just change the Option and Command drop downs so they have the opposite entries (i.e. Option performs Command and Command performs Option).
If you want to change the physical keys, most of the premium mechanical keyboards use Cherry switches that have interchangeable key caps. You can get Mac specific modifier key sets from places like DAS Keyboard and WASD Keyboards. If you want to go nuts, you can even get a fully customized key cap set in a style similar to Apple's keyboards, as this guy did (looks pretty nice IMO, but I'm sure it's costly).
Blogger Shawn Blanc wrote an excellent article comparing three popular mechanical keyboards designed for use with Apple computers:
This review has been typed out using three of the most popular mechanical keyboards for Mac. They are:
- Das Keyboard Professional Model S: This is the keyboard that I started with. I pre-ordered one a few months ago for $113, and it arrived about a month ago. The Das Keyboards begin shipping on Friday, April 27 for $133.
- Apple Extended Keyboard II: Bought on eBay, the keyboard itself is circa 1990, uses Alps switches, was not made in Mexico, and cost me $31.45 shipped. I also had to purchase an ADB cable for $8.35 and a Griffn iMate ADB to USB adapter for $25. Total cost: $64.80.
- Matias Tactile Pro 3: A well-known 3rd-party keyboard that bills itself as the modern version of the Apple Extended II. It seemed unfair to write a review of Apple mechanical keyboards and not include the Matias Tactile Pro. These sell for $149, but Matias was kind and generous enough to send me a review unit.
He goes deep on each, describing sound, feel, his typing speed, and compatibility with OS X. The article concludes (emphasis mine):
If you too want to adorn your desk with an ugly keyboard — one with a loud personality and which increases typing productivity — then I recommend the Das Keyboard. I prefer both the tactile feel and the sound of the blue Cherry MX switches, and though I find the Das to be the ugliest of the bunch, a serious typist knows you shouldn’t be looking at your keyboard while you’re typing.
Going further than this - since mechanical keyboards are a bottomless pit of geeky fascination - I've found some other options (though I haven't yet tried any mechanical keyboards myself):
- The PFU Happy Hacking Keyboard has an unusual compact layout but is designed (and printed) for use with PC or Mac.
- WASD Keyboards sells highly-customizable mechanical keyboards that let you totally customize how the keycaps are printed.
- It differs by key/switch type, but many mechanical keyboards seem to have easily-replaceable keycaps, should you buy one printed for Windows and wish to change the appropriate caps to your liking.
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.