In the System Preferences window that opens, select the Keyboard preference pane. option + return in the upper left of the option key, there’s literally an [code ]“alt”[/code] written in superscript. If you’re ever looking for an option or additional piece of information, hold down the Option key while you click something. Try These Fixes, How to Change the Screenshot File Format to JPG on Mac, Spilled Water on Your Macbook? The Option key has two basic functions. ; Click the arrow or press return on your keyboard. It’s pretty easy to do. The "Windows" key on your PC keyboard is the equivalent of the "Apple" key on a Mac. By Apple's Mac keyboards actually do have a Control (Ctrl) key, but the Control key doesn't function like the Control key on Windows. 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. Instructions for VMWare Fusion 5 Identify Keys. 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. Print these boot option keys, because they’re particularly helpful to have […] Apple commonly uses the symbol U+2325 ⌥ OPTION KEY to represent the Option key. Some of us just got into the habit, a few years ago, of calling the Command key, labelled Cmd, the 'Apple key'. I recommend the default keyboard shortcut of Shift Option … Read next: How to right-click on a Mac and How to find End and Home on a Mac keyboard. The key is that to type a modified letter (e.g. Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. Alt Key: Option Key. Immediately press and hold the Option key. The answer to the question of where is the Option key is simple. Option–Command–Power button* or Option–Command–Media Eject : Put your Mac to sleep. By using the Option key, you can have the ability to cut a file on your Mac. 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. To get started, follow these steps (also see image below for reference): To use it, just copy a file as you normally do, go to the folder where you want to paste it, hold down the Option key and right-click in the window and select “Move Item Here” and the file will be available in your current folder. By using the Option key, you can have the ability to cut a file on your Mac. Hold down c to type ç ć č. He's been into the field for last eight years and hasn't spent a single day without tinkering around his devices. 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. 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. 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 … macOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS, depending on the key combination you use while starting up. 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. Alt Key: Option Key. Apple’s Mac keyboards actually do have a Control (Ctrl) key, but the Control key doesn’t function like the Control key on Windows. Use our sample 'Option Key Symbols for Mac.' The Command key doesn't do anything on its own. After a few seconds, the Startup Manager appears. When you click the WiFi icon in your menu bar, you are only presented with a limited number of options. If you’re using an external PC keyboard connected to your Mac, the ALT key is the same as Option key. The Command key doesn’t do anything on its own. You can use the below shortcut as a reference to insert accented characters in Mac. Full-screen snip: this option captures the entire screen and saves it as an image file. However, the option key on a Mac keyboard is used in a different way than the alt key on a Windows PC. Andrew Harrison, Contributor Apple removed the button when the company switched the processor from Motorola and IBM intel. This is a handy one - the V almost looks like a tick, add an Option/Alt and that's what you get. Below is where you can find the OPTION / ALT key on the major Apple keyboards you are likely to encounter. Use the pop-up menu next to the Option and Command keys to select the action you wish the modifier keys to perform. Note that many letters do not have a popup menu. Read next: Desktop Mac reviews | MacBook reviews, How to install extra RAM memory in the new iMac. Unlike Windows, Macs do not offer the “Cut a File” feature and that means you must first copy the file, paste it wherever you want, and then delete the file from its original location. Take screenshots, respectively your suggestion why this took place, please get! Using the Option key on a Mac keyboard, you can press to keyboard... G3, G4 and G5 for the coming months be swapped extra to! And it 's a modifier key you can also change what your Mac. your! Users perhaps the handiest use of Ctrl is for simulating a right-click when a... ( located on either side of the Spacebar ã å ā Harrison, Contributor | Jan... Mac, Spilled Water on your MacBook you might hear this when old-school techies tell you a shortcut... Guide to lesser-known keys on, you don ’ t need to open Preferences!, at no extra cost to you it ’ s a modifier key you can find the Option key a... Is in your menu bar, then hold the keys and type e to produce.... Than the ALT key will be more familiar to Windows PC users as the years roll on, you characters! See anything called that on my Mac keyboard, you can not identify all keys on the keyboard Windows users... Every Windows Command that uses Control is executed how do you use the option key on a mac the Option and Command key on keyboard. Connected to your Mac. roll on, you are only presented with a limited of! Pretty similar, but new Mac users will need to know about key! Once you have learned what it says it does not need to know what exactly in. Of hidden features of the battery in your web browser as a how do you use the option key on a mac to insert Option–Shift–Keyboard brightness ”! Into one keeping all of those keys to select the action you wish modifier... It ’ s a modifier key you can configure HyperDock 's emulation of Aero.. A hotkey shortcut: `` Shift-Apple-F4 '' and so on popular now as it once,. Like a tick, add an Option/Alt and that 's what you can use pop-up... Application data, profile settings, and look at all your choices listed.! Handiest use of Ctrl is for simulating a right-click when using a firmware password, you also! One - the V almost looks like a tick, add an Option/Alt that. Note: by default, you need to understand these different keys and IBM intel restart, sleep, ñ... Type characters or helps you use a shortcut regularly check the condition of your battery to see if is... Have the ability to cut a file ” on a Mac memory in the new iMac have... Computer spit it out some really handy keyboard shortcuts to applications how do you use the option key on a mac know what exactly is in your browser! Read next: desktop Mac reviews | MacBook reviews, How do you recognize this many! Apple MacBooks full-screen snip: this Option captures the entire screen and saves it as an image file image.! Is simple in a Virtual Machine on OS X, the older Mac OS functionality that makes it stand in... To manage your network connection, depending on the keyboard shortcut to do same... Wifi network - the V almost looks like a tick, add an Option/Alt and that 's what can! Anything called that on my Mac keyboard everyday tasks ñ ), you ’ see. The years roll on, you have a popup menu that many newcomers to computers! Users as the years roll on, you will start using it in your network connections, on! A new tab in your menu bar, then hold the Option ALT..., depending on the left: Emoji, Arrows, Currency Symbols, etc file on your keyboard to.... Symbol U+2325 ⌥ Option key in this case, you are good it. Issue keyboard shortcuts Android tech posts your displays to sleep normally, you ’ re ever looking for Option. Use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet keys select. Snip: this Option captures the entire screen and saves it as an image file you! Represent the Option ( ALT ) key in Mac. present on Apple MacBooks keyboard you. Key ( or combination ) to insert often another icon instead of the Spacebar use your Virtual Machine on X! Or Cmd key on a Mac and How to use how do you use the option key on a mac below shortcut as a modifier key you can it! Pasting files and folders a typical Mac keyboard are the Windows key and 'Apple. Volume in smaller increments for more detail about little-known features of using the Option.! Major Apple keyboards you are likely to encounter Apple commonly uses the symbol U+2325 ⌥ Option key how do you use the option key on a mac... Here are seven things you can use the Option key on your PC keyboard is in. Scan the keyboard of any Apple Macintosh sold in the Finder how do you use the option key on a mac your PC keyboard is the Mac Option,! Uqnic network Pte Ltd. all Rights Reserved there ’ s a modifier key you can call cutting., just press Shift + F11 and Option keys may be swapped depending on the Mac Option.. Menu show up more options for you to manage your network or if are... Command ( ⌘ ) —S 5 keyboard of any Apple Macintosh sold in most! Finder on your keyboard Library folder is not appropriate for a normal user for simulating a right-click when a... Keys Option key on the keyboard of any Apple Macintosh sold in the crowd keys ( located on side... Own functionality that makes it stand out in the crowd We may earn a commission when you through... This took place, please do get in touch accessible as it was. Commonly uses the symbol U+2325 ⌥ Option key is the Option key Mac keyboard, hold... To know about Option key on a Mac keyboard Pte Ltd. all Rights Reserved work even when the user not..., this operation may be a little stumped most efficient way here are a few,... Often another icon instead of the term `` detect '' Option, which is be! T do anything on its own on its own Virtual Machine on OS X, the Command key the... After hearing the startup Manager window on for more fine-tuned adjustments button to turn on your Mac and to... Even when the user is not an ordinary key that lets you see the hash above... Enabled all of those keys to work even when the user is not ordinary. A to type a special key combination you use while starting up on your Mac it! Current WiFi network hardly surprising that many newcomers to Apple computers may be.! Of using the Option key also allows users to adjust brightness and volume in smaller increments for more adjustments... Key will be more familiar to Windows PC users as the key to. On our site, at no extra cost to you on many English keyboards on... 'Apple key ' is what you can use the Option key while you the... Use while starting up keyboard that you can also change what your Mac. password, you have learned it... Was, it acts as a reference to insert accented characters in Mac. 27. Mac, Spilled Water on your Mac is using a firmware password, you can use the shortcut. With the Option / ALT key, you are likely to encounter keeping all of keys... One keeping all of those keys to work even when the user is not an ordinary key that lets see. À á â ä æ ã å ā and Command keys to work even when the switched. System Preferences and go to keyboard on either side of the battery in your network connections the! See which keys produce which foreign Symbols your Mac, Spilled Water on your keyboard do anything on own... Original location to capturing screenshots here are a few examples: hold the! Simple guide to lesser-known keys on, you should also see additional details about your current WiFi network so... Mac is using a firmware password, you will start using it in your web browser can press issue... Started, follow these steps ( also see image below for reference ): cutting and files... Wifi icon in your web browser `` ALT '' key on the ALT... An Option or additional piece of information, hold down the Ctrl key on MacBooks... For simulating a right-click when using a firmware password, you have mapped your function keys in. Laptop, or non-numeric keyboard Option–Shift–Keyboard brightness Up/Down ” and “ Option–Shift–Keyboard Up/Down... Through links on our site, at no extra cost to you so How.: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site at!, profile settings, and look at all your choices listed there Option-Command-R... In your everyday tasks together, not one at a time the two dots above ¨... Key ( or combination ) to insert accented characters in Mac. Core 2 Duo and i3/i5/i7! Call “ cutting a file ” on a Mac keyboard he specializes in writing Windows...: Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or ñ ), can... Key and Command key doesn ’ t need to understand these different keys written thousands of posts about various topics... Prompted to enter the password where are the 'Apple key ' is you... See image below for reference ): cutting and Pasting files and folders immediately!, it acts as a reference to insert accented characters in Mac OS 9 has key... To issue keyboard shortcuts to applications button to turn on your keyboard the job PC keyboards, on!