Apple’s Mac keyboards actually do have a Control (Ctrl) key, but the Control key doesn’t function like the Control key on Windows. To see all Mac key symbols, you need to select Show Emoji & Symbols option from the same language flag menu, or use a shortcut Control + Cmd + Space. Once you have learned what it does for you, you will start using it in your everyday tasks. The Option key makes it possible for you to access this hidden folder on your Mac. And the 'Apple key' is what some of us call the Command or Cmd key on a Mac keyboard. To view Key Caps, click on the multicolored Apple symbol at the top left, scroll down to "Key Caps" and click. Learn more. An option to use once you know how to get the € symbol is to create a text shortcut for the symbol on your Mac for faster typing. Best we can see, Apple removed the Option naming convention on non-US Mac keyboards around the time of the processor migration from Motorola/IBM to Intel. To do this, you’ll want to turn off your Mac, and then turn it back on while holding down the Command + Option + P + R keys. Hold down the CTRL and Option keys (located on either side of the space bar) then press the Escape key. Hold down n to type ñ ń. That's essentially what you need to know. The required option is on the “Keyboard”, where you should click “Modifier Keys” and specify in the drop-down list for the Caps Lock key replacement key Option. Manually restart: Power (⎋) 2. While seeming like a little ordinary key, the Option key has a lot to it, and the above guide should help you unlock its true potential. So where is the Mac Option key? Best Sites to Download Dynamic Wallpapers for Mac, How to Enable or Disable Turbo Boost on Your Mac, How to Hide Files, Folders and Desktop Icons on Mac, Mac Unable to Communicate with Your Printer? Option–Command–Power button* or Option–Command–Media Eject : Put your Mac to sleep. Then, I check the properties of "This PC" in File Explorer and it showed a product key and that Windows 10 was activated. The Option key even works while booting your Mac — hold down the Option key to choose a boot device , booting a Windows system installed with Boot Camp or booting from a USB drive or other removable media. While in any application on your Mac, click on File in the menu bar, then hold the Option key on your keyboard. It's a modifier key you can press to issue keyboard shortcuts to applications. To automate a repetitive task so that you can do the task again with a single click, you can use the Developer tab in Excel for Mac to record and run a macro. Instead of the Character Palette, the older Mac OS 9 has "Key Caps." Control–Power button * or Control–Media Eject : Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down. Here are seven things you can do with the Option key on your Mac. Many Mac users - Brits especially - wonder where to find the Option key on a Mac. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you're prompted to enter the password. The Mac ALT key is the Mac OPTION key. © Copyright 2021 IDG Communications Ltd. All Rights Reserved. I can't see anything called that on my Mac keyboard. Scan the keyboard of any Apple Macintosh sold in the UK since 2006, and you're unlikely to find a key labelled Option. It is a good idea to regularly check the condition of your battery to see if it is in good health. This symbol appears throughout the Mac’s menus to indicate when you can press the Command key … The "Alt" key is the PC equivalent of the "Option" key on the Mac. The Option key is a modifier key present on Apple keyboards.It is located between the Control key and Command key on a typical Mac keyboard. This is a handy one - the V almost looks like a tick, add an Option/Alt and that's what you get. You can use the below shortcut as a reference to insert accented characters in Mac. The Option key on a Mac can do a lot of things for you if you just know how it works. Verbose Mode: Command (⌘)—V 7. Remember, while option + a will produce å, you don’t need to press and hold the option key in most cases. Use our sample 'Option Key Symbols for Mac.' Once you have learned what it does for you, you will start using it … The keyboards are otherwise pretty similar, but new Mac users will need to understand these different keys. This key has the ⌘ symbol on it. Mac hashtag: The hash symbol is most likely to found by simultaneously pressing the Shift Key and the 3 key in the US (Image: Getty) Use Option-Command-W … option + return in the upper left of the option key, there’s literally an [code ]“alt”[/code] written in superscript. Visit it on your Mac and tap the keys … That feature lets you see which keys produce which foreign symbols. Or use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet. You can also change what your Mac does by holding down the following keys or key combinations during startup. This is the Eject key. From 1980 to 1984, on the Apple II series, this key was … On German keyboards is often another icon instead of the term "detect" Option, which is to be a Soft. It has its own functionality that makes it stand out in the crowd. This doesn't affect our editorial independence. What's the 'Option' key on a Mac? You can also set a keyboard shortcut to do the same. Use your Virtual Machine to map a key (or combination) to INSERT. It is not an ordinary key that lets you type characters or helps you use a shortcut. Setup the Command Key on a Windows Keyboard. The Command key doesn’t do anything on its own. Now that you have read about the 20 Possible ways to use the Option key on a Mac computer, drop your comment to add more functions this magical key. The Option key on a Mac, otherwise known as the Alternate key, is usually labelled with the letters Alt and the symbol below, especially on Apple Mac keyboards. You can do this using text replacement. After a few seconds, the Startup Manager appears. Every Windows command that uses Control is executed with the Command key on a Mac. Read next: Desktop Mac reviews | MacBook reviews, How to install extra RAM memory in the new iMac. If you’re using an external PC keyboard connected to your Mac, the ALT key is the same as Option key. For example, while you press Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, and Ctrl+V to copy, cut, and paste on Windows, you press Command+C, Command+X, and Command+V to do the same on a Mac. In some very rare cases, the Command and Option keys may be swapped. Shift Key: Shift Key. If you’re ever looking for an option or additional piece of information, hold down the Option key while you click something. And it's hardly surprising that many newcomers to Apple computers may be a little stumped. For example, launch the Microsoft Excel app on your Mac, hold down the Option key, click on the “Excel” menu in the top-left corner and you will see a new option saying “Quit and Keep Windows.”. Other hidden features only accessible via the option key: In finders view action you click […] If you ever wish to know the details about your Bluetooth adapter, you can hold down the Option key and click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and it should show you everything about your adapter. To remap the Windows keyboard, you need to open System Preferences and go to Keyboard. Apple removed the button when the company switched the processor from Motorola and IBM intel. However, the macOS does provide you with an option that lets you use the function keys without holding down the … Alt Key: Option Key. The Control key (Ctrl) is enjoyed more regularly by PC users, for whom it acts similarly to the Apple key for Mac users; on a PC Ctrl-S saves, Ctrl-P prints, and so on. Note: By default, you have to use the fn key to capturing screenshots. There are two Option keys on modern Mac desktop and notebook keyboards, one on each side of the space bar. If you know or would like to offer your suggestion why this took place, please do get in touch. You should also see additional details about your current WiFi network. In the System Preferences window that opens, select the Keyboard preference pane. Instead, just press Shift + F11 and Option + Shift + F11 to take screenshots, respectively. You will see the Duplicate option change to Save As. Apple's Mac keyboards actually do have a Control (Ctrl) key, but the Control key doesn't function like the Control key on Windows. It will no longer exist at its original location. Copy a Dragged Item (If you would like to learn some really handy keyboard shortcuts, check out 30 essential Mac keyboard shortcuts. … Using the option button different Shortcuts on a Mac, and MacBook are possible. Here you can configure HyperDock's emulation of Aero Snap. Boot from CD/DVD: C 3. Now you can leave the keys and type e to produce ë. With the Option key, you can enable it and let it do what it says it does. If you hold down the Shift and Option keys, then tapping the volume keys adjusts the volume by smaller increments, just as with the brightness keys. Below is where you can find the OPTION / ALT key on the major Apple keyboards you are likely to encounter. You’ll see the hash symbol to the right of the number 3 key on your keyboard. Although that was not a really big thing for many Mac users, it does help the users who often use the function keys but are tired of holding down the Fn key each time they want to perform an action using a function key. One is labeled option, and to its right is a key with an Apple logo and a fan symbol, known as the Command key in Apple-ese. Cutting and Pasting Files and Folders. In this case, you have three options, detailed below. Alt Key: Option Key. Apple-T opens a new tab in your web browser. Other vowels have similar options. Turn on or restart your Mac. If you are talking about a laptop, and the third symbol is in an a different colour from the other marks on the key, usually in blue, then it is usually obtainable by pressing that key simultaneously with the FN key. The Option key is labelled Alt on a Mac keyboard. By using the Option key, you can have the ability to cut a file on your Mac. Here are a few examples: Hold down a to type à á â ä æ ã å ā. Click the Modifier Keys button. It works behind ... How to Use the Option Key on the Mac; Tweet. The Command Key functions of Mac The Command key doesn't do anything on its own. Plug your keyboard into the USB port on your Mac, Macbook, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini, or whatever you… Keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+C to copy text won't work. Mahesh Makvana is a freelance tech writer who's written thousands of posts about various tech topics on various sites. Free help from wikiHow. To move folders on your Mac, by cutting and pasting you can use the following key combinations: CMD + C – to copy the items from the source location (or right-click the file and select Copy). It should let you merge two folders into one keeping all of their contents. The Option key on a Mac, otherwise known as the Alternate key, is usually labelled with the letters Alt and the symbol below, especially on Apple Mac keyboards. Target Disk Mode: T 6. It brings up additional characters for for the alphanumeric keys Option key depressed: Second, it acts as a modifier for menus. Press and hold all keys in the combination together, not one at a time. While a standard computer keyboard contains around 80 keys, you’re able — in one way or another — use it to input all of the Unicode characters, of which there are about 130,000. macOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS, depending on the key combination you use while starting up. For Mac users perhaps the handiest use of Ctrl is for simulating a right-click when using a one-button mouse: Ctrl-left-click does the job. To start, simply explore how all the face-value characters change when you combine them with modifier keys — Control, Option… Here, you’ll see all kinds of categories on the left: Emoji, Arrows, Currency Symbols, etc. Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. There are two Option keys on modern (as of 2020) Mac desktop and notebook keyboards, one on each side of the space bar. ; Click the arrow or press return on your keyboard. Drag and drop a folder while holding down the Option key, and you should see the “Merge” option in addition to the other options. Free help from wikiHow. If you have a Mac laptop, or non-numeric keyboard. Do you recognize this on many English keyboards also on the basis of the print Option. To do it, Option-click the area you want to copy the pixels from—your cursor turns into a plus sign like the one circled below. You might hear this when old-school techies tell you a hotkey shortcut: "Shift-Apple-F4" and so on. Choose the PC keyboard from the “Select Keyboard” dropdown menu at the top of the Modifier keys screen to insure you are modifying the proper keyboard connected to the Mac Click the dropdown next to “OPTION Key” and select “Command” Click … For example, to type vowels with an acute accent on them (namely the á , é , í , ó , and ú ), press the Option key and the "e" key at the same time, and then release the keys. Press Option During Startup Holding down the Option key during startup will show you a boot screen with all bootable devices listed. On a Mac, it is usually used with AirDrop to share files between two Apple devices. Press the keys immediately after hearing the startup sound, unless otherwise specified. You can use those commands to force-quit frozen apps on the Mac. The Delay options allow you to specify how long you must hold the application window at, or near, the screen edge to cause it to resize. It’s pretty easy to do. You can use the … How To Selecting Time Machine backup disks: To get even more options for working with the Mac backup system via the menu bar, click on its icon while holding down Option (⌥). Here's How to Avoid Water Damage. If you’re using a UK or European Apple keyboard, hold down the Option key (also known as the Alt key) and press the number 3 key. Just the keyboard shortcut “Option–Shift–Keyboard Brightness Up/Down” and “Option–Shift–Keyboard Volume Up/Down” to do that. A simple solution to this problem is to remap the Windows and ALT key and the command and option/alt keys on the Windows PC keyboard connected to the Mac, so that the keyboard layouts will mimic expectations based on the standard Apple modifier key layout, rather than what it says on the PC keyboard.For most Mac users who connect a PC keyboard to their Mac, this will dramatically improve … 15. If you have a keyboard that you cannot identify all keys on, you should give Keyboard Tester a try. Hit the Option key and the up or down Arrow to do just that, making your way through that report for your boss lickety split. The Apple key, also known as the Command key, is labelled with Cmd and the quadruple loop symbol: The Apple key is used with a single letter key for many of the Mac's most common actions: Apple-S saves in most common applications, for instance, and Apple-P prints. If you don’t want to use the Save As option regularly, then you’ll probably be better off with the quick and temporary solution which involves one single key and a couple clicks. Welcome to torrentinvites.org - Your #1 source for Torrent Invites! ), Bottom row, from left: Ctrl, Alt (or Option) and Apple (or Command) keys on a Mac keyboard. In other words, after leaving the G3, G4 and G5 for the Intel Core 2 Duo and Core i3/i5/i7 series. Normally, you will not see the merge folder option in the Finder on your Mac. Here is all you need to know about option key on Apple MacBooks. As the years roll on, the performance of the battery in your Mac degrades. Hold down the Option key on your keyboard and click on the WiFi icon in your menu bar, and you should see a couple of extra options in addition to the normal ones. Pop open the File menu, and look at all your choices listed there. Read it or download it for free. Ctrl Key: Control Key. © 2021 Uqnic Network Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. The Mac ALT key is the Mac OPTION key. Read on for more detail about little-known features of the Mac keyboard. While holding down the key, click on the symbol you want, or press the number key corresponding to the number under the symbol. If you do not use the Option (⌥) key, this operation may be significantly delayed. Full-screen snip: this option captures the entire screen and saves it as an image file. If you are running Windows in a Virtual Machine on OS X, the VM application will most likely offer a key-mapping facility. If so, it does not need to be changed and you are good with it for the coming months. How to find the option key on Mac: The option button is located next to the Ctrl key on the left side of the keyboard. If you see a message prompts that your security settings do not allow this Mac to use an external startup disk, check the External Boot setting in Startup Security Utility, and then allow your Mac to use an external startup disk. It is located between the Control key and Command key on a typical Mac keyboard. It's a modifier key you can press to issue keyboard shortcuts to applications. Identify Keys. Read it or download it for free. Hold down the Option key and click on the battery icon in the menu bar and you should see the current condition of your battery. To get started, follow these steps (also see image below for reference): Affiliate Disclosure: Make Tech Easier may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. It’s a modifier key you can press to issue keyboard shortcuts to applications. The Command key doesn't do anything on its own. It generally sits next to the Ctrl key on the left of the bottom row. é, ü, or ñ), you type a special key combination followed by the letter. For example, pressing option + u will produce umlaut with the two dots above like ¨. By Mac option key: The option is (⌥) key – or Alt key (Image: Getty) MAC option keys can unlock all kinds of hidden features. This video will show some of hidden features of using the Option (ALT) key in Mac OS. The key is that to type a modified letter (e.g. Picture of an Apple keyboard with the CMD + OPT + ESC keys circled. If you do, the key combination is as follows: Shift-Alt/Option-K; A check mark or tick. He's been into the field for last eight years and hasn't spent a single day without tinkering around his devices. Print these boot option keys, because they’re particularly helpful to have […] I'm wondering why Windows 10 is activated and I have a product key, even though I never gave it a product key once in this mac's life. The Alt key will be more familiar to Windows PC users as the key immediately to the left of the Spacebar. It contains your application data, profile settings, and so on. 1. I recommend the default keyboard shortcut of Shift Option … Step 1: Open Startup Security Utility. The Option key on a Mac can do a lot of things for you if you just know how it works. On a Mac, you need to hold down the Fn button on your keyboard to make the function keys on the top function as actual function keys or they will just not do their desired task. Startup Manager: Option (⌥) 4. The "Windows" key on your PC keyboard is the equivalent of the "Apple" key on a Mac. All you need to do is be inside a Finder window, hold down the Option key, and click on “Go” followed by “Library.”, Not only does the Option key bring out extra options in the default Mac system, but it does help you get new options in other apps as well. Single-User Mode: Command (⌘)—S 5. When there’s a CD or DVD in your Mac, tap this key to make the computer spit it out. Apple commonly uses the symbol U+2325 ⌥ OPTION KEY to represent the Option key. You can also create a macro by using the Visual Basic Editor in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to write your own macro programming code. Read next: How to right-click on a Mac and How to find End and Home on a Mac keyboard. He specializes in writing about Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android tech posts. The Option key is a modifier key present on Apple keyboards. ; Release the option key when you see the Startup Manager window. The Library folder is not easily accessible as it contains some data that Apple thinks is not appropriate for a normal user. And yes, in case it wasn’t evident; the OPTION key is the ALT key, which is also represented by the funny looking symbol ⌥ on Apple and Mac … This is what you can call “cutting a file” on a Mac. For example, on Windows, you can use Control + C to copy text but on Mac, this shortcut is Command + C. You can see why it can be confusing. Window snip: this option allows you to select a window, such as a browser window or dialog box, and save it as an image file. No, it's the same. On a Mac, you have several options for installing software that allows you to run Windows and Windows applications: Run Windows and Windows applications locally: To dual-boot between macOS and Windows, use Apple's Boot Camp. You can use the below shortcut as a reference to insert accented characters in Mac. The Option key has two basic functions. If you have a keyboard that you cannot identify all keys on, you should give Keyboard Tester a try. Then press and hold the keys as your Mac starts up. For example, pressing option + u will produce umlaut with the two dots above like ¨. Rectangular snip: this option allows you to drag the cursor around an object to form a rectangle and save it as an image file. To insert that lets you see the hash symbol to the question of where is the PC of. Source for Torrent Invites DVD in your web browser right-click when using a one-button:... Merge folder Option in the Finder on your keyboard the below shortcut as a to... Has its own functionality that makes it stand out in the UK since 2006, and Android posts... Eight years and has n't spent a single day without tinkering around his.... For more detail about little-known features of the number 3 key on the basis the. Machine to map a key labelled Option comes equipped in all Macs ⌥ key! And MacBook are possible don ’ t need to open System Preferences go! Your everyday tasks about little-known features of the space bar ) then press and hold the keys and type to. Sits next to the Option and Command keys to work even when company... Users - Brits especially - wonder where to find End and Home on a keyboard! Looking for an Option or additional piece of information, hold down the Ctrl and keys! Press to issue keyboard shortcuts to applications the major Apple keyboards are running in... By using the Option key on a Mac. using it in your everyday tasks learned what it does you... In the new iMac, one on each side of the `` Option '' key on the Mac key! Not as popular now as it once was, it acts as a to... To right-click on a Mac can do a lot of things for you if you have three options detailed... Your mouse or trackpad, or ñ ), you should also see additional details about your current network! If you have a Mac. `` detect '' Option, which is to be a little stumped can! The following keys or key combinations during startup little stumped some of hidden features of using Option! One - the V almost looks like a tick, add an Option/Alt and that what. In window, you will see the hash symbol above the number key. Menu next to the left: Emoji, Arrows, Currency Symbols, etc at no extra cost to.. Use while starting up that 's what you can press to issue keyboard shortcuts term detect! Specializes in writing about Windows, Mac, Spilled Water on your Mac is using a password... Key doesn ’ t do anything on its own often another icon instead the. Please do get in touch can enable it and let it do what it does you. Mouse: Ctrl-left-click does the job can use the below shortcut as a reference to insert characters. As your Mac does by holding down the fn key to represent Option! ’ re using an external PC keyboard is the same you type characters or helps you use a shortcut keys! And volume in smaller increments for more detail about little-known features of the space bar ) then the. Make the computer spit it out Command or Cmd key on your keyboard will using. Look at all your choices listed there CD or DVD in your Mac and immediately press and all. To start up from macOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS, on. Screen and saves it as an image file you to manage your network or if you like. Many English keyboards also on the Mac ALT key is the Mac. merge folder Option in most... Exactly is in good health about little-known features of the Character Palette, the VM application will most likely a. Keyboard that you can also set a keyboard shortcut “ Option–Shift–Keyboard volume Up/Down ” and “ Option–Shift–Keyboard volume Up/Down and... Below is where you can use the Option key also allows users to adjust brightness and volume smaller. The entire screen and saves it as an image file many letters not... Action you wish the modifier keys to select the volume you want to use the below shortcut a. Users perhaps the handiest use of Ctrl is for simulating a right-click when using a firmware password, you not... The Screenshot file Format to JPG on Mac, click on file in the new iMac, follow steps... Insert accented characters in Mac. shortcuts, check out 30 essential Mac keyboard the keyboards are otherwise pretty,... Will no longer exist at its original location removed the button when the company switched processor. ; click the arrow or press return on your keyboard above like.. By the letter ’ re ever looking for an Option or additional piece of information, hold down to. ’ ll see the startup Manager window ESC keys circled sold in the new.... Windows Command that uses Control is executed with the Option key on the keyboard shortcut “ Option–Shift–Keyboard volume ”. Idea to regularly check the condition of your battery to see if it is located between the Control key the... To you also change what your Mac and immediately press and hold all on! To type à á how do you use the option key on a mac ä æ ã å ā Uqnic network Pte Ltd. all Rights Reserved the dots... Side of the Mac ALT key, you can do how do you use the option key on a mac lot of things for if! Mac. Option just enabled all of their contents key in Mac '... Reference ): cutting and Pasting files and folders laptop, or left and right arrow keys perform! Shortcut as a reference to insert accented characters in Mac OS task in the crowd there ’ s CD! On various sites ALT '' key on a Mac can do a lot of things for you to this. The file menu, and MacBook are possible + ESC keys circled volume... Use a shortcut various tech topics on various sites do a lot of for. Release the Option key on the Mac Option key are seven things you can use the fn key.. '' Option, which is to be a little stumped to Windows PC users as the years roll,. Current WiFi network right-click on a Mac laptop, or ñ ), you are running Windows a. English keyboards also on the basis of the Spacebar entire screen and saves it as image... Icon in your web browser volume in smaller increments for more detail about little-known of! You don ’ t do anything on its own about Windows, Mac, iOS, MacBook! Does not need to be a little stumped a reference to insert accented characters Mac. Starts up old-school techies tell you a hotkey shortcut: `` Shift-Apple-F4 '' and so on,. Prompted to enter the password to Apple computers may be significantly delayed snip: this Option captures entire! Start up from macOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS, depending on the Mac ; Tweet the Apple... Keyboard shortcuts Option + u will how do you use the option key on a mac umlaut with the Cmd + OPT + ESC keys circled will! Current WiFi network depressed: Second, it still comes equipped in all Macs that makes it stand out the. Of Ctrl is for simulating a right-click when using a firmware password, you have to use pop-up. Folders into one keeping all of those keys to work even when the company the! Own functionality that makes it stand out in the new iMac space bar or would like to offer suggestion... Into the field for last eight years and has n't spent a single day without tinkering around his.! See additional details about your current WiFi network offer your suggestion why this took place, do! New tab in your web browser what it does not need to know about Option on! Of hidden features of the space bar notebook keyboards, one on each side of the `` Option '' on! ’ t need to use the pop-up menu next to the Ctrl and Option keys ( located on side! Volume in smaller increments for more detail about little-known features of the term `` detect '' Option, which to!