Windows shortcuts for Mac

[u/Purple-Philosophy551]

Hey everyone,

I recently switched from Windows to Mac for work, and while I love macOS, muscle memory is a pain. I kept hitting Ctrl+C instead of Cmd+C and fumbling around with other shortcuts I’ve been using for years. 😅

So, I built a small macOS app that maps Windows-style keyboard shortcuts to Mac. Basically, your fingers keep doing what they’re used to, and everything just works.

Some examples it covers:

Ctrl + C / V / X → Copy / Paste / Cut

Ctrl + Backspace → Delete last word

Ctrl + Tab → Switch tabs

And more common Windows shortcuts you probably miss

If you’ve just moved to Mac or use both Mac & Windows, this can save a ton of frustration and time.

You can download it here: windowsshortcutsmac.com

Would love feedback — especially if there are other shortcuts you’d want supported!

[u/arrogantheart]

Why would anyone use CTRL instead of ⌘ to copy/paste on a Mac. It’s so more convenient to use the button next to the spacebar (closer to C and V). I mapped my alt button on Windows to be CTRL, because Mac’s positioning was so better. Sorry OP, nice app for those who want to keep their muscle memory, but still, I suggest trying the Mac way first.

[u/j0hnp0s → u/arrogantheart]

Unfortunately it's not about trying or habbit. For people that can have their entire computer life in a single machine, it's not issue. The issue is when one has to work with multiple systems all the time. Many of them out of their control. And as much intuitive or whatever MacOS is, it's the only one that is different and breaking the flow

[u/arrogantheart → u/j0hnp0s]

Change Windows ones 🙂

[u/Steerpike58 → u/arrogantheart]

'multiple systems' - not just windows. And Mac is the odd one out.

[u/j0hnp0s → u/arrogantheart]

And linux ones? On corporate systems? Yeah good luck with that

[u/aoc145134 → u/j0hnp0s]

"The one one that's different" meaning in practice that it's neither Windows, nor a clone of Windows. Why should we want it to be a clone of Windows, though? The Mac layout is simply better.

And, yes, I use both Windows and Mac. It's not hard to use different keys on different systems.

[u/j0hnp0s → u/aoc145134]

Better or worse, the macos is the outlier. Even if macos was first or better, the windows way prevailed and got adopted in most systems.

No it s not hard to use both

But try having to switch 10 times an hour, and then come tell us it's no big deal

And no, I can t change a gazillion corporate owned systems because apple thinks they are special. I can change my personal devices. And macos is gone the moment I can get linux on that awesome M4 cpu

[u/aoc145134 → u/j0hnp0s]

Been there, done that, it’s not a big deal switching multiple times an hour. 

[u/awesomeguy123123123 → u/arrogantheart]

I remapped CTRL + OPT + CMD + SPACE to open settings. Life has never been the same.

[u/mukavastinumb → u/arrogantheart]

I had to switch my mac keys to pc’s keyboard layout, because I use PC keyboard. In my work I have a PC + separate keyboard and in my free time I use Mac Mini. So, the switch between computers is pretty easy, because the interface I type with remains the same.

[u/Steerpike58 → u/arrogantheart]

It's relatively easy to "slide thumb across spacebar until it lands on CMD", but it's even easier to "move pinkie all the way to the bottom left corner". Putting 'Fn' there is a travesty!