A Beginner’s Guide to Mac Modifier Keys

If you are new to Mac, then you may not be familiar with the modifier keys like Command, Option and Control. These each have special symbols that you will see in articles and the menu bar. Learn how to use these important modifier keys and how they differ from Windows modifier keys.

Comments: 9 Responses to “A Beginner’s Guide to Mac Modifier Keys”

    Douglas Brace
    6 years ago

    At about the 2:27 mark of this video, you are in the "Edit" menu. What is the second modifier symbol for the "Complete" command? I know that the first modifier symbol is for "option" but I am not familiar with the second one. Thank you.

    6 years ago

    Douglas: That's not a modifier key, but the symbol for the escape (ESC) key. You rarely see it, so most people don't know what it is.

    Bob
    6 years ago

    Note that modifier keys can be 'tweaked' if desired (but should probably be left be). System prefs/keyboard/then the modifier key button in the lower RH corner. As I never type all caps, I like to kill the Caps Lock key by changing it's pull down menu to 'No Action'. You can still type caps, but not have them get locked on by accident.

    Al Chesson
    6 years ago

    Bob, is there a way to remap the CapsLock key to something more useful? I've killed it on my machines but always think it's a wasted key....

    Bob
    6 years ago

    Al Chesson: As far as I know it can only be remaped to the items within the Caps Lock pull down menu. However, please note I'm far from the last word in this stuff... :)

    Hubert Cooleman
    6 years ago

    Question rather: how to use keyboard to select text from somewhere (say middle) in document untill the end of the document.

    6 years ago

    Hubert: Shift+Command+down arrow will select from the current cursor position to the end of a document in Pages, etc.

    Hubert Cooleman
    6 years ago

    Thanks Gary. I tested. It does so in Pages but unfortunately not in Word (for Mac) it seems...

    Hubert Cooleman
    6 years ago

    I think I got it Gary: SHIFT +fn + Command + right arrow. Just about enough fingers to do this. Cheers. Hubert

Comments Closed.