Mac with Non-Apple Keyboard
A Quick Guide for MAC Users Using a Non-Apple Keyboard
A few days ago, I got my first Mac mini and I have to say, it's a fantastic device. Great performance, improved features, and incredible compatibility with my other Apple devices. It really made me wonder… why did I wait so long?
That said, I’m still using a generic (non-Apple) keyboard for now. I do plan to upgrade to an official Mac keyboard and mouse soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to share how I made my current setup work surprisingly well with macOS.
In this guide, I’ll help you take your first steps into the Apple ecosystem even if you're not using Apple hardware just yet.
Remap Your Keyboard for macOS
To make your keyboard more "Mac-friendly" you need to remap a few modifier keys so they match the Mac layout:
How to Change Modifier Keys:
- Go to System Settings
- Select Keyboard
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts
- At the bottom, choose Modifier Keys
- Select your connected keyboard
- Set the keys as shown above
As for the fn (Function) key, I haven’t found a way to reassign or customize it, but so far, I haven’t needed it. If you don’t use features like Dictation or emoji shortcuts, you probably won’t miss it either.
Copy, Paste & Move Files on macOS
Coming from Windows, you're probably used to:
- Ctrl + C = Copy
- Ctrl + V = Paste
- Ctrl + X = Cut
In macOS, it’s a bit different. Especially when it comes to moving files.
- ⌘ Command + C = Copy
- ⌘ Command + V = Paste (makes a duplicate)
- ⌥ Option + ⌘ Command + V = Move (like “Cut”)
On macOS, there’s no traditional "Cut" for files. You copy first, then use Option + Command + V to move instead of duplicate.
Important Reminder
On Windows, you probably use Ctrl all the time for shortcuts. On macOS, that role is mostly taken over by Command (⌘) — which is mapped to the Alt key on your Windows keyboard (once remapped).
So instead of Ctrl + C, you’ll use Command + C, and so on.
Thank you for your time, I hope this guide helps smooth your transition into macOS.
Welcome to the Mac Family! 🍎
Mac mini