The most important key on a Mac’s keyboard is arguably the Command Key (⌘), which is used in a tremendous number of important keyboard shortcuts, from Command-C to copy, to Command-P to print, to Command-Shift-3 to take a screenshot.On a PC/Windows keyboard, however, many of the same keyboard shortcuts utilize the Control Key (⌃) instead of the Command Key. Linux users can use the Super key as the Command key. Command+Shift+A which opens the “Applications” folder. Command-S is for "single-user … For Linux users. The Option key is labelled Alt on a Mac keyboard. If you looked at the picture of my keyboard in the image above, then you can see how awkward it would be to use the Windows key every time I needed to copy, paste or select all. And the 'Apple key' is what some of us call the Command or Cmd key on a Mac keyboard. In terms of functionality, the alt key in Windows is often more comparable with the Command key than with the Option key on a Mac. The Command key doesn't do anything on its own. It works like this: You are working in an app, and you want to open the application’s Preferences. You might be also familiar with the Ctrl and Alt keys … Shift key, for instance, starts your Mac in Safe mode, and C (or c) starts up from a bootable CD, DVD, or thumb drive. That's essentially what you need to know. The picture is an example of the command key looks on the Apple keyboard next to the control and option keys. Or you could just buy a Mac keyboard and make all of this unnecessary. However, the option key on a Mac keyboard is used in a different way than the alt key on a Windows PC. Assign the Mac OS X Command Action to a Different Key . Using the Command key in Xcode. But what was the original purpose of this key that is unique to Macs and, more curiously, why does it look so weird? It's a modifier key you can press to issue keyboard shortcuts to applications. Mac-compatible keyboard (has a Command key, not Windows) Directions: First up, take a look at the Mac keyboard in front of you to familiarize yourself with a few Mac-specific keys. Plus it matches the Mac Mini a lot better. Command+Shift+U which opens the “Utilities” folder Note that if you are experiencing issues using the Command key in Xcode, please see the following solutions: - Xcode Move/Resize UI-Elements in Storyboard Editor The Command Key functions of 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. There are two Option keys on modern (as of 2020) Mac desktop and notebook keyboards, one on each side of the space bar. Alternatively referred to as the beanie key, cloverleaf key, cmd key, open Apple key, or command, the command key is a key created by Susan Kare found on all Apple keyboards. 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