How To Setup Windows Keyboard On Mac
It may not be the all-time kept secret, but you don't have to utilise Apple-branded keyboards with your Mac. Yous have a broad range of keyboards to cull from, including most of the keyboards made for utilise with Windows.
I'll let yous in on a little secret; the terminal Apple-made keyboard I used routinely was the Apple Keyboard (A1048). This was the last keyboard Apple fabricated that included the Apple logo alongside the cloverleaf image on the Command key. I didn't give upwardly on Apple keyboards because of the missing logo; it was really because the next generation of Apple keyboards went to the low-profile primal design that is still in apply today. I like a keyboard with a bit more key travel, thus I made the move to Windows-based keyboards; I'm currently using a Microsoft Digital Media Pro model.
Related: Set up Your Wireless Keypad With Instructional Video
Of form, in that location are a lot of other reasons to use a Windows keyboard. Yous may be coming to the Mac from a Windows surround and already accept a favorite keyboard. Or you may like some of the more advanced Windows keyboards that offer more than ergonomic choices, such every bit the Matias Tactile Pro, specialized keys, or unique keyboard layouts.
No affair the reason, yous tin employ most Window keyboards with your Mac.
Making the Change to Windows Keyboards
Actually making the switch to Windows-based keyboards is surprisingly easy. Apple tree has supported USB-based keyboards since information technology abased the ADB (Apple Desktop Omnibus) interface as the primary means of connecting keyboards and mice. In one case the USB interface had rolled out to all of the Mac models, users were free to choice just about any USB-based keyboard and use it with their Macs. No special drivers or software were required, although some keyboard manufacturers did make special software for assigning keys to specific Mac functions (more on that a flake after).
Mac Compatible Keyboards
A few Windows keyboard manufacturers started churning out "Mac compatible" versions of their more popular keyboards. Making a USB-based Windows keyboard compatible was a pretty uncomplicated process; they already were, at least electrically. You could plug in the Windows keyboard and it would, for the nigh part work, fine with your Mac. The but real issues were the names given to special keys, and where they were physically located on the keyboard layout.
Some keyboard makers changed the images on the special keys to match the ones Apple used, while others provided a software-based solution that would remap the special Window modifier keys, such every bit Start, Alt, and Carte/Applications to their corresponding Mac versions. Some keyboard software became pretty sophisticated, able to remap keys globally as well as on a per awarding basis, which is very handy for remapping game controller settings on your favorite keyboard.
Wireless Compatible Keyboards
Apple offered a Bluetooth-based wireless keyboard in 2003, merely information technology wasn't until 2008 that every Mac model had Bluetooth congenital in. With Bluetooth supported beyond the unabridged Mac lineup, Bluetooth wireless keyboards worked quite nicely with Macs; no special Bluetooth dongle was needed.
But while Bluetooth wireless keyboards worked with a Mac, they had the same keyboard mapping issue; some special keys were named differently or weren't in the expected locations. Once once again this issue was solved either through the manufacturers providing software to remap the keys, or by producing special Mac compatible versions of their keyboards.
RF Keyboards
We've covered USB and Bluetooth keyboards, noting that for the most part any USB or Bluetooth keyboard will work with your Mac. The same isn't quite as truthful with RF-based keyboards. This style of keyboard uses a radio transmitter in the keyboard to talk to a receiver, usually located in a dongle that plugs into a USB port.
Some RF keyboards will work with Macs and others will not. The problem is in the RF dongle and whether the manufacturer has built the dongle to emulate a standard USB keyboard connection; if then, it should work fine with the Mac. If the dongle uses special driver software, you'll need a Mac version of the driver software.
Unless you have a specific need for an RF-based keyboard, I recommend using a standard USB or Bluetooth keyboard. If you must use an RF keyboard, rails down the manufacturer and make certain they take a Mac version of the driver software.
Special Key Differences
Generally, there are at least five special keys on a Windows keyboard that have a unlike name or location than their Mac counterparts.
(Win) Ctrl (Mac) Control
(Win) Alt (Mac) Option
(Win) Windows (Mac) Control (four-leaf clover)
(Win) Backspace (Mac) Delete
(Win) Enter (Mac) Return
And there are some keys, such every bit the Windows Card/Applications central, that accept no Mac equivalent, and are ordinarily ignored by the Mac.
Remapping Modifier Keys
The Mac OS offers a built-in method for remapping the four nigh often used modifier keys. This simple remapping lets yous correct i of the virtually common issues associated with using a Windows keyboard with a Mac, and that is the physical location of the Alt and Windows keys. As noted above, the Alt key is the aforementioned as the Choice fundamental on the Mac, while the Windows primal is the aforementioned as the Command key. The problem is that on a Windows keyboard, these two keys are swapped in respect to their normal placement on the Mac keyboard.
Since their functions are identical, you could just get used to their locations on the Windows keyboard. Merely if you lot're a long-time Mac user, y'all may find the location deviation constantly trips you up. Luckily, you tin bandy the locations using the Keyboard preference pane.
Launch System Preferences, so select the Keyboard preference pane.
Make sure the Keyboard tab is selected, and so click the Modifier Keys button.
Remapping the modifier keys is on a keyboard-by-keyboard basis. In other words, if you have a MacBook Pro, with its built-in keyboard, as well equally a split Windows keyboard you use when sitting at your desk-bound, y'all tin can choose to only modify the Windows keyboard, while leaving the built-in keyboard untouched.
If you have more 1 keyboard continued to your Mac, use the dropdown menu to select the keyboard yous wish to take the modifier keys remapped on.
If you take a single keyboard connected to your Mac, in that location volition be no dropdown carte for selecting a keyboard. Any changes will apply to the keyboard that's currently connected.
You lot'll run into four modifier keys y'all tin remap; the Caps Lock Key, Command Cardinal, Option Cardinal, and Control Key. You're remapping the central as named on the specific keyboard to the new function yous wish that key to have. We're going to swap the Choice and Control cardinal pairs, so they match up to how a normal Mac keyboard is laid out.
Employ the dropdown carte side by side to Option (⌥) Key: to select ⌘ Command.
Apply the dropdown menu next to Command (⌘) Cardinal: to select ⌥ Option.
Click the OK button.
Shut System Preferences.
Alternate Remapping Apps
While the Mac'south Keyboard preference pane tin can handle basic modifier key remapping, some Windows keyboards come with their ain keyboard drivers that perform this same office, and usually quite a flake more. Most tertiary-party keyboard re-mappers will let y'all reassign the usual modifier keys, as well equally some specialty keys that may be included in the keyboard, such as multimedia keys and all the part keys.
The downside of tertiary-party keyboard drivers is that as Apple updates the Mac Os, there may come a time when a keyboard driver is no longer supported. If that happens, yous can revert to using the Mac'south basic ability to remap modifier keys, but you'll likely lose any special capabilities you enjoyed with your keyboard.
And so, which keyboard do you employ? Let us know in the comments.
Source: https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/39494-rocket-yard-guide-how-to-use-a-windows-keyboard-with-your-mac/
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